A total of five people stayed at the apartment and we were all able to accommodate ourselves pretty well. It was clean and exactly like the pictures. There were clean towels provided, as well. The neighborhood may look intimidating at first glance, especially at night, but it was fine. You may still want to avoid walking back to the apartment late at night if you're alone, just like you would anywhere else, to be extra safe.
We found Utica to be the closest and most convenient subway station, and it's 7-10 minutes away by walking. The area is mostly residential but there are a few convenience stores and restaurants a block or two away.
As for the hosts, we never met Zaire as she was out of town when we arrived, but her husband Eddie was incredibly nice and helpful. He made sure to be available to us if we had any questions or needed help with anything. Overall, it was a great experience.