best site for looking at rentals?

I like www.nybits.com for no-fee rentals.

nybits?

StreetEasy.com

http://streeteasy.com/nyc/process/rentals/edit_search/

thanks

No site is perfect. I liked using streeteasy because NYTimes and CL seem to have mostly fake listings to use as lead generators. But I recently contacted Rachel Realty regarding an open house on Streeteasy for a rental they had scheduled this past weekend and this was the response I received via email
Hi ***,

Leases are signed on this apartment. I have another one on W83rd Street and I can show it on Sunday.

Please feel free to call me on my cell at 646-623-****.


Best regards,

***
Rachel Realty
Cell:646-623-****

Unfortunately, this seems somewhat unavoidable.

CRAIGSLIST

CRAIGSLIST

CRAIGSLIST

can't stress it enough..

all the supposed "no fee" rental websites, put their fees into the rent..

if your the type to low-brow c-list, your loss others' gains..

fortune 500 companies have started directing employees there and simply reimburse them for fees since the % tacked on by the likes of oakwood and other intranet corp housing middlemen don't add up..

hol4 -no way! CL is dreadful nowadays!

There are good ads in Craigslist. Call those that have photos that appear to be a real apartment. Only exclusive listings are in Streeteasy and some of them are like the Rachel Realty ad.

i used just about everything except Craigslist and nybits (they didn't seem to have many 3 brs) when i was looking.
streeteasy is a great start.
i also browsed nytimes - online and print - better results with ads from printed edition. they were kind of random, mostly prewar. some were good.

Also try urbansherpany.com

It's a little tricky in how you search it, but it's great for finding the landlord of a building you see on the street but doesn't have a sign about how to contact.

UWS_HELP, it's very possible that the apartment was indeed rented. The market does move very quickly and sometimes, despite our best intentions, agent are unable to keep everything updated. I have had clients call on apartments, come into the office to register, and receieved an email that the apartment was rented while they were here.

Scott K
Bond New York

I like the old school way...pick a neighborhood you like and walk around, talk to the doormen, supers, etc.

Fairway, what do you mean by "like the Rachel Realty ad"? The CLs that are what look like cheap postcards hat are reposted and reposted?

In defense of our honest real estate brokers (of whom I'm not one):

1. a friend told me the other day that his friends have told him repeatedly in recent days that
apartments are moving extremely quickly

2. and that they have acted to rent apartments which were posted just hours or days before and told
that they had already been rented

3. before Lehman it was common for my apts to rent even before their open houses began: that does
happen with well-priced and desirable apts in a strong market.

4. the converse too: years ago one of my tenants was showing his no-fee, dog-friendly, prime East
Village sponsor coop for me

5. for 4-5 days in a row, propsects would call in the early afternoon, request showings at or after
6:30 PM, and not show up.

6. in stronger markets tenants will often grab the first apt that comes close to meeting their criteria
to avoid being "priced out forever", or not being able to get what they need or can afford.

If you'll accept some self promotion... I'd suggest taking a look at Urban Edge. No brokers, no fees. You are contacting the owners directly, not Urban Edge, so there are no fees built into the rent.

www.UrbanEdgeNY.com

If you do work with a broker, do a simple Google search. With social media being the way it is, it's easy to learn more about the person you are dealing with. If they are not accessible via social media, they might have something to hide and might not be the person you'd like to deal with.

- Emilio Martinez

Emilio, that is completely false. I have a Facebook page and a Twitter account. But my personal Facebook page is completely off-limits. Do I have anything to hide? No. But my private life is not the business of clients.

Scott K
Bond New York

Doing a Google search on a name is not a bad idea. But Scott K is right about Facebook not being for business.

WORD OF MOUTH

Get ready to pay 15 percent all over again.

And no matter whom you end up working with adjust your expectations. Rents going up faster than gas prices.

Definitely try out www.Rent-Direct.com. Every single listing is No Fee. They guarantee it. They are constantly updating, and they have very good customer support if you have any questions. Search their listings free and see if you like the listings before you join.

www.Rent-Direct.com

If you are looking in the Upper West Side, Midtown West or East Side- Rachel Realty NYC has a big clout. They represent one of the biggest landlords in the Upper West Side.

Although their site is not most up to date real time, as most big brokerage companies are as well-- speaking with an agent directly will narrow down availabilities, according to your needs. They feature up coming availabilities in their site which is beneficial to see for comparables. Online data and listings are most likely stale, as the market moves fast and best to get in touch directly with one of Rachel Realty agents for faster and better service.

Rachel Realty's website is www.rachelrealtynyc.com