Kelly Kreth

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.

Living as a couple in small studio apartment in downtown Brooklyn was doable for native Brooklynite Rachel Kasab and her fiancé—until the pandemic set in. They decided to hunt for a place where they could more easily work from home, landing in nearby Cobble Hill. Here’s Rachel’s story.

Pedro was living with his parents on Long Island when the pandemic hit and realized he had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to move to NYC. As the lead project manager for a construction company, he applied his engineering knowledge to his rigorous apartment search, sifting through 200-plus listings and touring 50 places.

For years, Floyd Feather Jr. debated about whether to move to Manhattan, where he worked, or remain on Long Island, where he enjoyed his quiet, residential neighborhood and spent his free time sailing. His breezy lifestyle always won out—until he sold his boat and falling rents lured him to Hell’s Kitchen.