Searching for apartment in NYC

Hey all, I have a few months before my college ends. I am now starting to look for apartments for the following year in NY, any advice on how to approach this the best way possible?

 
Best Response
mbamarathon:
Use StreetEasy. It lets you sort by price range, amenities, neighborhood, or even custom-bound location on a map. You also won't need a broker if you use this and/or other similar websites. I found my last 2 apartments this way and plan on using it again when I move in a few months.

I'm going to disagree. Unless he just signed with a nice salary and a fat bonus, that's probably out of his price range. (if you did, ignore (almost) everything below and follow MBAmarathon's advice)

Rent prices in NYC are a shock for people coming from almost anywhere else. Consider craigslist and consider roommates. Also, be aware of scams. Even if things seem legit-ish, be wary of who you give money to. Getting an AirB&B and then 'leasing' it is a common scam. When the owner comes back, you're basically SOL, and the guy's long gone with your security deposit and first month's "rent."

Another suggestion is to consider neighborhoods that aren't quite there yet. There are a fair number of neighborhoods in outer Brooklyn and Queens, and north of 110th that are perfectly safe at 2am, and plenty that aren't. with some research, you might be able to find that diamond in the rough.

Finally, and to build on the prior point, Manhattan isn't the only game in town. There are plenty of places in Manhattan where it would take me three times as long to get to my job as it currently takes me from Jersey. Standing on a packed subway train for an hour twice each day gets old fast. Factor in commute time, and don't be a snob when it comes to the zip code.

The only difference between Asset Management and Investment Research is assets. I generally see somebody I know on TV on Bloomberg/CNBC etc. once or twice a week. This sounds cool, until I remind myself that I see somebody I know on ESPN five days a week.
 

You can still find very cheap studios on StreetEasy. But I agree that Craigslist or other means are better options if you don't already have roommates lined up or plan on living by yourself. If you do need to find roommates, posting on your school's various facebook groups can help connect you with people and is way less sketchy than Craigslist. From there you can then use services like StreetEasy to find the right place.

 

No fee Craigslist.

Expect to see 10 - 20 places to find a good one that you can accept the compromise.

There is always a compromise. Size, distance to subway, number of bathrooms, elevator building or none, price, etc etc

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

I like Street Easy for NYC. Odds are you will have to pay a broker fee unless you are willing to be obsessive about your search OR you contact building management directly (usually possible with high rises in FiDi). Your budget seems high to me, assuming you are coming in as an analyst.

For FiDi check out the websites for 2 Gold, 45 Wall, 100 Maiden, 200 Water, 95 Wall. There are others further west and on William and Water that I can't remember.

"For I am a sinner in the hands of an angry God. Bloody Mary full of vodka, blessed are you among cocktails. Pray for me now and at the hour of my death, which I hope is soon. Amen."
 

I second the comment about streeteasy. It is an easy to use site and you can search for "no fee" buildings.

As for not paying a broker fee you will probably have to contact the buildings directly, and as duff said, you will probably only find this in the larger buildings.

A few data points:

45 wall - $2,350 (studio) 100 Maiden Lane - $2,250 (studio) 200 Water - $2,300 (studio) 90 Washington - $2,300 (studio) 1 West - $2,300 (studio) 17 John - $2,000 (studio)

Not a lot in your price range. A few things to consider:

1) If you rent through a broker (a condo or a coop) you can usually get a better deal on the unit. There is more room to negotiate and there is also room to negotiate the fee.

2) If you sign a long term lease with an owner (again of a coop or condo) you can end up saving a fair amount. The risk is that you have to make a long term commitment, but you can lock in a price for 2 or 3 yrs (instead of dealing with the 5-15% rent increase, depending on the market).

3) You can also negotiate at these rental properties, but it will be difficult.

Have you considered roommates? If you are working in IB that might not be a bad idea.

 

if you want doorman buildings its pretty easy. search for doorman buildings in the area you want to live. I think NY bits has a pretty comprehensive list by each neighborhood... Then you go straight to them and avoid the broker -- that's what I've done for both places I have lived in NYC. If you don't want doorman, basically its streeteasy or a broker. Craigslist is sketch, steer clear (generally).

 
iRX:

if you want doorman buildings its pretty easy. search for doorman buildings in the area you want to live. I think NY bits has a pretty comprehensive list by each neighborhood... Then you go straight to them and avoid the broker -- that's what I've done for both places I have lived in NYC. If you don't want doorman, basically its streeteasy or a broker. Craigslist is sketch, steer clear (generally).

