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Okay, but forwarding this conspiracy theory without evidence can upset people waiting for apartments and not give them a clear course of action. I am assuming you don't have evidence of that or firsthand account because that would be really awful.
There are people whose incomes allow them to afford certain apartments and not others. (according to the "maximum affordable monthly rent" of 35% or less of monthly gross income benchmark set by Stuytown's process.)
It's likely based on what we do know that some or all of those people who are in the 2900-3600 range you mentioned don't reach that benchmark for apartments so they wouldn't be offered those apartments out of an abundance of caution that they would fail to be able to pay their rent on time on a regular basis. Every apartment/landlord in the world checks income and financial history for this reason. It's not draconian or rude for them to do so. There ARE draconian and awful things landlords do but this one is common sense for landlord and tenant.
There is a pretty quick way for anyone wondering what the lowest price apartment they could afford according to this public calculation.
Multiply your monthly gross, pre-tax income by "0.35". Boom. That's the maximum rent that you can afford for apartments according to the methods Stuytown is using.
OR
If you are someone with variable monthly income, divide your annual income by 12 first and then multiply it by "0.35".
Again, there are other factors to consider in this process in terms of assets, if you own property and other stuff that I don't have to worry about but they have to make sure they have everything sorted.
If you are seeing that people with higher log numbers than you who are looking for the same number of bedrooms as you who are getting apartments that you could afford (less than 35% of your monthly income) then you should definitely call.
I spoke with Syed today on the phone at 4:45pm. The phone rang 4-5 times and he checked my situation and though he is not my specialist, he checked in on my log number account and let me know where everything was. We have not been made an offer.
Just call. It may take a while to get an answer.
You analysis is spot on, but according to a previous post the list moves in different speeds with different specialists. I called several times and I spoke with Syed, my specialist (Ms.Pryce), and the leasing agent. At some point I felt my specialist was tired of me. The last time I spoke with the leasing agent (3 weeks ago) I mentioned people getting offers before me and she told me to wait for an email, but she said most likely I would get a moving date towards end of October or November. I even joked I don't want to move in December because is too cold.
My income qualifies for the max rent but I said to my specialist I would prefer a cheaper rent based on my weekly salary minus bonus. They are extremely kind and I accept I have to wait.I went through so many emotions because I wanted to move before school starts in September, but maybe everything happens for a reason.
I am on vacation overseas and I will call them again after Labor day.
You analysis is spot on, but according to a previous post the list moves in different speeds with different specialists. I called several times and I spoke with Syed, my specialist (Ms.Pryce), and the leasing agent. At some point I felt my specialist was tired of me. The last time I spoke with the leasing agent (3 weeks ago) I mentioned people getting offers before me and she told me to wait for an email, but she said most likely I would get a moving date towards end of October or November. I even joked I don't want to move in December because is too cold.
My income qualifies for the max rent but I said to my specialist I would prefer a cheaper rent based on my weekly salary minus bonus. They are extremely kind and I accept I have to wait.I went through so many emotions because I wanted to move before school starts in September, but maybe everything happens for a reason.
I am on vacation overseas and I will call them again after Labor day.
@bojonhson- I was once given the same explanation that Chloe stated. Someone with a high log could get an offer within weeks if their specialist have a smaller log than someone with a lower log who have been waiting for months.
@TPNYC your offer is coming. Most people are moving within 3 weeks of their offer. I received my offer at the beginning of the month and I still have to wait until Oct to move in…. Hopefully when yours come, you will be able to move in at the end of sept- beginning of oct… crossing my fingers for you. You are so close to finishing this process.
I agree - I can't see an application working it's way all the way to a supervisor just to be randomly thrown out, without some attempt to fix the issues. Also, they've been doing this long enough that the specialists know what will go thru or not, I doubt they are sending many applications up the line unless they know that they won't be kicked out. I would venture to say that if you get an email saying you went thru processing and they didn't follow up for any clarifications, you should be good to go. At that point it's a waiting game as was described in detail thru these posts.
In my admittedly limited interactions with the office by phone or in person, I have encountered nothing but really hard working, friendly people who are doing their best. Because we're on the outside, we'll never fully understand all the procedures and requirements that come up. All we can do is have patience and faith - patience that things are moving at the speed necessary, and faith in the people moving them.
