BrickUnderground

With back-to-school season upon us, we’ve been thinking about all the challenges (and benefits!) of raising kids in this crazy city of ours.

So we thought we’d put together a list -- culled from our personal experiences as parents -- of what you should  keep in mind when looking to move into a rental, condo or co-op with kids in New York City.

1. School zone

For most NYC parents, school zone is the biggest issue and the greatest decider of where you’ll live (unless you plan to send your kids to private school or have kids older than elementary-school age).

A zoned school is a neighborhood school which is meant to accept all kids within certain boundaries. If you're new to the NYC public school system, your first stop should be Insideschools.org, a superb online source of independent information about zones, specific school profiles, and the application process.

Once you've narrowed down your ideal school list, pop over to StreetEasy and use their Advanced Search options to search for apartments by school district (which is much broader than a school zone) or school zone. 

Before you sign any papers committing you to a new home, confirm and reconfirm that it's in the school zone you think it is. In theory, you can find out which school a building is zoned for by calling 311 or checking the Department of Education website but due to continual rezoning, this information has not always been accurate.  We suggest calling the school principal's office to doublecheck that your building falls in that school's zone.

We also recommend that you Google around and ask potential neighbors (or talk to parents at a nearby playground) about any imminent zoning changes, which can and do happen. 

2. Family-friendly building

A family-friendly building is often one with larger apartments versus a building predominantly comprised of studios and one-bedrooms. Life with small children can be much easier in a building that is truly "friendly" to families and take it from the parent of a toddler, parent friends (and potential playdate partners) in the same building are a major plus.

If you have small kids, you may want to hang out in the lobby of a building you're interested in a bit during the day to see whether there are a lot of little kids coming in and out. If there's a bike room, check to see if there are lots of little bikes. A playroom that looks clean and stocked with newish equipment is also a sign of a bumper crop of children and a building that caters to them.

You will also find that some family-oriented buildings come with tip-top amenities, like playrooms with "programming" (such as mommy-and-me classes you don't even have to leave the premises for), tween rooms, even basketball courts. 

3. Pet policy

If your dog ranks second only to your kids, you need to make sure he/she can come with you and the family. Check out a building’s dog policy before you sign on any dotted lines, and beware of weight restrictions. It's far easier--but not impossible--to find a building that will take a smaller-breed dog than a a large one, especially the 50-pound plus category. 

For help getting any dog, past a co-op board, click here.

If buying into a no-dog building seems fine right now--say, when the kids are too little to even entertain the thought of bringing another dependent creature into your household--understand that you and your kids may feel quite differently in a few year's time, when the no-dog rule could be a heartbreaker.

4. Proximity to playgrounds

Playgrounds are New Yorkers’ alternatives to backyards, so living within a few blocks of one is ideal (the closer, the better, though maybe not right next door). Some playgrounds are geared toward younger kids, with smaller slides and climbing frames, while some have larger facilities for older kids, like steeper slides and larger swings.

Also, keep in mind that a playground with shade is a very good thing during the summer heat. Not being too close to a rowdy middle school is another plus when you've got little ones.

5. Washer-dryers

Considering just how dirty those little rugrats can get, who wouldn't want an in-unit washer dryer? But if that's a perk you're unwilling to live without, expect to pay up.

While there's been a recent trend toward liberalizing washer-dryer rules in older buildings, they're most common in newer -- and therefore often pricier -- rentals and condos.

Some buildings may allow portable washer/dryers that you wheel out when necessary and are hooked up to the tap. That might be worth asking about.

6. Special building rules about kids

While some building amenities seem perfectly suited for kids -- e.g. roof decks and pools -- there can be major restrictions and conditions when it comes to kids' access to them. Believe it or not, we’ve even heard of a co-op that doesn’t allow kids to ride elevators alone. Check for all these potential rules and caveats ahead of time.

7. Buy an apartment for the family size you hope to have

If you’re looking to buy an apartment, you need to think of your future and plan for the number of kids you (realistically) hope to have rather than the number you have at the moment. If you hope to have three kids within 10 years, buying a two-bedroom today (or an apartment with just one bathroom and no flexibility to add another) probably doesn’t make sense.

8. Think long and hard about walk-ups

Plenty of parents do it--and an in-unit washer-dryer combined with Fresh Direct grocery delivery can take the edge off--but living with a family in a walk-up is not an easy feat. The first thing you should do if you’re considering a walk-up and have (or plan to have) small kids is make sure you may leave your stroller downstairs.

Also, keep in mind that it’s one thing to do it with the first kid, but with a whole brood? That takes someone with a lot of organization (and great leg muscles). If you're planning to expand your family, you may want to rent instead of buy to avoid the possibility of getting tied to your real estate past its useful life.

Related posts:

To raise a family in NYC, you need a master's in real estate

NYC kids want a doorman too, but not for the reason you think

Can you raise a family in Manhattan on $400k a year?

How to find a family friendly building

Why you may not want the place with a yard

4 ways to get a potential landlord to like your dog

8 questions you MUST ask before buying renters insurance (sponsored)

How to get your dog past a co-op board

How to raise 4 kids in a 4th floor walk-up

Can babies and walk-ups ever really get along?

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