New York City and its boroughs are not the easiest place to find housing in, especially in the middle of a global pandemic where the state is the epicenter of the virus. The city is a pretty unique one to find housing in, especially because a lot of people don’t even start looking for apartments to rent until two weeks out before their lease would begin.
So how do you find housing in one of the most popular cities in the world? Read on for some tips on how to conquer the housing market of New York City.
1. Think like a real estate broker. Make sure you’re incredibly clear with the real estate agent that you’re working with. They’ll often only give you some information—for instance, if they are showing you a building and saying it only has two or three vacancies, keep in mind that’s likely not the case and it could have even five times that amount.
2. Know when you have the power. In a time like now when there is a global pandemic going on or in off seasons like winter, you’ll have the upper hand over the real estate broker. You’ll be in a position where you can haggle the price with them and try to reduce the monthly rent and can even see if it might be possible to remove the broker’s fee and set restraints like only paying first month’s rent and security deposit rather than first and last month’s rent, security deposit, and a broker’s fee.
3. Work with a good real estate broker. Work with a reputable broker rather than any old person you find on Craigslist, especially during the pandemic where they’re offering virtual tours rather than in-person tours. Unfortunately, you can’t always trust what you see online in terms of photos and descriptions. Too often you’ll show up to an apartment thinking it’s going to be one thing only to find something entirely different.
4. Accurately calculate your rent. It’s easy to get enticed by listings that say things like you’ll have free months to your lease. But, unfortunately, that isn’t always the case because the cumulative amount that you’ll end up paying through the course of your lease will actually be more expensive. Be wary.
5. Manage your pet expectations. If you want to get a huge dog, keep in mind that you will have a harder time trying to find a place that allows your pet. Certain pets are easier to get into an apartment, like cats or small pets (turtles, etc.), but some places don’t allow dogs at all. So make sure you know what the rules are at the apartment you might rent from.
