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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

Crown Heights

728 Franklin Avenue

$2,999 No Fee

2 |

1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

205 Spencer Street

$2,515 No Fee

1 |

1

Bushwick

18 Irving Avenue

$2,500 No Fee

2 |

1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

566 Dekalb Avenue

$2,750 No Fee

Studio |

1

Flatbush

410 East 28th Street

$2,800 No Fee

2 |

1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

121 Pulaski Street

$2,400 No Fee

1 |

1

Crown Heights

1163 Dean Street

$2,950 No Fee

1 |

1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

219 Franklin Avenue

$1,900 No Fee

Studio |

1

Crown Heights

130 New York Avenue

$2,900 No Fee

1 |

1

Stuyvesant Heights

876 Greene Avenue

$2,495 No Fee

2 |

1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

591 Lafayette Avenue

$2,550 No Fee

1 |

1

Stuyvesant Heights

730 Hancock Street

$2,800 No Fee

1 |

1

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

South Harlem

220 West 122nd Street

$2,350 No Fee

1 |

1

South Harlem

21 West 118th Street

$2,425 No Fee

1 |

1

East Harlem

234 East 119th Street

$2,095 No Fee

1 |

1

East Harlem

214 East 111st Street

$2,675 No Fee

3 |

1

East Harlem

428 East 117th Street

$2,175 No Fee

Studio |

1

Central Harlem

273 West 131st Street

$2,025 No Fee

1 |

1

Central Harlem

59 East 126th Street

$2,330 No Fee

1 |

1

Central Harlem

255 West 131st Street

$2,600 No Fee

1 |

1

Central Harlem

251 West 139th Street

$2,499 No Fee

1 |

1

Central Harlem

150 West 140th Street

$1,650 No Fee

Studio |

1

Central Harlem

211 West 146th Street

$1,750 No Fee

Studio |

1

South Harlem

241 Central Park North

$2,650 No Fee

1 |

1

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

Ridgewood

1920 Harman Street

$2,500 No Fee

2 |

1

Jamaica

153-10 88th Avenue

$2,314 No Fee

1 |

1

Jamaica

153-10 88th Avenue

$2,699 No Fee

Studio |

1

Jamaica

153-10 88th Avenue

$2,313 No Fee

1 |

1

Ridgewood

2203 Harman Street

$2,575 No Fee

1 |

1

Ridgewood

17-11 Hancock Street

$2,888 No Fee

1 |

1

Ridgewood

17-11 Hancock Street

$2,999 No Fee

1 |

1

Jamaica

153-10 88th Avenue

$2,139 No Fee

Studio |

1

Jamaica

153-10 88th Avenue

$2,139 No Fee

Studio |

1

Ridgewood

6-13 Grandview Avenue

$2,100 No Fee

Studio |

1

Ridgewood

59-20 67th Avenue

$2,400 No Fee

2 |

1

Hunters Point

45-57 Davis Street

$2,850 No Fee

Studio |

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.

Mott Haven

322 Grand Concourse

$2,595 No Fee

1 |

1

Mott Haven

310 Grand Concourse

$2,851 No Fee

2 |

1

Mott Haven

350 East 134th Street

$1,400 No Fee

Studio |

1

Mott Haven

224 East 135th Street

$2,542 No Fee

1 |

1

North New York

133 Brown Place

$2,175 No Fee

1 |

1

North New York

499 Concord Avenue

$2,499 No Fee

1 |

1

North New York

499 Concord Avenue

$2,799 No Fee

2 |

1

Mott Haven

224 East 135th Street

$2,956 No Fee

1 |

1

Mott Haven

349 East 139th Street

$2,900 No Fee

3 |

2.5

Mott Haven

40 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,542 No Fee

1 |

1

Mott Haven

40 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,936 No Fee

1 |

1

Mott Haven

224 East 135th Street

$2,400 No Fee

1 |

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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