Good morning I neve had a house before I get 1,000 SSI disability I would like to have a five bedroo

Margaret, I want to be honest with you because it will save you time: a five bedroom house with a yard in Brooklyn or Manhattan is not realistic on $1,000 a month of SSI, and I would not want you chasing something that will not work. But there are real housing options, and the first step is to talk to a nonprofit housing counselor. Look for a HUD-approved housing counseling agency in Brooklyn; the service is usually free, and they can look at your whole situation. Here are the paths I would ask about. Public housing (NYCHA) and the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program can pay most of the rent for people with low income, though waitlists can be long. City affordable housing lotteries through Housing Connect have income ranges and are worth applying to. And since you want to own someday, ask about homeownership programs for people with disabilities, including the voucher homeownership option, plus ABLE accounts, which let people on SSI save money without always losing benefits. Please also check the SSI resource limits before you save or buy anything, because assets over the limit can affect your benefits. A housing counselor or the Social Security office can explain it. For dogs, ask any building about its pet policy up front, and know that assistance animals have extra protection under fair housing law. I am a real estate professional, not a benefits counselor or an attorney, so use a housing counselor for the details. I work in the Palos Verdes and South Bay area of Los Angeles, so for Brooklyn I would point you to a strong local agent when you are ready, and I am happy to help you find one. Zoltan Peresztegi Zoltan

Margaret, I'd rather give you an honest answer than a hopeful one. On $1,000 a month, a five bedroom house in Brooklyn or Manhattan isn't realistic on the open rental market. Where you have a real shot is housing that's priced to your income. Start with NYC Housing Connect, the city's lottery for affordable apartments. Read each listing's income range closely, because many have a minimum income and some are set aside for lower incomes like yours. Rental vouchers such as Section 8 can help too, but in New York those waiting lists are often closed, so ask what's actually open right now. The bedroom count you qualify for usually follows how many people live with you, and not every building takes dogs. A housing counselor, or a call to 311, can walk you through the applications. I'm licensed in California, so a New York counselor or agent will know these programs far better than I do. Alla Novytska, Realtor®, JohnHart Real Estate, DRE #02254775

You are not going to get a 5-bedroom house on $1,000/month income anywhere in the US, let alone Brooklyn. Keith Jean-Pierre Managing Principal The Dapper Agents Real Estate Operations in ALL 50 States

Good morning! It’s wonderful that you’re looking for your first home with a backyard where your dogs can enjoy themselves. With $1,000 a month in SSI disability income, purchasing or renting a five-bedroom house in Brooklyn or Manhattan will be challenging, but you may qualify for affordable housing or disability-related housing assistance. I recommend starting with NYC Housing Connect to explore affordable housing opportunities and calling 311 to ask about housing assistance programs for people receiving SSI. Are you looking to buy a house or rent one, and will you be living alone or with family? This will help determine which housing programs may be available to you.