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Hey everyone,
My boyfriend, current roommate and I are relocating to Brooklyn. We're looking to move in mid-August. My boyfriend is completing his PhD at CUNY and we've pretty much decided to come along for the ride.
I'm a little concerned, though. The more I learn about NYC real estate the scarier it seems.
In Boston you typically pay first, last, security and sometimes a broker's fee (one month's rent or less). It's expensive but generally straightforward.
I've been reading that in NYC they ask for income verification, tax returns, etc! My roommate and I have a very small amount of money saved up for when we move, but will not have jobs until we get to the city. Will it be impossible to lock down an apartment in Brooklyn?
It also seems like craigslist is pretty scammy when it comes to NYC real estate. This is how I've always searched for places to live here in Boston, but these ads are especially deceptive.
My questions, I suppose, are as follows:
1.)What is the typical fee schedule for a Brooklyn apt?
2.) Is it realistic to look for a no-fee apartment? Am I just wasting my time?
3.) We're looking in Williamsburg and Prospect Heights for 3 bedroom apartments. Our max rent is $2,500. Is this realistic?
4.) Our priorities are accessibility to the MTA, price and safety. Are there are other neighborhoods that fit the bill that I haven't mentioned?
I think $2500 will do you very well in those neighborhoods. It's true that NY real estate is obnoxious, because they know there's so much demand. Craiglist is a horrible wasteland of lies and scams. Don't use craiglist. I like streeteasy.com--it has way more information and highlights no fee apartments. I think you'll find it far less depressing. When I got my apartment, we needed a lot of paperwork about income and stuff. What you guys need to get is a guarantor--do you have parents that would be willing to submit their tax returns? It doesn't cost them anything, it just bolsters your credibility as tenants.
If you're not finding good prospects in Brooklyn, you should also consider Morningside/Hamilton Heights or Astoria. Three people in a two-bedroom is a favorable position to be in. Good luck!
2.) Is it realistic to look for a no-fee apartment? Am I just wasting my time?
It all depends on how much work you are willing to do. Looking for an apartment without a broker involves a lot of shoe leather. In the old days this meant canvassing a neighborhood, knocking on doors, talking to doormen, talking to the super, following up on ads in the newspaper or telephone numbers on signs on the property saying apartment for rent. Nowadays it may still involve this, but there are more on websites now. Many management companies that own and/or maintain properties have websites where they list apartment availabilities, and you deal directly with them, bypassing a broker. You could do a google search for such companies. Then there are the listed by owner ads on Craigslist. Not all of them are scams.
I'm way too lazy and I guess don't care THAT much, but see if you can link me to at least one if you could. I'm legitimately curious to see if that exists...
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