Rent burdened essential workers, rural home loan program, & more

By Austin Havens-Bowen | February 17, 2021 - 10:30AM

Rent burdened: Despite New York City's falling rent, 96 percent of market-rate apartments are still too expensive for essential workers (StreetEasy Blog)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a home loan program with a low interest rate and a 0 percent down payment, if you're willing to move to a rural location (press release)

Mayor Bill de Blasio says the city will begin hearings on reforming its outdated and inequitable property tax system (Gotham Gazette)

Some NYC co-op and condo boards are considering mandated Covid-19 vaccinations for their building staff (The New York Times)

Take a look into a music journalist's Upper East Side apartment that's filled with rock-and-roll memorabilia (Curbed)

An affordable apartment lottery opened for 11 apartments on the Upper East Side. Rent starts at $1,472 for a studio (Patch)

Austin Havens-Bowen

Staff Writer

Staff writer Austin Havens-Bowen covers the rental market and answers renters' questions in a column called Realty Bites. He previously reported on local news for the Queens Ledger and The Hunts Point Express in the Bronx. He graduated from Hunter College with a BA in media studies. He rents a one-bedroom apartment in Astoria with his boyfriend and their two cats.

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