Kelly Kreth

After 14 years, Maureen Sanchez-Paredes and Dr. Manuel Vasquez-Ayala sold their large New Jersey house to move closer to their adult children in Manhattan. Downsizing the family home was challenging and the couple felt stereotyped when touring luxury rentals on the Upper East Side. But they are happy where they landed. Here’s Ms. Sanchez-Paredes’s story.

Homer and his girlfriend work in healthcare and were enjoying living and working in Suffolk County. When both land new jobs on the Upper West Side, they have no desire to commute from Long Island. They end up in a place on the Upper West Side that’s within their budget—but find they’re still spending more each month than before. It’s a tradeoff they’re willing to make. Here’s Homer’s story.

Long-time friends Briana and Hope had comfortable lives in their respective cities but dreamed of moving in together in New York City. With the ability to work from home, and NYC’s new affordability, they seized the opportunity and landed in a very busy part of the city—which doesn’t take away from their excitement at being here. Here’s Briana’s story.

Aidan Russo was born and raised in Syracuse and living there after college with two roommates for an unbelievably low rent. With lots of friends, bars nearby, and places to go hiking—life there was fun. But NYC beckoned and he landed a deal in a neighborhood that saw rents plunge during the pandemic. Here’s his story.

When Ashley Stanley heard that NYC rents were falling, she packed up and drove here from Colorado. But it was still hard to find a place for herself and her young son that she could afford. A fateful encounter with a friendly bartender turned everything around, and they landed in a one bedroom for $1,900 on the Upper West Side. Now she’s fully enamored with NYC living. Here’s her story.

A newly married couple, Darius and Caroline, (along with Darius’s mother) decided to make a move from Moriches, New York, to the Upper East Side, to be closer to family. They left behind a quiet townhouse on Long Island that was a 25-minute drive to the nearest grocery store. Now they appreciate being so close to work, places to socialize and shop, and they’re pleasantly surprised by the spaciousness of their new place. Here’s Darius’s story.