Help me find a NYC apartment (and my sanity)
January 10, 2022 5:14 AM Subscribe
I'm in the process of searching for a studio/one bedroom apartment in Brooklyn without success and despair is setting in. How can I step up my apartment search game?
The situation thus far:
I've lived/worked in Brooklyn for many years so I know what specific areas I'd like to be in. My job is in a very inconveniently located area of Brooklyn, public transportation-wise, so I'm limited in where I can move without creating a nightmare commute for myself. My budget is definitely on the low end but I regularly see postings for apartments in my price range. I make 40x the rent, have very good credit, and plenty of money in the bank. I currently live with roommates who are aware that I'm apartment hunting, and I have flexibility around pushing back my move out date to 2/15 or 3/1. My relationship with one of my roommates has been Not Good for a long time so while there's no urgent need to move I don't want to prolong this any longer than necessary. I would love to stay in my current apartment complex but there's a lot of competition with past tenants who moved out early in the pandemic and have since returned to the city.
So far I've been checking all the websites (Craigslist, Padmapper, StreetEasy, Renthop, Apartments.com, NYbits) multiple times a day and reaching out ASAP with my income and credit score. Response rates have been depressingly low. I have a new job, so no ability to take time off, and can't work from home so my availability is very limited and I don't have anyone I can send to look at apartments on my behalf. Most of the apartments I've gotten a response from want to do viewings during work hours and ghost me when I ask for an evening viewing. I've tried walking around the neighborhood looking for "for rent" signs but oftentimes they're out of service or no one answers. I managed to get two applications in last week and you guessed it... no response.
I knew going into this that between the current state of the market and limited inventory in winter this wouldn't be easy but it's starting to feel impossible. I've looked for an apartment to lease (vs subletting) once before, but I had roommates to help and a much easier time getting brokers to set up viewings. On a broader level, I've been through a lot of upheaval over the last year and my nerves are already frayed so having the process go poorly is really getting to me.
What can I do here to improve my odds? I feel like I'm going to constantly lose opportunities to people with daytime flexibility for viewing. Is it worth working with a broker, and if so how does one even find a reputable broker who works hard for people with lower budgets? Anecdotal evidence suggested that it would be harder to find this type of broker than finding an apartment in the first place. Is there anything else I'm missing?
The situation thus far:
I've lived/worked in Brooklyn for many years so I know what specific areas I'd like to be in. My job is in a very inconveniently located area of Brooklyn, public transportation-wise, so I'm limited in where I can move without creating a nightmare commute for myself. My budget is definitely on the low end but I regularly see postings for apartments in my price range. I make 40x the rent, have very good credit, and plenty of money in the bank. I currently live with roommates who are aware that I'm apartment hunting, and I have flexibility around pushing back my move out date to 2/15 or 3/1. My relationship with one of my roommates has been Not Good for a long time so while there's no urgent need to move I don't want to prolong this any longer than necessary. I would love to stay in my current apartment complex but there's a lot of competition with past tenants who moved out early in the pandemic and have since returned to the city.
So far I've been checking all the websites (Craigslist, Padmapper, StreetEasy, Renthop, Apartments.com, NYbits) multiple times a day and reaching out ASAP with my income and credit score. Response rates have been depressingly low. I have a new job, so no ability to take time off, and can't work from home so my availability is very limited and I don't have anyone I can send to look at apartments on my behalf. Most of the apartments I've gotten a response from want to do viewings during work hours and ghost me when I ask for an evening viewing. I've tried walking around the neighborhood looking for "for rent" signs but oftentimes they're out of service or no one answers. I managed to get two applications in last week and you guessed it... no response.
I knew going into this that between the current state of the market and limited inventory in winter this wouldn't be easy but it's starting to feel impossible. I've looked for an apartment to lease (vs subletting) once before, but I had roommates to help and a much easier time getting brokers to set up viewings. On a broader level, I've been through a lot of upheaval over the last year and my nerves are already frayed so having the process go poorly is really getting to me.