The supervisors job is just to make sure the income/asset calculation made by the specialist is accurate. Since this process is very tedious, it's important that the supervisor checks whether any important documents were missed and redo some calculations to confirm the income derived from the employment proofs sent. Since our income pretty much determines the rent, any incorrect calculations is cause for problems not just within the department but also by HUD/HDC. The last thing they want is an audit which would push everything back.
Um, so how do you know who your specialist is? When are you assigned one?
I ask because so far the extent of my communication with the office was the initial email asking for my documents, the automated response after I sent them, and then a email from Syed confirming that he had received the documents and that I would be placed on the 1BR hold list, and that they would contact me again when they reached my log number.
So... is Syed my specialist? Should I assume that he glanced through them and that they looked okay? (Off the top of my head, I know that I still need to send a notarized copy of the student verification form, but other than that I think it should all be good.)
Or do I not get assigned a specialist until they reach my number & I am contacted again?
Um, so how do you know who your specialist is? When are you assigned one?
I ask because so far the extent of my communication with the office was the initial email asking for my documents, the automated response after I sent them, and then a email from Syed confirming that he had received the documents and that I would be placed on the 1BR hold list, and that they would contact me again when they reached my log number.
So... is Syed my specialist? Should I assume that he glanced through them and that they looked okay? (Off the top of my head, I know that I still need to send a notarized copy of the student verification form, but other than that I think it should all be good.)
Or do I not get assigned a specialist until they reach my number & I am contacted again?
If you got an email from him, he is most likely your specialist. They each have separate batches of applicants and your log number probably belongs to him. Unless your specialist was out and since he saw your documents in their email, he probably went over them and saw you were a one bedroom and put you on hold.
My sense is the same. To break it down maybe for other people (but also allow people to shake me and tell me I am being ridiculous)
When units become available, they have a fixed rental prices based on previous rent stabilization history.
They look at the next log number in line and verify the income first and if that log number doesn’t meet the income requirements to “afford” that rent (at or less than ~35% of their monthly income) then they look at the next log number for that apartment. The reason we are seeing people in the mid-6000s before others who are lower may be that those lower numbers have lower monthly income and don’t meet the benchmark to be able to pay that rent in the eyes of Stuytown/Black Rock.
The highest rent they can charge for a 2BR is $2,600/month so that means if you are making ~$90,000/year gross income before taxes then you should be able to afford any 2br if it comes up. (Please correct my math if I am way off)
We’ve seen 2br units offered recently for log numbers and I am trying to get some sense of what movement has been happening recently. (I am not super detail oriented so apologies if I got this wrong…quick research equals mistrakes.)
-log #64xx for $2,200/month (offer made last week of July)
-log #61xx for almost $2,000/month (offer made first week of August)
-log #29xx for $1,800/month (offer made late in first week of August)
-log #54xx for $1,900/month (offer made second week of August)
If you are above log #2900, have all your documents in properly and confirmed, are making over $60,000/year and haven’t seen an offer then I would be making some calls and checking on what is up.
If you you are log #5400 or higher, have your docs in a row and confirmed and are making over $6,500/year you should probably call in and talk to someone to confirm your documents.
Those of you in the upper income brackets over $90,000 a year and looking at 6xxx+ log numbers or higher may see some movement soon. I can’t say for sure. We are mid76xx and are actually a little relieved we aren’t moving just as school is starting. That would be - chaotic?
Again, that is just me spitballing based on what I’ve read in the last couple of weeks and trying to read the leaves. There are possibly other factors like people changing number of bedrooms, multiple instances of incomplete paperwork, people not being eligible for other bureaucratic reasons or not being available to communicate in timely matter.
I think a lot of this is true. Thanks for a nice summary. I do thin there are people ok with paying $2300 and up that have been waiting while some with higher log numbers have been sent an offer. I think there are several matrixes and its going to be from exact or fair in many respects. But I do think the agents are working hard.
What is your log? and are you waiting for a 2 bdr?
I FINALLY was able to reach someone on the phone. Syed IS great, he has a very pleasant voice, and transferred me to my specialist; Ms. Wentt. She's awful, and after that call, I am more discouraged than every. She seemed very disorganized, and uninformative.
