Finding an Apartment in NYC

With so many people living in the city, it could be nearly impossible to find an apartment, especially in New York City. Apartment prices rise like no other because of everyone moving to the Big Apple to find better jobs. If push comes to shove, there's always the country-side which has a lesser population.

HOW MUCH ARE YOU ABLE TO SPEND ON RENT A MONTH?

First you got to ask yourself, how much are you willing to spend for an apartment you'll be comfortable with for a while? Is it your monthly budget to pay and not break the bank? In expensive cities like NYC, you'll probably have to spend a large percentage of your income on housing. If this is a problem, there are three options: 1) make more money, 2) think about living in a less expensive area like Harlem, Brooklyn, or Queens, or 3) save money on rent by finding a roommate.

Get yourself a roommate

Getting a roommate is one of the best ways to cut costs and it can be your friend, lover, or stranger. If getting a roommate, it's best that you choose carefully or else it'll be a devastating blow to your bank account. Either way, not all friends and strangers make good roommates. Here are just a few questions you might consider asking to all potential roommates to assess compatibility:

- Do you smoke? Drink? Do drugs? If so, how often?

- Do you stay out late on weekdays?

- Do you have any pets?

- What music do you listen to? What do you like to watch on television?

- Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend who will be staying here frequently?

- Have you ever had a roommate before?

All these questions will determine how comfortable you feel with your future roommate. If things seem like it's not going to work out, then don't take the risk.

CHOOSING A NEIGHBORHOOD

After you've determined how much money you can spend on an apartment, you need to decide what areas to look at. Most people want to live in Manhattan because it's where most of the jobs are and because it's probably the most happening place in the world. Many others choose to live in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Queens because this is where housing is infinitely cheaper and they tend to commute to the city. Manhattan is one of the best places to live and is divided into many informal "neighborhoods," from Battery Park on the southern tip to Inwood on the northern tip. Always keep the following factors in mind:

- Is the rent affordable? Are the stores, shops, gyms, bars in the area available and affordable?

- Is the neighborhood safe?

- What are the nearby schools like?

- Who lives in that neighborhood?

- How close is public transportation you'll need to get to work and other places?

FINDING AN APARTMENT USING TECHNIQUES

Begin your search by asking your employer if the company has any real estate services; large companies hold apartments for employees or have very good contacts in the rental market. Similarly, any school affiliations - alumni or current - contact your school and inquire as to whether the school has any apartment bulletin boards or online listings. These housings are often more affordable and safer than something you would find on your own. Also, many are only open to people affiliated with the university.

Online

Online sources offer moving tips, roommate advice, legal tips, and other information useful to renters such as HomeStore.com. HomeStore provides regularly updated listings of apartments available for rent in various neighborhoods based on options you select.

Newspapers and magazines

Good sources for apartment listings are newspaper and magazines in the classified sections. The New York Newsday was once a NYC paper, but now this Long Island publication includes listings of apartments and houses for rent or sale primarily in the Long Island and Queens are. The New York Observer and New York Press is a weekly newspaper sold primarily in Manhattan with a small real estate section with apartment listings. There are free weekly newspapers like the Village Voice and can be easily found below 14^th Street, listing a number of apartments in lower Manhattan and Brooklyn near the harbor, but a few choices for those looking in NYC.

Newspapers can help you in your quest big time but, there are always little things that you can commonly miss. Walking around the areas that you would like to live can be helpful; people so often post flyers offering nearby apartment sublets and rentals at churches, gyms, bus stop shelters, telephone booths, and recreation centers in the neighborhood.

VISIT POTENTIAL APARTMENTS

Once you've found a listing that sounds promising, call right away to schedule an appointment before anyone else does. Many times you will reach an answering machine so leave a clear, concise message; saying that you are calling about the apartment that as listed in such publication. Give your name and telephone number, and ask the person to call you back to his/her earliest convenience to schedule an appointment to see the apartment. There are times when apartment renters are drowned with work and won't return your call but if you can catch them while they are around, you can then get an appointment.

Make a good impression when you schedule an appointment with whomever. Arrive on time, be well groomed, and act like a mature responsible individual who isn't going to miss a payment on rent, trash the apartment, or keep a lion in the closet. Always ask questions, although there is no stupid question, try to ask intelligent ones that will not only make you look responsible, but will also give you a chance to learn information that may affect your decision to rent a particular apartment. Here is a list of general questions to ask when you see an apartment:

- How long is the lease?

- How large of a deposit will you be required to leave as security?

- Do you allow pets to be kept in the apartments?

- Do you have the option to renew?

- Are any utilities included in your rent? Gas, electric, water, cable, etc?

- What type of security does the building have?

- Are you allowed to sublet if you go away?

- Does the building have laundry facilities?

- Does anyone else have the keys to the apartments?

- Does the building have some sort of arrangements for repairs?

BEFORE YOU SIGN, KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AS A TENANT

Once you've successfully found an apartment, make sure you know your rights and responsibilities as a tenant. Your rights are best protected if you have a written lease. Be aware of oral leases because you may be subject to restrictions that you aren't aware of. Even month to month tenants with an oral lease must give 30 days notice before vacating an apartment; failure to do so may result in loss of your security deposit.

New York City has many laws protecting the rights of tenants. You can be entitled to interest on your rent security deposit and entitled to withhold rent if repairs aren't made in your apartment in a timely manner. If you go to www.tenant.net/nyc.html, you can become familiar with basic tenant rights, remedies, and obligations.