Hi friends,
I’m back with Episode 2 of our apartment-hunting journey here in New York City—and this time, we took a little detour across the river to explore what Jersey City has to offer. 👀 And let me tell you… this building might’ve stolen our hearts.
Before we dive in, if you’re new here: Hi! I’m Flor. I live in NYC with my husband, my toddler, and our very spoiled French bulldog, Oreo 🐶. I make videos every week about books, content creation, and self-employed life in the city—and lately, I’ve been bringing you along as we look for our next home.
If you haven’t already, you might want to catch up on the previous episodes first.
Here’s the video where I break down everything you need to know before you start apartment hunting in NYC (trust me, it’s a lot): Watch it here.
And here’s Episode 1 of the series, where we toured five apartments in Manhattan and Brooklyn: Watch it here.
Now, let’s talk about this episode.
This time around, we toured SIX apartments—all in the same luxury building in Jersey City, and honestly… I wasn’t expecting to fall in love with it the way I did.
First things first: What we’re looking for
If you’ve been following along, you already know our list of non-negotiables:
- A spacious 1-bedroom or a true 2-bedroom
- Big, bright windows (light is everything)
- Dishwasher in-unit
- Pet-friendly (Oreo has her standards too)
Nice-to-haves:
- Laundry in-unit (or at least in the building)
- Doorman + elevator
- A little extra space for an office setup since both my husband and I work from home
- A budget between $3,500 and $4,500 (flexible ish for the right place)
Okay, now that we’ve covered the basics… let’s get into it.
Watch the full video here 👇
So… Jersey City??
I know, I know. It’s not technically New York. But hear me out.
This building we toured—VYV in Jersey City—had everything. It’s brand new, full of light, with amenities that honestly made me question everything I thought I wanted in an NYC apartment. We’re talking rooftop with views of Manhattan, outdoor grills and seating areas, a literal pool (!!), co-working spaces, and the closet space of my dreams.
We saw:
- Several 2 bed / 2 bath layouts, all spacious, bright, and actually functional
- A 1 bed / 1 bath with a small den, which felt perfect for a mini office or dressing room
- And the most gorgeous white kitchens that made me want to cook (and you know that’s saying a lot)
Each apartment had its own little personality, but what they all had in common was really thoughtful design and so much natural light.
Favorites? Yes, we had them.
It’s hard to choose, but I think our top contender was a two-bedroom with double vanities, a wide-open living space, and that kitchen—bright white with a huge island. Also, can we talk about the closets? Like, real closets. Not “NYC closets” that can barely hold a jacket. These were the kind of closets that could fit your summer clothes, your winter clothes, your partner’s stuff, and still have room for random junk that somehow lives with you.
Is it worth the price?
These apartments were on the higher end of our budget, yes. But honestly? Between the quality of the units, the location (five-minute walk to the waterfront and a shopping center), and the amenities… I think the price might actually make sense.
And for the first time in this whole process, I could picture us living in one of these apartments. Waking up to those views, setting up our desks in the bright second bedroom, cooking dinner with the city skyline glowing outside the window. It felt real.
What’s next?
We still have a few more places to see (and yes, I’m definitely documenting those too), but this was the first building that gave us that maybe this is it feeling.
So tell me—which apartment was your favorite?
Would you cross the river for a place like this?
Let me know in the comments here or over on Instagram.
And if you’re following this little adventure, don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel and turn on the notifications so you don’t miss what comes next.
More soon,
Flor.
Find me on: Instagram
