LL lowers rent

Pls. don't be afraid to counter, julia, if you really do think it's too high. Check out some of the threads on SE on how to negotiate if this isn't your forte. (The recommendations helped me quite a lot.) You might also take a look at the Corcoran thread here where Barbara actually goes to bat for tenants!

Topper...I originally asked them to bring it down to $1900 from $2500..when they brought it down to $2125 they said it was final but I sent them an e-mail asking for one free month plus the $375..so we'll wait and see. I really don't like the neighborhood and want to move downtown but it's all about the money.

Good move, julia. See what they say. I live in a four-apartment building and the garden apartment just took two months to rent. Landlords hate that! And they hate to pay brokerage fees to get tenants which is becoming more common.

That said, $1900 might be excessive. Good luck! (As I recall, kylewest seemed to have some of the best posts as regards negotiating.)

Have you sent them some comps from Streeteasy to underscore why you think $1900 is a fair price? (That helped me a good deal.)

What's the best alternative you've found? I.e., at $2125, is there somewhere else you've found you'd rather be? FWIW, I don't think $1900 or an additional month off is excessive given what you have, which as you describe it isn't a great deal to begin with. I got a "deal-of-the-century" type place (exagerration, of course), and LL came down 20% nevertheless.

You're in crunch time for a 2/1 move-in, so I hope you are hitting the pavement hard! The next two weeks are your peak time to find your deal. Good luck and keep us posted. Don't take crap from nobody, and remember your best negotiating positions comes from having multiple alternatives for which you'd be willing to walk. Take no prisoners!!!!!!

"exagerration" => "exaggeration". Damn iPhone.