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Apartment Search Frequently Asked Questions The most frequently asked questions about our NY Apartment and
New Jersey Apartment rental service taken from a poll of 400 customers.
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| 1. How hard is it to rent an apartment in New York? |
Answer: We won't kid you - it's hard. You need to be as serious about looking for an apartment as you'd be looking for a job. You need to be realistic about what you can afford and you must be prepared to act immediately when you find a place you like.
Like job hunting, investing, or dating, it's always best to have a plan - a strategy, if you will. Our free ebook,Ý"The Smart Guide For Desperate Renters - Renting Without Brokers", will dramatically enhance your chances of getting the apartment you want by teaching you a few, simple strategies.
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| 2. How do I know what I can afford? |
Answer: Prime Manhattan landlords are more demanding than landlords in Upper Manhattan or in the boroughs. In general, Prime Manhattan landlords want you to earn at least 40 times (X) the monthly rent. In the boroughs, landlords will be looking for you to earn, in the very best neighborhoods, 35 to 40 times the monthly rent. In good neighborhoods, expect to earn between 30 to 35 times the monthly rent, and in the more transitional neighborhoods of the city, expect to earn between 25 and 30 times the monthly rent.
If you don't earn a sufficiently high income to qualify, or if you have had some bad credit, or no credit, or you are a student, then you will need to have a guarantor.ÝSee our complete discussion of "Guarantors" in the FAQ section called "Best Strategies for Getting An Apartment."
As an example of how figure out how to use these multiples of the monthly rent, we are using Prime Manhattan as an example. Make two calculations: divide your annual income by 40, and also divide your annual income by 45. These results give you the range in monthly rent you should be looking for.
Example: Annual income = $60,000.
$60,000 divided by 40 = $1500.
$60,000 divided by 45 = $1333.
So, you should look for an apartment with a rent between $1333 - $1500 a month.
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3. What's the average rent in New York?
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Answer: It's hard to give an average rent because rent depends on a lot of variables: the kind of apartment
(a one-bedroom loft may be more expensive than a one-bedroom that was just built in a new building),
the kind of amenities in the building (a doorman building will usually be more expensive than a building without a doorman), and the neighborhood (the Upper East Side is cheaper than SoHo).
However, in general, there is next to nothing for under $1600 in the prime neighborhoods of Manhattan. A clean, well-lit studio will be about $1700 a month. Lofts are priced by square footage so they vary. Traditional, full-size one-bedroom apartments start at about $1700 and up. A flexible two-bedroom (that is, a one-bedroom with a dining alcove that can be used as a second bedroom) will start at $2,200 or so, a full two-bedroom will start at about $2500 in a walkup, or about $2900 and up in a mid-rise building. Prices in doorman high rises are considerably higher.
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| 4. Can I see an apartment before I make an application for it? |
Answer: Of course! EachÝRDNY.comÝlisting has details about who and how to contact the person in charge of showing the vacant apartment and you'll make an appointment at your convenience. When you become aÝsubscriber,Ýyou'll have access to the free eBook "The Smart Guide For Desperate Renters" which has a check-off list of what to look for when you inspect an apartment to help you decide if an apartment is suitable for you.
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5. What do I need to do to apply for an apartment on my own?
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Answer: In the New York City metro area, the rental process requires a lot more time and proof than in most regions in the country. Landlords will not just take you word that you have enough income to pay the rent and will ask you to prove your income and other assets. You might feel this is very intrusive, and it is, but that's because the rental market is so competitive that landlords can wait to give a lease the the applicant who has the strongest financial assets. We'll help you navigate through the application process.
EveryÝRDNY.comÝapartment listing has details about who and how to contact the person in charge of showing the vacant apartment, plus what kind of financial requirements the landlord wants to see if you apply for the apartment. You can find samples of the paperwork every landlord will ask from you in the online Guide and the free eBook "The Smart Guide For Desperate Renters" when you become aÝRDNY.comÝsubscriber.ÝWe call this the "Landlord Package" and you should have this prepared before you visit your first apartment. Make several copies of this package and keep it with you when you visit an apartment so you can complete an application fight away if you like what you see. You'll impress the landlord by being prepared, and making a good impression is very important when you apply for an apartment. See more about the Landlord Package here:
http://www.rent-direct.com/New_York_apartments_faq3.html
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| 6. I have a pet. What is the best way to find a pet-friendly apartment? |
Answer: There is a big distinction between whether you have a dog or a cat or some other type of pet. Dog owners have the hardest time finding apartments. Cats and pets are much easier to deal with. You will find pet information on just about all of our listings. If you select "I have a dog" on your search profile criteria, you will only see apartments where the landlord is open to pets. Some of those listings may say "pets on a case by case basis". In those instances, you know that you will need to convince the landlord that your pet is quiet, well behaved, and won't mess up the apartment.
However, if you select "I have a dog" on your search profile and there aren't too many listings available to you, you might want to create a second search profile, just like the first one, but without "I have a dog" selected in your criteria. You will see more listings, and it never hurts to ask a landlord if they would consider your dog if you were to give them an additional "pet deposit" to cover any damage that they may be concerned about. We know a number of people who've been successful at "bribing" their landlord to allow their beloved canine family member to join them in their apartment.
Cats are usually no problem. Anything small enough to fit in a tank (fish) or a cage (bird) is probably safe. You can't have livestock (cows, pigs) or big cats (tigers, cheetahs) in New York, but many exotic pets are OK as long as they're legal. For example, no one will let you keep a Komodo Dragon, but an African Parrot is OK.
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| 7. Will I have to pay a commission to the landlord? |
Answer: It is illegal for a landlord or a landlord's agent to charge you a fee just to rent you the apartment.
Some landlords will ask for a charge to run a credit check on you (and guarantor, if any). Generally, you'll be asked for one month's rent and one month security deposit when you make an application or upon signing a lease.
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| 8. When will I know if the apartment I've applied for is mine? |
Answer: Most landlords are fast -- you'll usually know within 24-48 hours.
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