Some help apartment hunting (in NYC)

[Pemolis]

I'm looking for a apartment in one of the worst places to find a place, and thats manhattan NYC.

I have no true and actual direction except that the place has to be cheap. Most sizes are fine with me (has to at least fit my bed. 90% of everything else from my TV, to computers can hang on the walls).

Anybody want to come with me to recollect how they got their first place? Please post here as well as any advice for me when searching (advice for dealing with landlords, or brokers, etc).

[kimchicowboy]

my friend just got a place. searched hi and low on craigslist.

good luck finding an affordable place with space that isn't a rathole. :)

[Pemolis]

I can deal with ratholes as long as there are no rats.

90% of my stuff is the flat screen type so most likely I can fit most of my stuff in there (but hey if I could get a couch also.. more to me :) )

[kimchicowboy]

going through a broker will probably expedite things as well. if you need it ASAP, use a broker. :)

[Pemolis]

yea I know, but I feel kinda bad giving a guy 2 grand for calling the owner of the building and saying, "hey I found you one, where's my check".

[kimchicowboy]

man, i visited my friend's place (~$2400 for a 1 bed/1bath near central park) and her room is TINY. i swear that my walk-in closet in LA was the same size.

*sigh* i hope you find something good. :)

[Pemolis]

Went up to Inwood/Washington Heights. Place there is maybe 750 to 1000, but they are pretty good size (we fit in about 15 people, and still had room).

I may look/go there. It seems if I want something between 4th street and 90th street, I'll pay 2 to 5 k just to get a place bigger than most Condo Bathrooms.


... 2 to 5 k... What the heck are those people who can do 5k a month on an apartment doing to earn that much.

Thats 60K a year.. just for the place, not including gas, electric, water, cable, internet, cell phone, food, gas, cars, car insurance.....

Considering that most places want you to make 4X the rent per month.. you'd have to pull in 20 K a month to get it...

Thats 240 k a year....

Hell the lead programmers for the Financial Internet Security of the Stock Exchange don't make anywhere NEAR that amount (I can say that because I KNOW one of them).

[ray]

... 2 to 5 k... What the heck are those people who can do 5k a month on an apartment doing to earn that much.


Investment Banking.

[MrGreg]

not including ... gas, cars, car insurance.....

You may not need (or want) a car living in NYC. And you forgot Parking. Ask around how much a parking spot is per month.

[Butch]

The Upper East Side (East of Lexington) is actually pretty affordable - though devoid of any redeeming cultural qualities, whatsoever.

Try this site . . .

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/ire/ocha/links.html

It's a site Columbia University maintains for its students . . . lists a lot of management companies that list their apartments directly - saves going through a broker. There are a wide variety of places - some pretty affordable and others more expensive and in new high rises.

Also, look through the print version of the Village Voice. There was recently an article in the NY Times about searching for a reasonably priced 1 bedroom in Manhattan . . . one of the points in it was that the print version of the VV had many better options than you will find online. Many of the older and more reputable brokers just list in the print version vs. online. Also, many of the online listings you will see will be by brokers who are falsely claiming to represent some of the 'by landlord' listings from the print version of the VV.

[cruelpupet]

newyork.craigslist.org