Bedford Stuyvesant The Next Williamsburg.

Bedford-Stuyvesant is a residential neighborhood in the northern part of Brooklyn that is 2.9 square miles and has a population of around 150,000 residents. It’s an urban neighborhood, comprised mostly of African American residents (about 49 percent) and it’s the largest of New York City’s black communities. It’s bordered by Flushing Avenue, Atlantic Avenue, Broadway and Saratoga Avenue, and Classon Avenue. If you’re interested in Bedford Stuyvesant apartments for rent or you’re considering buying a home, here’s everything you need to know before snatching up your own little piece of  Brooklyn real estate.
History
Bedford-Stuyvesant, also referred to as Community Board 3, initially started as woodlands of Bedford. In the mid-1600s, the Dutch West Indies Company purchased the land from the Canarsee Indians, which in turn was inhabited by Dutch farmers and black slaves. In the 19th century, Bedford came together with nearby Stuyvesant Heights to form the area it’s known as today.
In 1973, the population expanded and included not only the Dutch, but also free blacks, Jews, Scots, Germans, and Irish. The population grew even more thanks to the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1883, and in 1920, the population swelled to 45,000. It wasn’t until the mid 1930s that Bedford-Stuyvesant became a predominately African American area.
Housing and income stats
According to Point2Homes.com, there are about 124,179 households in Bedford-Stuyvesant, with approximately 73,785 of them being family households. The median household income in Bedford-Stuyvesant is $29,415 with almost half of the population receiving income support. The average income in Brooklyn as a whole is $68,528. The sales tax rate is 5 percent. According to NYC.gov, 13,864 in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section are on cash assistance, 44,876 are covered by Medicaid only, and 11,158 are on supplemental security income, which totals out to 45.7 percent of the population receiving assistance.
Real estate costs
Should you desire moving moving to a neighborhood that has an artsy and creative vibe along with a strong community spirit, Bedford-Stuyvesant real estate is significantly cheaper than the average Brooklyn real estate. According to trulia.com, the median listing price for a home in Bedford-Stuyvesant is $499,000, up from $496,930 during the last quarter of 2012 and $460,000 five years earlier. Compare that to Brooklyn real estate where the average listing price is $801,606 and the median sales price is $580,000. Most of those in Bedford Stuyvesant (69 percent) are renting while 17 percent own their home; 14 percent of properties sit vacant.
Apartment rent and buy
If you’re looking for Bedford-Stuyvesant apartments to rent, you’re in luck. According to weichert.com, the average rent for a studio in Bedford-Stuyvesant is significantly lower than other areas at only $1,071 a month. The average for a 1-bedroom is $1,158, a 2-bedroom is $1,289, a 3-bedroom is $1,585, and a 4-bedroom is $1,783. If you’re interested in Bedford-Stuyvesant apartments for sale, according to furmancenter.org, the median sales price per unit in a 2-4 family building is $164,000, down a little over a thousand dollars from the year before when it was $165,324. In 2010, 40.9 percent of rental units were public and subsidized rental units, and 34.2 percent were rent regulated units.
Crime stats
According to weichert.com, Bedford-Stuyvesant is slightly higher than the national average in personal crimes but lower individually in property crimes. If the national average has a score of 1.0, murder is at 1.38, rape at .91, robbery at 3.08, assault at 1.46, burglary at .68, larceny at .88, and auto theft at .89.
Bedford-Stuyvesant is a historic area, and just recently in 2013, The New York City Landmarks Preservation Committee voted to expand Bedford-Stuyvesant’s historic district by 825 buildings.  Many of the homes in the area are charming brownstones that are in fabulous condition and have exquisite architectural detailing. Some of these homes date all the way back to the late 1800s, and have been lovingly restored and cared for. In addition to brownstones, numerous other homes will be preserved, including Gothic-style faux chateaus and wood-frame houses.
Restaurants
It’s not just the Bedford-Stuyvesant real estate that makes the area fantastic, but also the restaurants.  Thanks to the diversity of the neighborhood, you’ll find a slew to choose from including Saraghina, which serves up pizza, and Therapy Wine Bar, which, as you can tell by the name, has a vast selection of wine on their menu. There’s also the Bedford Hill Coffee Shop when you want your caffeine fix, and Dough, which is nearby and serves up doughnuts. Craving southern food? Check out Peaches, and for Thai food, pay a visit to Umi Nom. For Italian food, Sud is a good option, and when you want a good helping of meat, visit David’s Brisket House.
The Bedford-Stuyvesant area is a great up-and-coming area to look into if you’re interested in purchasing Brooklyn Real Estate. Compared to nearby neighborhoods, such as Williamsburg, Bedford-Stuyvesant real estate is still on the inexpensive end while the vibrant and diverse community continues to grow and thrive.
About the author: 
Lior Raviv http://www.primehomesny.com