We had a great stay with J. He was very welcoming, and trusted us with his whole house from the get go. We were free to use all facilities, and our room was clean and tidy. Every day he checked in with us, and asked us how we were doing. He also gave us tips regarding good places to get food.
His place is a bit away from shopping and sites, but it's no problem. The metro is a 10 minute walk away, and Uber will pick you up within minutes. Also, it is great value for you money compared to rooms closer to Williamsburg and Manhattan, and those places are just a trip with the metro away anyways.
Tip: Get the metro card with unlimited travel, and New York will be your oyster.