We'll be rolling out fresh tips for surviving the city with kids this Family Week, but we also dug through the archives for our best advice on the apartment search, handling kid-related building etiquette, and eventually, helping your kid lock down their own slice of NYC real estate:
Finding the right neighborhood for you (and your brood)
- On the hunt for a family-friendly apartment, keep an eye on the building's pet policy and proximity to playgrounds, and beware the walk-up.
- Don't forget to look up the schools (and school zones) near your prospective apartment before taking it.
- And if the whole school situation is giving you hives, remember there are a lot of options for elementary-aged kids.
Keeping the peace once you move in
- We've got techniques for meeting the neighbors halfway in a building that's not necessarily kid-friendly...
- ...and safely childproofing every room of your apartment (even the bathroom).
- If your neighbors really dislike noisy kids, here's how to avoid eviction in a co-op.
- An easy way to stay on your doorman's good side: Don't let your kids order him around or make him a de facto babysitter.
- While we're at it, don't make the building's hallway your go-to place for time-outs.
- And, tempting though it may be, resist the budget-friendly urge to put your kid in a windowless "bedroom."
Landing your kid an apartment of their own
- If you're hoping to snag a rental for your college student before they start the school year, it can be done—with a little extra paperwork.
- More advice for parents renting on behalf of their kids: what neighborhoods are best for shares, how to handle the roommates, and where to look to save on broker's fees.
- Signing on as a guarantor? You'll still want to take some precautions.
- And if you're looking to buy, condos are likely to be much more accepting of a co-purchase than co-ops.
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