Moving to NYC, How to rent a place?

I will be moving to NYC after graduation and am trying to figure out how to get an apartment for rent? Do real estate agents respond to people trying to do virtual showings and then e-signing? I seems to not be getting any responses

6 Comments
 

Go in person, you'll get more responses and a better feel for the space. I just signed a place today. Got a short term place while I toured and it was worth it. Give yourself a week or at least a few days to find a place with boots on the ground.

I've never lived here before so I spent longer looking around before settling on a spot. Heads up you have to submit a lot of info in NYC and put up a lot of cash - via check too. So different from my last city. My last apt I just wired cash after touring virtually and got approved easily.

 

Go in person, you'll get more responses and a better feel for the space. I just signed a place today. Got a short term place while I toured and it was worth it. Give yourself a week or at least a few days to find a place with boots on the ground.

I've never lived here before so I spent longer looking around before settling on a spot. Heads up you have to submit a lot of info in NYC and put up a lot of cash - via check too. So different from my last city. My last apt I just wired cash after touring virtually and got approved easily.

Can you let me know how you went about it? Did you just ask a broker to schedule showings a day you went in-person and did you need a guarantor?

 

I reached out on streeteasy a day or two ahead. Any earlier (I tried setting up meetings before I got to NYC) and they won't want to commit to meeting. It was very fast paced and I would often meet within 24h of reaching out. Open houses were hit or miss, often super crowded and it delists a few minutes after it ends. I had success getting a few brokers to show me units. I ultimately found a no fee spot in an apartment. I avoided condos and broker fees. It can be as much as 15% of the annual rent or ~ 2 months rent just to the broker as a fee. I hadn't seen that in other markets and it greatly increased the ultimate cost of some fee units.

My dad was my guarantor but I think it was overkill. I have a high credit score and exceeded the suggested income by a good amount. Actually going to be paying a lot less in New York by getting a smaller place in a decent area.

 
Most Helpful

Streeteasy is by far the best site to use. Can use filters (# bedroom/bathrooms, washer/dryer, dishwasher etc.) and also draw a custom area on map of Manhattan. A good apartment (B+ and up) will go FAST and be gone within 24-48hrs if you're renting in peak season (summer). I'd get in contact via text, call, and streeteasy message with as many brokers as you can to set up in person tours. give yourself at least 3 weeks to find a place. Most brokers should have at least a couple units to show you (often in same building) Carve out a weekend to visit NYC and tour as many apartments as you can because it can often look very different in person than online. I probably saw ~20 units before choosing one for first apartment to rent. If you're trying to find a place during summer it is incredibly competitive and fast paced and sucks. The requirements for renting a place are stringent in NYC. I'd have all these documents ready to go in a PDF file

- Annual salary must be 40x annual rent (80x with guarantors, some places allow multiple guarantors or can use theguarantors.com)  

- If you have roommates, you + roommates annual salaries must combined be 40x annual rent (80x with guarantors, some places allow multiple guarantors) 

- Good credit (~700+ preferred?) 

  1. Copy of your Photo ID – driver’s license, passport or state issued ID.
    • If you are not from the United States, a copy of your non-expired Visa is also required.
  2. First two pages of two most recent tax returns
    • If you did not have income and are a recent graduate than please provide proof of recent enrollment (Diploma)
  3. Signed current employment letter stating position held and yearly salary
    • If you are self-employed then please provide a signed CPA letter stating projected income
    • If you are a student, then please provide transcripts as proof of enrollment
  4. First two pages of most recent bank statement (checking, savings, portfolio, money market)
  5. Two most recent pay stubs/earning statements
    • If you are a student, then please provide transcripts as proof of enrollment
  6. Optional: Any other documents relevant to your occupancy and approval such as:
    • Prior Landlord Reference Letter
    • Historical Tenant Ledger
 

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