Sara, where are you looking to go? And are you looking to buy or to rent?
If renting, esp in the NYC area, stay away from the agencies that charge a fee to find you an apartment, they're crooks - and they usually charge a full months rent for finding you something that you coulda found yourself.
Renting. Either upper manhattan, brooklyn, or the bronx.
Right now main concern is having a subway nearby. since we dont have a car (yet) an area with halal/desi grocery not too far away will be good.
oh and i want a nice big kitchen.. (hey a girl can dream :@: )
...and are you concerned about school districts? Do you want to live near a Mosque? Do you need easy access to public transportation?