finding an apartment in nyc

(My serious answer is actually ALLY TO THREAD, as I imagine she could be an invaluable resource here.)

Do not use a broker. Ever.

Really, Geeta....Tracer is right: persistence, persistence and more persistence: trawl the US version of Loot (I *swear* I've seen some decent flats there); the NY Times (online: http://www.nytimes.com); Apartment.com; Time Out New York (http://www.timeoutny.com): recently, I'd found an article detailing Astoria, Queens as the new mecca: it's cheaper than Manhattan, close to the subways and the restaurants/diners aren't bad. Use the Search engine, and type "apartments".

(Figures that more interesting folk arrive, just when I'm leaving NY;>)

Yeah fuck brokers.

I am so glad i signed a 2 year lease.

Douglas, if you're reading this—what's Hunter(')s Point like these days? I just read some about.com story that says $1100 for a one-bedroom, that's not really what I was thinking.

According to the Census Bureau's 2003 American Community Survey, the latest data available, the median household income for all of New York City was $39,937. By the federal government's 30 percent standard, Dr. Ellen noted, that would define an affordable rent for the entire city as $998 a month.

Can we like, sue someone?

In what she described as "an ordeal," Ms. Simpkins, 22, researched perhaps 50 apartments on the Internet, "trying to figure out what I could afford, if it was someplace I wanted to live." She worked with five brokers, visiting "maybe 10 apartments," she said, most of them "completely out of my price range."

There's one born every minute. For the record I've taken Wolk's advice upthread, and just tromped around, putting up signs. Ms. Simpkins would be astonished at how willing people are to help you, once you tell them what you're doing.

I think I'm returning, to Queens this time. Please let me know if you or anyone you know has a room for rent in their apartment around the $700-900 range in Jackson Heights, Astoria, Sunnyside, Woodside, or any other place you think I might like to live. Thanks . . . (I suppose Brooklyn on the G train might be a possibilty as well.)

--Mary

I hear Bed Stuy is "up and coming"

Ditmars is too far of a commute, so if anyone knows of anything in the Sunnyside/Woodside/Jackson Heights area, let me know. Astoria (Broadway/Steinway) also works. This is for April 1.

I have ridiculously cheap rent now ($600/mo) for a pretty big room in a 3br warehouse conversion with central air conditioning... Right by the Montrose stop in Williamsburg'ish. But then I just got offered a 1br off the Grand Street stop thats originally a 4-room railroad, but two walls were knocked down to make 2 bigger rooms rather than 4 small rooms. Pretty nice - the bathroom is tiny tiny tiny and the kitchen appliances are decrepit, but the rest of the apartment is quite nice. Only $1250, rent stabilized...

It's twice what I pay now, but I can afford it without too much hardship...... But damn $600/mo is sooooo cheap. What to do. Someone tell me how to live my life.

Grand Street stop on what train?

L.

pretty close to where i live now, but less puerto rican'y and more industrial'y

paul, is that you?

1250 for a 2br off the Grand L? Total rip, I lived 3 blocks from the Lorimer L in a huuuuge 2br for only $1,100... that's probably what it still is. I'm paying $1250 for a nice new studio apartment in Greenpoint currently.

its a big 1br with an office, which is what i need. i thought 1250 was pretty good...

Whoa, i cant believe that there would be a huuuuuuge 2br 3 blocks from Lorimer for $1100 unless you were touched by an angel and got really lucky. I've had some spectacular luck before though - like my first place in Williamsburg in 2001 was n8/Roebling in a 2BR loft and I paid like $550... Didn't think deals like that still existed.

I'd rather have a big 1br and office in bushwick than a studio in greenpoint. just barely though.

First, find an apartment building in nyc. After that the rest of the process just naturally falls into place.

Oh, it's a 1br. Why not if you want to live alone

ok thanks thats what i want to hear. im unable to make somewhat important life decisions without second and third opinions, even its from internet strangers.

Phil I woulnt base any important life decisions off the advice of burt stanton.

The apt sounds nice and a good deal tho. I would go for it.