What can I do here to improve my odds? I feel like I'm going to constantly lose opportunities to people with daytime flexibility for viewing. Is it worth working with a broker, and if so how does one even find a reputable broker who works hard for people with lower budgets? Anecdotal evidence suggested that it would be harder to find this type of broker than finding an apartment in the first place. Is there anything else I'm missing?
I would love to stay in my current apartment complex but there's a lot of competition with past tenants who moved out early in the pandemic and have since returned to the city.
You've probably done this but I'd still let the complex managers know you want in, just in case.
posted by trig at 6:39 AM on January 10, 2022 [3 favorites]
You've probably done this but I'd still let the complex managers know you want in, just in case.
posted by trig at 6:39 AM on January 10, 2022 [3 favorites]
Hotpads is the site I used when I was apartment hunting, and I had fairly good luck with that.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:58 AM on January 10, 2022
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:58 AM on January 10, 2022
Not sure what neighborhood you're looking in but if it's one of the more competitive ones, or half-competitive but very desirably priced apartments, chances are you are indeed being beaten by people who have the flexibility to work from home and take an hour off here and there to show up right away and say Yes on the spot.
Anecdotally, I have two friends who recently found apartments in the last 2 months: One found a place almost right away because they did that (showed up to the open house about 5 min early, took a quick glance, said "I'll take it" and got their app in before anyone else). The other was a lot more picky about what they were looking for and making it a bit harder for themselves - after a couple months they eventually found a place they liked on Leasebreak.com.
posted by windbox at 7:05 AM on January 10, 2022 [6 favorites]
Anecdotally, I have two friends who recently found apartments in the last 2 months: One found a place almost right away because they did that (showed up to the open house about 5 min early, took a quick glance, said "I'll take it" and got their app in before anyone else). The other was a lot more picky about what they were looking for and making it a bit harder for themselves - after a couple months they eventually found a place they liked on Leasebreak.com.
posted by windbox at 7:05 AM on January 10, 2022 [6 favorites]
You can also try joining Nextdoor and any of the Facebook housing groups for the neighborhoods you're interested in. I see a lot of stuff that either looks like people trying to rent to people already in the neighborhood (before listing broadly) or listing things before they've gotten around to posting professional photos. This goes double if you're interested in renting garden floor apartments from landlords who live above you in brownstone/townhouse neighborhoods.
posted by A Blue Moon at 7:15 AM on January 10, 2022
posted by A Blue Moon at 7:15 AM on January 10, 2022
I would do my reaching out on Thu/Fri with the hope that at least some will propose a weekend viewing (which I take it would be possible for you to do?). I'm sorry, it's a tough market right now. Make sure you have all your papers in order so you can hand them to the agent on the spot if you're interested.
posted by praemunire at 8:20 AM on January 10, 2022
posted by praemunire at 8:20 AM on January 10, 2022
I am not in New York. But in my city, people are renting apartments without even seeing them. You might have to take that chance.
posted by NotLost at 8:22 AM on January 10, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by NotLost at 8:22 AM on January 10, 2022 [1 favorite]
I'm in Brooklyn and might be able to help. What neighborhood(s) are you interested in, and what's your budget?
posted by orrnyereg at 8:48 AM on January 10, 2022 [9 favorites]
posted by orrnyereg at 8:48 AM on January 10, 2022 [9 favorites]
I found an apartment in Park Slope by messaging about a listing on Street Easy, meeting the real estate agent for a showing, then asking her what other properties she had available in my area and price range. It was surprisingly easy. She was affiliated with Berman Realty and if you’re looking at Park Slope I strongly recommend you reach out to them, but I’m sure every neighborhood has a similar network of agents and landlords.
posted by Merricat Blackwood at 9:14 AM on January 10, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Merricat Blackwood at 9:14 AM on January 10, 2022 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I’m looking in western Bed Stuy/Crown Heights/Lefferts Garden and the upper end of my budget is $1700.
posted by fox problems at 9:54 AM on January 10, 2022
posted by fox problems at 9:54 AM on January 10, 2022
I'm not in NYC, but during my last move I used craigslist and facebook marketplace - there were a lot of apartments on fb marketplace two years ago, I do not know what it's like now.
posted by bile and syntax at 9:58 AM on January 10, 2022
posted by bile and syntax at 9:58 AM on January 10, 2022
I just signed a lease last week in Brooklyn. It is indeed a tough market right now with low inventory. I agree with the above listers who mention having your packet at your fingertips (though no one asked me for actual documents, everything was digital), and joining fb and nextdoor groups in your target neighborhood and checking them as often as you do Streeteasy, etc. I was offered a lease takeover on NextDoor that would have worked great if I hadn’t already found a place.