This is mostly accurate, though I would avoid most brokers...they're basically vultures, the slimiest of the slime.

 
frozencheese:

Why did someone minus this? Just wondering. Are the sites not good or something?

No idea. Those are some of the ones I would have recommended.

"For I am a sinner in the hands of an angry God. Bloody Mary full of vodka, blessed are you among cocktails. Pray for me now and at the hour of my death, which I hope is soon. Amen."
 
HarvardOrBust:

2200 for a studio seems high in general

It depends on the studio.

$2200 for a studio is pretty much below market in:

a) Nice neighborhoods (West Village, NoHo, Nolita, etc.), and

b) Nice, new buildings (such as those in terrible neighborhoods like the Financial District).

 

The current rental market is really heated. As a result you pretty much have to pay a broker fee unless you want to live in FiDi highrises. You really should've found roommates. I'd recommend calling up a broker and having him/her take you touring around studios in your price range. You can find an appt in one day that way.

 

yeah i've been dealing with a few brokers, they think they're hot shit.

i'm looking for a studio in midtown west, no luck yet. generally if you start looking a week before you move in, you have much better luck or so i'm told.

 

all of the brokers are the same.... they take you to no-fee places in murray hill the charge you a fee. you are better off going to the rental office directly

 

Hey, If your talkin about NYC.. Two of my friends got a two bdrm apt around 28th and 3rd for $2600/month. It may seem like a lot, but that's only $1300 each for an apt in the city, which is pretty good.

What you can also do is try to find an apt in Astoria, Queens which right over the water and is a 15min train ride away from Manhattan. The prices for two bedrooms there are probably $1300-$1800.

Granted, traffic & driving in Astoria blows balls, but I'd take the $1,000+ savings anyday. If your not gonna be driving then you should be ok.

 

Welcome to New York.. granted I don't understand how anyone with a beard and dress like these guys can even be looking for an apartment in Manhattan.

enjoy:

-------------- Either you sling crack rock or you got a wicked jump shot
 

just signed for a place around MSG for $2600/month.

Tips: 1) you can ALWAYS bargain your brokers fee. They will always start you off high, so you gotta hit em back low. Mine tried to take a 20% cut, told him flat out i'm walking out the door immediately if he was going take more than a month's rent. He tried going for 3000, began to walk, agreed to 2600 on the spot.

2) This may or may not be true but when i was searching, a few brokers had all told me that by end of May, rent for all city apts are going up 5-8%

 

People looking for 1 and 2 brs shouldn't have too much of a problem, it's the people looking for studios that are gonna have an uphill battle getting a nice place for less than $2,000.

Seriously though, some of these brokers are jokers. This clown I met yesterday tried to convince me to rent a $2,600 studio besides FDR by telling me that the Universe wanted me to have the apartment because of the laws of attraction. And that I should pay more for a nice place if I have a good "vibe" about it.

 

HAHAHAA that shit is classic

Also if you wanna avoid brokers, if you find some nice places online, contact the mgmt yourself to see if you can set up an apptmnt to check the place out and see if you could avoid the whole broker ordeal.

 

if you pay 15 at citihabitats you are getting a rip-off...for most college student sthey will come down to 12% and if they place you into a building which you could have gone to yourself they will charge you 1 month (still a rip off considering the circumstances). just make sure you have everything in writing.

 

This is a really good time to be looking for June-June and July-July. The market is very liquid, with tons of properties entering and leaving daily. You will be able to view 30 apts in a weekend, and half won't be available by tuesday. Come with all your stuff ready and be ready to commit onsite and you will do well.

--There are stupid questions, so think first.
 

Not NYC specific, but when going to open houses, come with your checkbook in hand and at least first and last month's rent in your checking account. Show up 20 minutes early. If you find a place you love, the second you decide that you love it go to the realtor/owner and write them a check immediately. Write fast.

In case you can't tell, I got burned on an awesome apartment in SF last year because I only showed up ten minutes early and hesitated a minute too long to write a check before the other person there took it out from under me.

 

Gametheory is correct, most NY apts will require a certified check for your deposit. So, you fill out the application, and pay that fee. You then say, I'm headed to the bank and come back with the check. Once you put in your app fee, they will in general hold the apt for you while you go get the certified check.

--There are stupid questions, so think first.
 

If you want an apt for starting in July, Yes you are screwed. If you have someplace you can hang out for 15 days before you need to start a lease, you'll be fine. Getting an apt on short notice in NY, as long as you aren't too picky, is easy during the summer.

--There are stupid questions, so think first.
 