RENT MY ROOM!!!!!

where is it??

graham ave. L in brooklyn
$860/month
2 very awesome roommates
42" plasma, playstation 3, wii, etc.
backyard access
2.5 bathrooms (one roommate showers in yours, but it's basically like having your own bathroom)

oh man. back to roommates again.. hmm

need a job, also. anyone needs a web editor or something along those lines?

ari and i are looking for a place!!! anyone have any leads?

im also looking for a part time job so

bump for max's birthday, someone grant his wish!

looking at a place in ft greene tomorrow fingers crossed

Wishing u the best of luck.

hah max thought you were all about living in the boonies on the c train

i'm Ditmas Adjacent

Victorian Nutbush

what's with ppl asking for your current landlord/mgmt company as a REFERENCE? Surely thought this was understood as a no-no.

here's how it went the first time I looked for an apt in nyc; not easy even when rents where relatively cheap...

https://medium.com/@markcoleman57/apartment-search-nyc-1981-ff8394f3cc2b

i've had a mere 5 apartments in 25 years in the city, but no one ever asked me to use my current landlord as a reference. I don't want them to know i might leave, yo.

With my most recent move not only did the old landlord write the new landlord a letter of recommendation - this suggested by the real estate agent though I wouldn't be surprised if the new landlord expected it - but also the new landlord phoned the old landlord to ask questions about me

this tends not to happen with landlords of 16-story apt buildings, i suspect.

Probably not, sounds like a whole different dynamic

what do we think of Sunset Park?

It's delicious.

the people who designed Nooklyn's web interface, and whoever authorized their brokers to post a thousand copies of every ad to craigslist, are bad people and our common enemies

and morbz otm, the landlord reference thing is infuriating. my partner's last two landlords have both been unreasonable psychos. that's why she's looking for an apartment!

I had to sublet a place for 2-3 months and a friend told me about their sister in law needing a sublettor for that time frame (it was near prospect park). Saw the place, liked it, was going to take it and then the woman said next steps were to get a referral letter from employer and past landlord. That was seriously some weird overdoing it for a sublet. I passed.

wow that's nuts. if you're going to end up demanding that kind of process, you should not tell your sister-in-law to spread the word that you're subletting your place.

anyone have a free apartment? free would be nice.

We're moving to New York! Hurrah.

We've got to find a way of getting an apartment with no US credit history! Boo.

Anyone got any tips? I really don't want to have to pay a service like theguarantors.com a month in rent just to underwrite my lease. I have an excellent credit score in the UK but that apparently counts for nothing.

Are there some private rentals that are less obsessive about credit scores? Maybe a short term rental until I build up a credit history (not really sure how long that takes)

Wha?! Amazing!

It's been a long time since I went thru this humiliating process. Do you know any Americans with their finances together who will act as a 'guarantor'? If memory serves they sign something that says they'll bail you out if they have to, and provide a credit score and bank statement.

Guarantors need to have an annual salary that's 80 times your monthly rent, so that's like over $200k. I sadly don't move in such circles but if anyone wants to volunteer let me know ha ha.

NYC deals with a lot of international transplants, I would think they could sub in a UK credit history if they required it (besides providing the regular bank statements, employer letter, previous ll letter or the documentation
that you owned your flat.)

And congrats!

WAU! Welcome! Do you have an idea of where you want to live for convenience sake? Or do you like specific areas? A short-term spot might not be a bad way to get settled and check out some places.

Thanks! Working in financial district and looking at Crown Heights, Fort Greene, Bed-Stuy, Red Hook, Carroll Gardens, also Kensington and Sunset Park further afield.

Can anyone tell me what the code after the pound sign on rental addresses, eg in 319 East 19th Street #7C, what does the #7C mean? Is it the number of the apartment and if so does the 7 mean it's on the 7th floor?

yep, exactly

It means it's apt 7C but it's not absolute that it would be on the 7th floor. It depends on the building. For example my apt is C5 (or previously 5C when it was a rental); it's on the 3rd floor and in my building there are five apartments per floor and I am in the "C" line going upwards. Zillow or some other similar site might have a more detailed description from when it was last sold or leased.

Oh crap I totally got that wrong. Apartments on the ground are A, the second floor =B, etc. But again, it depends on the building.

Thank you!

Also, is it a totally sketchy idea to approach a broker with a view to them giving you a good idea of apartments and how to get them, even if you doubt you could ever afford their fee on an actual rental? And how do you find a good one anyway?

I live(d) in brooklyn and queens for 15 years and never used a broker. But I first found a for rent by owner in williamsburg on craigslist and had roommates and then bought soon after. I've had roommates who were brokers and I feel like there is a huge amount of competition and flaking out on both sides. I am wondering if anyone on ilx uses rental brokers.

But it is always good to walk the neighborhood you want to live in (especially if it's a quieter neighrborhood) and look out for private signs and listings in smaller broker windows.

I suppose it's just that they might have expertise in knowing how to get around out problem of having no credit score, like knowing the landlords who are more relaxed.

