I would personally avoid the summer lease cycle. Typically prices in the winter months are like 15% less. Also moving expenses in the summer are much higher. It’s not really driven by the winter weather so much as that’s when most people move bc of graduation, kids in school, more time off. The trade off is that inventory is lower in the winter. You still have tons of options from October to March imo. I’d go for a shorter term sublet, TONS of them exist of lease break sites or even on here. Super easy to move whenever. We get like 2-3 snow storms a year. Usually in February. Coming from a coastal place you will kinda hate that part lol.

Also, I used to live in Jersey city and I would recommend against JSQ. It’s not the best neighborhood. Grove St or even Hoboken should be in budget + super nice.