apartment hunting

ingrasir · July 2007

Subject: PARK SLOPE APT. SEARCH

Hey, looking for a new apt. and wondering where are the best places to browse online... I have hit Craig's List, NY Times, StreetEasy, and various Broker sites but was wondering if there's another option.

Obviously, my search will be offline soon enough- just want a good way to survey what's on the market.

Suggestions?

gradoniv · July 2007

Depends what you're looking for, but I've found that Craigslist worked the best for me. If you want something quickly and don't mind paying a broker, then you should just walk down 7th and pick one. They go through listings pretty quickly so what's on their online site might not reflect actual apartments.

jodi · July 2007

I can tell you where NOT to look. Destination Real Estate. They suck!

treetopview · July 2007

I found mine on craigs list through Berman. They don't charge a fee for the apartments that they own and the apartments are generally nice.

santa · August 2007

^ I did the same but im pretty sure they over charge on their no fee apartments in order to make income.

the math I did makes my apartment a reasonable price with the 12% broken fee added through the months rather than one large sum.

regardless they use good appliances and I have a dishwasher and washer dryer in the building so im all for them.

evilbert · August 2007

If you go through a broker, get plenty of viewings, negotiate rent on an apartment you like, get a lease drawn up, then flatly refuse to pay their inflated fee. Offer them a month's rent or say you'll walk. Most will cave and let you have it for that price.

santa · August 2007

I dont know if that would work when theres 20 other people ready to grab your apartment

filmlover44 · August 2007

Many of them make you put $500 in cash before you can even look at a lease.

ingrasir · August 2007

We've been doing the Craig's list route but it hasn't yielded much success... Seeing apts that seem too expensive considering their location, condition, and size. Wondering if there's truth to the math regarding getting a cheaper apt. w/a broker who's fee will be equal to the difference of what you're saving on a years rent?

Any other experiences here?

daver · August 2007

Ingrasir wrote: We've been doing the Craig's list route but it hasn't yielded much success... Seeing apts that seem too expensive considering their location, condition, and size. Wondering if there's truth to the math regarding getting a cheaper apt. w/a broker who's fee will be equal to the difference of what you're saving on a years rent?

Any other experiences here?

It depends. It can happen. Take the broker fee and divide it by the number of months in the lease, add the result to the monthly rent.

Example: $1,200/month apartment, $1,200 broker fee, 12 month lease. 1200/12 = $100. $1,200+$100 = $1,300 per month, amortized. If the no fee apartments you are looking at are over that, then if you've got the scratch for the upfront fee, it is a good deal.

My experience has been that brokered places don't have particularly cheaper rents, so it doesn't make sense to pay the fee. In some places you have no choice though. And I have heard of other folks having different experiences. When I am looking, I tend to just evaluate each place on its merits and costs, figuring in broker fees, if any, to the equation.

ingrasir · August 2007

UPDATE: Ended up going the broker route and had some good/terrible experiences.

We dealt w/three brokers:
- One referral- Rapid Realty
The broker was certainly friendly, but had NOTHING to show us and kept trying to steer us into Greenwood- aka South Slope despite the fact we told her we weren't interested. We found it a little preposterous that- with a budget of 2,500 for a two bedroom that she had nothing. Again, nice- but not necessarily helpful.

- One Walk In- Park Terrace Properties
Guy was a TOTAL schmuck... young guy, heavy sighs and that air of "ugh, you're bothering me but I'll TRY and be helpful." Given the fact he'd get paid a hefty sum of dough for about 20 minutes worth of legwork, we expected more. We left unimpressed, having seen NOTHING.

- One via Craig's List- Heights Berkely Realty- Max
Guy was the BEST... said the apartment was being looked at by another couple for the second time but we should see it in the event they fell through. We did so, LOVED the place and didn't have to sacrifice anything including size and location- and filled out an application to be safe. We ended up w/the apartment, signed the lease the next day... Guy was courteous, honest, and nice.

The apartment is $300 less than we budgeted for so his fee- a reasonable 12% was WELL worth it.

armchair_warrior · August 2007

i personally dont like rapid realty.

every time i put up ads on craigs list for apts for rent,

they want to show my apts. and i agree, they would say they'll bring so and so out today etc...

and they bark more than actually send people over. by the time they call me many times again. i had rented out the place on my own already.

did i tell you guys i don't like brokers. on my ads i put no brokers please, they bother me anyway.

nkotsonis · August 2007

I know this has been discussed on other threads. As far as Brokers go, I like Bruce at Rita knox. He has always been straight in our business dealings, and doesn't push prospective tenants.

santa · August 2007

why does destination real estate suck?

treetopview · August 2007

We've been doing the Craig's list route but it hasn't yielded much success... Seeing apts that seem too expensive considering their location, condition, and size. Wondering if there's truth to the math regarding getting a cheaper apt. w/a broker who's fee will be equal to the difference of what you're saving on a years rent?

What is your budget and what type of apartment are you looking for?

bayou · September 2007

The big brokers and landlords seem to have drawn up a map, and you don't get under $2200 (for a 2 br) unless you go south of 16th st or something like that. Via CL, you might find a brownstone owner who will rent to you -- that's the most likely route to a good rent deal (as low as $1700). Perhaps b/c owners are naive, or perhaps b/c they value good tenants. But they're picky. Women fare better than men with owner landlords, it seems. But if you're willing to pay $2200-2500 you should do well over CL.

andyh428 · September 2007

Ive checked craigslist and rent.com apartments.com etc

I cant seem to find many apartments for rent.

I am probably looking too low..$1400 1br. near F OR D train. Any advice.

armchair_warrior · September 2007

for that price for the f line check kengsington(spelling?). nice area south of windsor terrace.

armchair_warrior · September 2007

for the d line check my area super cheap. probably you could get 2 br for even less than that price. safe too. just a bit more out.

check bensonhurst and gravesend and fort hamilton and few others.

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