We flew in from Australia to JFK, around 9.30pm, we didn't get to Mustafa's place until nearly 11pm. His nephew met us with a smile, showed us the features of the place and it was easy. The apartment is very convenient to the rail line (which we used the next day to get to Penn Station), we wandered down the road to a diner for breakfast and it was all easy.
The neighbourhood was fine, I wasn't sure what to expect in Queens, but was very pleasantly surprised that it was all OK.
The price was certainly better than an airport hotel or expensive Manhattan one.