Not sure what you mean by "find housing". They really don't hold spots for you like they do for corporate housing when you go for training. They will basically recommend places and or areas and give you the general idea of the spot. Basically they send you a packet, in there you'll get the gauntlet of items ranging from a map of the city to discounted cellphones/gym memberships to why your CEO is the largest BSD in the world.

So you can get some basics and the analysts/associates would likely answer your emails etc. To be honest though you're going to want to simply live as close as possible to your work as cheap as possible. Have said this a few times, but unless you're some sort of Jedi Monk who doesn't need caffiene or other ... "accelerants" so to speak you want to have minimal commuting.

Anyway a bit off topic, but you should probably get a roomate who doesnt work in Wall Street, or else your conversations will turn into a complaining festival where you bond over whose Associate/VP/Direct/MD or what have you is the worst.

 

No corporate housing as noted above, they will provide corporate housing for training only if you're visiting from the satellite.

EX: If you work in Texas but the training is done in NYC the people who are there for training will be put in corporate housing for the 2-4 weeks of training the street.

So basically to cut it short, you're not going to get much help, just get a roomate who doesn't work in finance and live close to work.

 

There are tons of people to live with its NYC. You can find people in their mid 20's who work as bartenders, people who work as engineers etc.

You want to expand your network... Honestly even if all of your friends work on wall street the solution becomes more clear... go to craigslist or any other source because you need to branch out your social circle. If you have nothing but finance people in your phone you'll suffer from group think and become Type A in personality over the long term which will be terrible for your long-term happiness, social life and health.

Within seconds you're going to hate your life if you talk about nothing but pitch books, whose associate is more of a C*nt etc.

 

Craigslist is generally a great website to go to.

Manny, I'd suggest an apartment along the lake north of downtown. A lot of the apartments are 30 years old, but they're still pretty high class, and you can get a pretty nice view of the Lake. If you get to work in Chicago, I'm jealous. A nice 2-bedroom with lake views in Chicago will run you $1500/month at the most. The equivalent in Jersey costs closer to $3000.

BTW, for those moving to New York, I'm looking for an apartment in Jersey City. I want amenities like plant life and views that involve more than just steel, bricks, or concrete. I also want to be able to dodge the 3.5% ($2.5K-$5K/year for analysts) city tax while enjoying a 20 minute commute. If you're looking to split a two-bedroom apartment in Newport or Jersey City, PM me.

 

knowing ppl in the city is the best way. if not, then go for a broker assuming the move is sponsored. bang for the buck, downtown would probably do the trick. the catch is that the downtown scene isnt always the most lively, but there are plenty of happy hour bars on the off-chance that you make it in time.

 

http://www.cnn.com/2007/LAW/04/05/bridge.sex.offenders/index.html

The sparkling blue waters off Miami's Julia Tuttle Causeway look as if they were taken from a postcard. But the causeway's only inhabitants see little paradise in their surroundings.

Five men -- all registered sex offenders convicted of abusing children -- live along the causeway because there is a housing shortage for Miami's least welcome residents.

"I got nowhere I can go!" says sex offender Rene Matamoros, who lives with his dog on the shore where Biscayne Bay meets the causeway.

The Florida Department of Corrections says there are fewer and fewer places in Miami-Dade County where sex offenders can live because the county has some of the strongest restrictions against this kind of criminal in the country.

Florida's solution: house the convicted felons under a bridge that forms one part of the causeway.

There are plenty of bridges in NYC, its a great opportunity to show both how entrepreneurial and hungry you are!

 

okay, so i've been shopping around for apartments and they require that i have a 40x monthly rent income history to be eligible for a loan. However, coming out of college, this is, of course, not feasible. If i get a co-signer, then he/she needs to have a 80x monthly rent income. I do not know someone that makes that kind of money. How in the world can i be eligible for rent, in nyc, without any prior work experience? do banks usually provide you with a co-signer?

the only other option is to pay the entire annual rent up front. and i do not want to do this because i am losing the money i could have otherwise earned in interest.

any suggestions or feedback will, as always, be greatly appreciated.

 

i am going to be living with 2 other people, in a 2 bedroom apt that will cost about $4,000. 80x this is $320,000. My parents do not make this kind of money, and i do not know anyone that i am comfortable asking to cosign that makes that kind of money either. Additionally, they do not live in the united states and do not have W-2 as proof of income.

 

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"Look, you're my best friend, so don't take this the wrong way. In twenty years, if you're still livin' here, comin' over to my house to watch the Patriots games, still workin' construction, I'll fuckin' kill you. That's not a threat, that's a fact.
 

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