Fake Brokers?

When I was looking I Just avoided any add that didn't have a real address. It may have drastically reduced my field of vision but all I saw were good apartments that fit my requirements. I can't understand why anyone would knowingly do business with these unethical brokers.

There are no "respected" agencies. All rental brokers are unethical to an extend - some more than others. You'll have to learn the lesson the hard way.

Why Bond NY? My friend just rented a 2 br from them and they seem fine.

K&R was shady, Metropolis I doubt, and generally anyone who posts the exact same ad on Craiglsit 58 times a day (Platinum, NYLS, etc) is highly suspect in my mind. If you call or email them and they won't give an address or cross street, tell them to forget it. Nothing worse than bait and switch.

spend a little more time looking and the fakes will jump out at you. and beware comments of support like the one above.

p.s. they're not fake brokers, they just have fake listings.

Metropolis - I requested an address from a listing that said "high 70's" three times.
This is the response I got:

"The landlord does not allow me to release the actual address because
they do not want people calling them/viewing apartments on their own-
it's just their policy. I apologize if this is an inconvenience but
it is just the way it works for this landlord."

I ask for cross streets, if they won't give tht, forget it. The two have Manhattan in their names and Anchor I am also suspicious of, since they post the same apts again and again for months. IME, Corcoran, Prudential, and Halstead are more or less legit - never any fakery from them.

Hmmm, I'm not sure what you mean by "fake broker" but if you end up with a great apartment, who cares who/what got you there. Though I do understand that many hope to make apartment hunting an efficient, streamlined process. If that's your case then perhaps keep to the reputable firms. I personally don't see a lot of time wasted in emailing a broker and having them tell me they can't give me an address. C'est la vie. On to the next listing...

What she said. Watch out, though, if you are renting - often I see no fees listed and you have to then pay them if they show it you, whereas you would not if you found it through say nybits. Or if the owner pays, you loose the free month because they now have to pay a fee.

Thanks for the feedback everyone. My experience has been that most of the rental brokers are shady.

And "hofo" you are kidding me, right? Almost every too good to be true listing I called from BOND NEW YORK was already "just rented" but stayed posted and they always said that they had something similar which was completely different! Unfortunately one broker at Corcoran left his listings looking like they were available when they were already in contract posted as a lure also. It's such a waste of our time and the agencies should really police their own brokers.