She mentioned that I never confirmed what size unit I wanted, which I did back in June. She said she never got my email; which she did because I got a confirmation reply. I told her I'm log 56xx, waiting for a 1 br, and she mentioned "well that just means there's nothing for you now." Mentioned that I'm on a wait list, and there are "waayyyyyy" more people ahead of me. They don't know if there will be any inventory opening up any time soon for 1 brs.
Guess this confirms to renew my current lease, which I'm not upset about, but have always wanted to move back into Stuy town after living there for 4 years, 12 years ago. Transportation is a bit rough, but always loved East Village.
I FINALLY was able to reach someone on the phone. Syed IS great, he has a very pleasant voice, and transferred me to my specialist; Ms. Wentt. She's awful, and after that call, I am more discouraged than every. She seemed very disorganized, and uninformative.
She mentioned that I never confirmed what size unit I wanted, which I did back in June. She said she never got my email; which she did because I got a confirmation reply. I told her I'm log 56xx, waiting for a 1 br, and she mentioned "well that just means there's nothing for you now." Mentioned that I'm on a wait list, and there are "waayyyyyy" more people ahead of me. They don't know if there will be any inventory opening up any time soon for 1 brs.
Guess this confirms to renew my current lease, which I'm not upset about, but have always wanted to move back into Stuy town after living there for 4 years, 12 years ago. Transportation is a bit rough, but always loved East Village.
Sorry 1 BDR are tough. Also 1 additional thought, i think she was giving you a back door to the 2 bdr list if that is all workable. If so, i would call her back and make the change. Based on what i am reading, the log number for 1 bdrs are in 2000 range and 2 bdrs have been filled at numbers near your log number.
Okay, but forwarding this conspiracy theory without evidence can upset people waiting for apartments and not give them a clear course of action. I am assuming you don't have evidence of that or firsthand account because that would be really awful.
There are people whose incomes allow them to afford certain apartments and not others. (according to the "maximum affordable monthly rent" of 35% or less of monthly gross income benchmark set by Stuytown's process.)
It's likely based on what we do know that some or all of those people who are in the 2900-3600 range you mentioned don't reach that benchmark for apartments so they wouldn't be offered those apartments out of an abundance of caution that they would fail to be able to pay their rent on time on a regular basis. Every apartment/landlord in the world checks income and financial history for this reason. It's not draconian or rude for them to do so. There ARE draconian and awful things landlords do but this one is common sense for landlord and tenant.
There is a pretty quick way for anyone wondering what the lowest price apartment they could afford according to this public calculation.
Multiply your monthly gross, pre-tax income by "0.35". Boom. That's the maximum rent that you can afford for apartments according to the methods Stuytown is using.
OR
If you are someone with variable monthly income, divide your annual income by 12 first and then multiply it by "0.35".
Again, there are other factors to consider in this process in terms of assets, if you own property and other stuff that I don't have to worry about but they have to make sure they have everything sorted.
If you are seeing that people with higher log numbers than you who are looking for the same number of bedrooms as you who are getting apartments that you could afford (less than 35% of your monthly income) then you should definitely call.
I spoke with Syed today on the phone at 4:45pm. The phone rang 4-5 times and he checked my situation and though he is not my specialist, he checked in on my log number account and let me know where everything was. We have not been made an offer.
I agree - I can't see an application working it's way all the way to a supervisor just to be randomly thrown out, without some attempt to fix the issues. Also, they've been doing this long enough that the specialists know what will go thru or not, I doubt they are sending many applications up the line unless they know that they won't be kicked out. I would venture to say that if you get an email saying you went thru processing and they didn't follow up for any clarifications, you should be good to go. At that point it's a waiting game as was described in detail thru these posts.
In my admittedly limited interactions with the office by phone or in person, I have encountered nothing but really hard working, friendly people who are doing their best. Because we're on the outside, we'll never fully understand all the procedures and requirements that come up. All we can do is have patience and faith - patience that things are moving at the speed necessary, and faith in the people moving them.
Thanks for the reassurance to both posters - I have a bit of a circumstance but Syed said if it had been an issue my application wouldn't have made it to his desk in the first place, so I remain hopeful!
Thanks all...we are keeping each other sane! haha
RP
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