But my biggest tip is this: say upfront you’ll do virtual walkthrough. I watched a landlord do one while I waiting to see an apartment and it literally was a 5-minute FaceTime call while he walked around and narrated, turning on faucets and showing the view from windows on request. Combined with a familiarity with the neighborhood and a quick google street view walkabout, you can “visit” an apartment in the time it takes you to have a workday bathroom break, then put in an app immediately if it suits you.
Good luck. I know it can be demoralizing. But with good credit, adequate income for your budget and good savings, you’ll absolutely find something.
posted by minervous at 10:59 AM on January 10, 2022 [7 favorites]
But my biggest tip is this: say upfront you’ll do virtual walkthrough. I watched a landlord do one while I waiting to see an apartment and it literally was a 5-minute FaceTime call while he walked around and narrated, turning on faucets and showing the view from windows on request. Combined with a familiarity with the neighborhood and a quick google street view walkabout, you can “visit” an apartment in the time it takes you to have a workday bathroom break, then put in an app immediately if it suits you.
Good luck. I know it can be demoralizing. But with good credit, adequate income for your budget and good savings, you’ll absolutely find something.
posted by minervous at 10:59 AM on January 10, 2022 [7 favorites]
I can't believe I'm even mentioning them because they all ought to be fired in to the sun (figuratively) but have you thought about shelling out for a broker? Sure, you pay them an arm and a leg but in your case, not being able to see places quickly, they might be able to get you access to places after hours and on weekends and have a vested interest in your getting a lease. You said you have money in the bank, usually a month or two of rent.
I second the trolling of old people's social media - at least where I live in Brooklyn, many older homeowners will reach out on neighborhood groups and NextDoor to announce apartments before posting more widely.
posted by RajahKing at 11:11 AM on January 10, 2022 [1 favorite]
I second the trolling of old people's social media - at least where I live in Brooklyn, many older homeowners will reach out on neighborhood groups and NextDoor to announce apartments before posting more widely.
posted by RajahKing at 11:11 AM on January 10, 2022 [1 favorite]
Can you ask a friend to look and FaceTime / video on your behalf, with your documents? I’ve done this for a friend that needed to rent from out-of-town.
posted by artificialard at 12:00 PM on January 10, 2022
posted by artificialard at 12:00 PM on January 10, 2022
Hi! I'm you, looking in the same areas, with a similar budget. Unfortunately, the game is about being the first person to show up and grab it. And for cheap apartments in those areas, brokers have 50 people who want to see it within the first hour of them posting the listing. If you are not able to take time during the work week to race to an open house or an appointment, I suggest you postpone your move date to when you think you'll have more flexibility in your schedule. Would you be able to maybe find a different roommate situation or a sublet in the meantime?
posted by greta simone at 9:54 AM on January 11, 2022
posted by greta simone at 9:54 AM on January 11, 2022
« Older Men: How has your sex drive changed over the last... | Help Me Get Autocorrect into my life - please Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
We spent an awful amount of time looking for a new apartment in Brooklyn this past year, the market is horrid for renters. We assembled a portfolio of references, letters from employers with salary information, financial information, and credit reports as well as a letter of introduction ("Hi! We're responsible, quiet, friendly, non-smoking couple who might want pets in the future and love the neighborhood/building/apartment") that we could hand off in the spot if interested. That helped us in a number of spots, and I'd recommend it to anyone looking to rent in NYC these days.
posted by tip120 at 5:45 AM on January 10, 2022 [7 favorites]