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Top Neighborhoods to Score a No-Fee Apartment Right Now

By StreetEasy Team May 9, 2023

No-fee apartments are highly coveted among New York renters, with the promise of lower upfront costs creating less of a barrier for those looking to move. On average, more than half of StreetEasy’s rental listings are marked as “no fee,” though the share of no-fee listings fluctuates depending on the time of year. StreetEasy data shows that renters are least likely to find a no-fee apartment in June and July, when no-fee apartments comprise on average 50% of all listings. Meanwhile, renters are most likely to find a no-fee apartment in December and January, when close to 60% of listings advertise no-fee.

Though renters are more likely to pay a broker fee during the summer months, it’s still possible to find a no-fee apartment year-round. Likelihood of paying a broker fee also varies across neighborhoods and boroughs, with Brooklyn being the top borough to find a no-fee apartment.

We’ve identified the neighborhoods with the highest share of no-fee listings, where renters are least likely to pay a broker fee.

Table of Contents

Top Neighborhoods for No-Fee Apartments

Bushwick

72 Menahan Street

$2,800 base rent

2 |

1.5

Bushwick

1334 Bushwick Avenue

$2,845 base rent

1 |

1

Crown Heights

425 Lincoln Place

$2,495 base rent

Studio |

1

Midwood

1532 Ocean Avenue

$2,300 base rent

2 |

1

Stuyvesant Heights

678 Hancock Street

$2,100 base rent

Studio |

1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

699 Lafayette Avenue

$2,800 base rent

2 |

1

Midwood

1532 Ocean Avenue

$1,950 base rent

1 |

1

Stuyvesant Heights

874 Willoughby Avenue

$2,700 base rent

1 |

2

Crown Heights

110 New York Avenue

$2,290 base rent

1 |

1

Crown Heights

1176 President Street

$2,995 base rent

2 |

1

Ocean Hill

539 Chauncey Street

$2,895 base rent

3 |

1

Midwood

1202 Avenue K

$2,490 base rent

2 |

1

Top Neighborhoods for No-Fee Apartments <$3,000

East Harlem

234 East 106th Street

$2,375 base rent

2 |

1

Central Harlem

210 West 133rd Street

$1,750 base rent

Studio |

1

South Harlem

274 West 115th Street

$2,500 base rent

1 |

1

East Harlem

434 East 115th Street

$1,928 base rent

1 |

1

East Harlem

344 East 116th Street

$2,795 base rent

2 |

1

East Harlem

2006 Second Avenue

$2,250 base rent

1 |

1

Central Harlem

150 West 140th Street

$1,800 base rent

Studio |

1

Central Harlem

215 West 145th Street

$2,500 base rent

3 |

1

South Harlem

131 West 116th Street

$2,200 base rent

Studio |

1

East Harlem

215 East 110th Street

$2,095 base rent

Studio |

1

South Harlem

386 Manhattan Avenue

$2,995 base rent

1 |

1

East Harlem

414 East 119th Street

$2,695 base rent

2 |

1

Top Neighborhoods for No-Fee Apartments $3,000+

Ridgewood

18-65 Troutman Street

$1,822 base rent

1 |

1

Jamaica

166-25 89th Avenue

$1,600 base rent

Studio |

1

Jamaica

87-74 150th Street

$2,450 base rent

1 |

1

Ridgewood

60-33 67th Avenue

$2,650 base rent

1 |

1

Hunters Point

51-10 Vernon Boulevard

$2,650 base rent

Studio |

1

Hunters Point

23-10 42 Road

$2,990 base rent

Studio |

1

Ridgewood

1660 Putnam Avenue

$2,900 base rent

2 |

2

Ridgewood

1660 Putnam Avenue

$2,900 base rent

2 |

2

Jamaica

92-27 160th Street

$2,567 base rent

1 |

1

Jamaica

92-27 160th Street

$2,600 base rent

1 |

1

Jamaica

92-27 160th Street

$2,650 base rent

1 |

1

Ridgewood

10-17 Wyckoff Avenue

$2,500 base rent

1 |

1

What Is a Broker Fee?

Moving costs can look a little different in New York City. On top of the standard application fees (legally limited to $20 maximum), security deposit (legally limited to one month’s rent), and first month’s rent, New York renters may be charged a broker fee as well. This fee is a commission the broker earns for completing a transaction in which they successfully match a renter with an apartment. A renter will almost always pay a broker fee when they hire the broker to help them find an apartment. However, a renter may also have to pay a broker fee when the landlord hires the broker, as landlords are not required to cover this cost and may choose to charge the fee to the renter instead.

Broker fees usually range anywhere from one month’s rent to 15% of the annual rent, and the amount can vary from brokerage to brokerage and apartment to apartment. But this fee isn’t a given, and on average less than half of StreetEasy rental listings charge one. You can read more about broker fees here.

North New York

531 East 138th Street

$2,375 base rent

3 |

1

North New York

109 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,399 base rent

1 |

1

Mott Haven

224 East 135th Street

$2,419 base rent

1 |

1

Mott Haven

228 East 135th Street

$2,280 base rent

Studio |

1

North New York

419 East 135th Street

$2,850 base rent

2 |

1

North New York

128 Willis Avenue

$2,686 base rent

2 |

2

North New York

494 Jackson Avenue

$2,799 base rent

2 |

1

Mott Haven

228 East 135th Street

$2,500 base rent

1 |

1

Mott Haven

228 East 135th Street

$2,958 base rent

2 |

1

Mott Haven

228 East 135th Street

$2,466 base rent

1 |

1

Mott Haven

329 East 132nd Street

$2,677 base rent

1 |

1

Mott Haven

329 East 132nd Street

$2,005 base rent

Studio |

1

How to Find a No-Fee Apartment in NYC

You’re probably wondering how to find a no-fee apartment. Here are a few options:

Use the no-fee apartment filter on StreetEasy: You can easily check the “No Fee Only” box during your StreetEasy search to yield only no-fee apartment options.
Look for listings by owner or by building management companies: When owners and building management companies list apartments themselves, that means there’s no broker involved, and therefore no broker fee. You’ll see the information about who listed the apartment just below the “Request a Tour” and “Ask a Question” buttons on a StreetEasy listing.
Set up saved searches and email notifications: No-fee apartments are popular, so they often go fast. To ensure you’re seeing the most recent no-fee apartments as soon as they’re listed, create a saved search on StreetEasy with the parameters you’re looking for (make sure to check that no-fee box!) and sign up for notifications to get the latest listings sent directly to your email. When you see an apartment you like, reach out and ask for a tour ASAP. The earliest bird often gets the worm!

^Disclaimer:^{The information provided is intended for informational purposes only and intended to reflect a snapshot in time.}

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