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So I was doing a search on zillow and trulia for apartment rentals in Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens (NOT Manhattan). I searched for 2-3 bedrooms under $1400/month and I was shocked to find that most, not all, but MOST of the results turned up as "rooms for rent".
Mind you, there is no way to filter out these kind of results (half-true but Trulia has a way but it doesn't matter since they still pop up anyway). I'm just wondering, are the people who put these ads up retarded or have a low IQ? Surely, there must be some other site that is suited for people who are looking for rooms to rent.
It's hard enough to find something already, I can't even go to Craig's list anymore because 95% of the crap I see is a rent-to-own scam. Now these room-rental idiots have to take over the places that us people who have families use to find apartment rentals?
Yup. I've been seeing this for a while now, since i've been searching. It's really obnoxious. If you have some free time on your hands, just schedule a meet up to see those places with the people advertising and then don't show up . Waste their time as much as they are wasting yours.
I've seen this in Chicago, NYC, Boston, and Philly. My take is that the real estate agents or whomever is trying to rent the place is trying to use as many vents as possible to show it to as many people as possible. It's kinda dumb when you think about it though as when most people search for an apartment, they get a studio, 1bd, etc. They aren't interested in rooms when they don't search for them!
I doubt one can find easily (if at all) a 2-3 bedroom apt. for $1400 in any desirable neighborhood within NYC. $1400 is more like a budget for a studio or one bedroom apt. in NYC. So the results the OP are not that surprising.
Ok, in your opinions, what is a more realistic rent price range for 2-3 bedrooms then? My wife and I make a total of $4650/month. We usually have a combined total of $3700 left over after our regular monthly expenses (i.e. cell phone, cable, metrocard, food). So how much you think it is too much for us? Or should we consider moving across the water to NJ?
This has been happening on Craigslist as well. This is why - it is increasingly difficult for people to meet the requirements to rent an apartment in this city, and to take up the slack, landlords have the clever idea of renting each room individually instead. A lot of times they'll even pose as a college student already living there. Oftentimes they can get even more for a total apartment through renting by room than they would by renting the whole apartment to 1 person or a couple/family. So instead of landlords renting out apartments as usual, they're starting to go the dorm route.
Ok, in your opinions, what is a more realistic rent price range for 2-3 bedrooms then? My wife and I make a total of $4650/month. We usually have a combined total of $3700 left over after our regular monthly expenses (i.e. cell phone, cable, metrocard, food). So how much you think it is too much for us? Or should we consider moving across the water to NJ?
It depends on the area. Rents vary significantly even within boroughs depending on how nice the neighborhood is (safety/amenities) and how good the transit is, how close it is to Manhattan, etc.
If you are making $55,000 per year before taxes, then you are correct that you should be looking for an apartment below $1400.
So you need to adjust your expectations. You may need to look for a one bedroom instead of a 2-3 bedroom. Do you have children and that's why you're looking for 2-3?
In my area in Queens, 2 bedrooms now are routinely advertised for over $2000. I have read on this forum that certain decent areas of the Bronx have more reasonable rents (like Bedford Park). So maybe go over some threads, find some specific areas to focus on, and revise your search parameters.
It depends on the area. Rents vary significantly even within boroughs depending on how nice the neighborhood is (safety/amenities) and how good the transit is, how close it is to Manhattan, etc.
If you are making $55,000 per year before taxes, then you are correct that you should be looking for an apartment below $1400.
So you need to adjust your expectations. You may need to look for a one bedroom instead of a 2-3 bedroom. Do you have children and that's why you're looking for 2-3?
In my area in Queens, 2 bedrooms now are routinely advertised for over $2000. I have read on this forum that certain decent areas of the Bronx have more reasonable rents (like Bedford Park). So maybe go over some threads, find some specific areas to focus on, and revise your search parameters.
Hi Henna
No we make $55,000 *after* tax but before monthly expenses (i.e. cell phone). After monthly expenses (not including rent in this equation) we have $3700/month left for whatever.
Yes, we have two girls. One 17 and the other is 1 going on 2 years old. That's why we're looking for 3 bedroom. Unless you guys think its possible these two girls of different age groups can be in the same room somehow.
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