Recent grad - can I get by without a guarantor?

I'd be surprised if all management companies required a guarantor in your situation. Also, Craigslist.

I'll bet you won't need a guarantor in this market ...................
(Some landlord types are probably going to rush in here and say yes you do, but don't take that for gospel ..... )

Had various friends go through this from '06-'08 (all law school grads) and to the best of my knowledge none needed a guarantor. You'll probably just need a signed letter from your employer on official stationery.

I am working on an UWS co-op sublet now for someone in your position who is starting in Big Law in Oct.

a guarantor would be a little overkill, since it's really the co-op shareholder/landlord who is on the hook for the maintenance payments, but the co-op board did indeed just ask us for one.

ali r.
DG Neary Realty

I graduated from law school in 2000 and have worked for big law firms ever since. I've never heard from any of my friends who needed a guarantor in your situation. I'm sure there are a few landlords that would demand it but most landlords and management companies will not. Just try another landlord or management company.

An official employment letter stating you salary and start date should be perfectly sufficient for the majority of management companies. Co-op may be a different story, but for rental buildings, you're going to be about as well qualified as they get for 1BR apartments. They'll likely want to see bank statements too, though, to add a little warm and fuzzy, and might ask for first and last months rent. But as noted by others, rental market is stable but not crazy right now, and you fit the bill for a good tenant.

Thanks for the input all, this is what I had figured. I'm planning on contacting buildings when I plan my visit and making sure that I fit their criteria before spending the time looking at units.

very high probability of either extra security (2-3 months) or a guarantor.

Exactly. I got my MBA in 2002, and had to show my offer letter from the I-bank, though they did make me pay two months deposit (total), which were refunded over the next two years as I paid my rent on time. No gurentor, and a toal of 3x rent to move in including first month.