Yeah, for brooklyn and queens a lot do tend to have areas and buildings that they specifically work. Just don't feel bad if some blow you off. There are a lot of bad brokers out there. I feel like 4 or 5 current ilxors rent in blyn still? I am not sure if you queried fb yet?

i found an amazing apt in park slope from a broker who was an old lady working out of a dusty storefront with a parrot in a cage beside her desk. she lent me "shah of shahs" by ryszard kapuściński

this was approx 20 years ago so possibly not helpful

i can second the walking the streets thing. you can look for signs in windows but also look for places in the process of being done up and ask the builders for the landlord's number.

On the us credit rating thing. If you have had a uk American Express card they allow you to open a us card account based on your previous history with them. That then starts a credit history for you in the us. Need to have a social security number before you can open a us account.

Once you’ve got that you can open several hundred thousand dollars worth of credit card account, max them out a flee to Venezuela.

Alba the listings project might be helpful, email list of NYC rentals/sublets

yeah, take a look at that. it shifted up out of my price range a couple years ago, but depending on your income it could be a great source.

we found our new place through one of the "hip" branded broker agencies. only did so because it was no fee, the place looked great online (we had a few different searches going on StreetEasy, which you might find very useful --- just futz with the settings so you don't get a million update emails), and the agent who showed the place was a friendly human being who understood what we were talking about.

it's a good place, it all worked out but mannnn was dealing with the broker a hassle. it's a seller's market, nobody has any obligation to act transparently or professionally towards you because you're just an interchangeable sucker applicant from the POV of the back-of-the-house staff. i kinda wish we'd had a little more patience and done the walking-up-to-mom-n-pop-broker-offices thing. our place is good so it all worked out but it was actually a stressful couple of weeks there waiting for a real confirmation of when, in fact, we'd be allowed to move in.

Would mom and pop brokers also charge 15% of your annual rent as a fee? I'm all for mom and pop but I've got to eat too.

Yes, pinning hopes on a sublet through listingsproject a bit. Not ideal to have to move again after a few months but could be worse. Weird that it's only weekly. Any other websites that are good for sublets?

NO MORE BROKER FEES!

The cynic in me thinks that it just means rentals that previously had broker fees will now just be more expensive per month as landlords pass on the cost of paying the broker fee themselves.

BTW I got an apartment in the end thanks to finding a landlord who liked us and the fact I was half-Indian so was OK with us having no credit rating. Had to pay a $2,000 broker fee though.

ugh. where are you?

i made a dhansak and i thought of how you may be the only parsi person I know. (uh, it's parsi right?) xpost

i saw something about how to possibly clawback broker fees if it was after the law went to effect (but before they interpretted/clarified).

Yes, I nearly wrote half-Parsi but I thought that made it too specific about why the landlord liked me. He's Bangladeshi but still made reference to how you've got to "look after your own".

We're in a less fancy end of Prospect Lefferts Gardens.

Now I want dhansak.

anybody looking for a large one bedroom? I can very much vouch for this neighborhood.
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/420-E-4th-St-APT-3-Brooklyn-NY-11218/2108693491_zpid/

ALERT APARTMENT REQUEST ALERT

Hey NY folks. Does anyone know of a studio, 1br (lol), or a room share in the $1500 range?

Not for me but my downstairs neighbor is giving up her place in a messy breakup and needs to find her own rental. 28yo, very smart and evolved, thoughtful, quiet, pleasant, fully employed. She loves Bed-Stuy but things are getting dire and she needs to land elsewhere. Willing to rent a room or a share with anyone civilized. Starting now/soon.

Ty!

https://streeteasy.com/building/118-clarkson-avenue-brooklyn/5s

this one seems renovated a bit, and under budget
https://streeteasy.com/building/319-remsen-avenue-brooklyn/1a

That one is a garage with no kitchen!

Totally, Dan. And on Remsen??

The problem with online ads is how many of them are scams. She already gave someone $400 for a supposed appointment to see a building that turned out to be burned down and derelict. The Street Easy listing "near Prospect Park" is...I would be genuinely shocked if that's a real apartment and that's the price.

A long time ago I had a similar experience with a shady "realtor" who showed us a place and took our deposit, and then CASHED our deposit, and then told us we didn't get the apartment but also couldn't get our money back. Which, as it turns out, is illegal. Which is what I told HIS MOM when I tracked the business' registered address to his parents' house in Brooklyn Heights.

I'm really looking for any personal hookups, sublets, knowledge via NYCers actual social networks if anything is open or opening soon.

Thanks!