Renting in Williamsburg

What it's like

North Williamsburg around Bedford is new construction, amenity buildings, and a rent roll that has caught up with the Lower East Side. South Williamsburg and the blocks east toward the BQE are older, cheaper, and where you find the two-bedrooms that people actually sign.

The waterfront towers are their own market: doorman, gym, pool in a couple of cases, and prices to match. If that is what you want, it is the best version of it in Brooklyn. If it is not, walk fifteen minutes inland and the neighborhood changes completely.

Who it suits

People who want new construction and a short ride to Manhattan, and anyone whose social life is already here.

The catch

The L is a single point of failure. Weekend service changes are frequent, and when the L is out the alternatives from Bedford are a long walk to the G or a bus over the bridge. Living further from Bedford makes this worse, not better.

Getting around

The L at Bedford and Lorimer, the G at Metropolitan, and the J, M, Z at Marcy. Bedford to 14th Street is about eight minutes, which is the entire reason for the price.

What to check at the viewing

• Check the weekend L schedule for the specific station before you decide the commute works.
• In new construction, ask what year the building opened and whether it has had facade work. A few of the 2015 to 2018 buildings have had problems.
• Ask whether the unit faces the BQE and stand at the window with it open.