So I'm relatively young and have gotten relatively lucky in terms of the places I've had (I found all of them the same way, persistent craigslist determination). Right now, I'm living in a situation where I'm paying 850 utilities included for a decent sized bedroom and even a little adjoining office with window in a house right next to Astoria park. For the amount I'm paying the deal is killer,... [more]
So I'm relatively young and have gotten relatively lucky in terms of the places I've had (I found all of them the same way, persistent craigslist determination). Right now, I'm living in a situation where I'm paying 850 utilities included for a decent sized bedroom and even a little adjoining office with window in a house right next to Astoria park. For the amount I'm paying the deal is killer, but I do miss having a kitchen (my previous apartment was pretty awesome in that respect too, I had a real 1 br, with admittedly a small bathroom but a decent sized bedroom, living room and kitchen all in seperate rooms and I was only paying $1050 in LIC, a few blocks from the Queensboro Plaza stop).
I didn't mention everywhere I've lived, but that's my experience and I feel like I've been lucky rent wise in terms of the places I've lived/live. As I mentioned, I miss having a kitchen so I have two questions really:
(1) I heard that Jan/Feb are the best months to rent in terms of finding deals. Is this spot on or are there better times? I have the freedom of going month by month and not being on a lease right now so I'd like to take advantage of that.
(2) Even in the best months, is it realistic for me to find a place around my budget, (850, utilities ideally included, if not, not) be it a 1 BR or a Studio even if it's further out in either Manhattan (obviously wayuptown) or Queens (Towards flushing, but I have seen ads for places in Rego Park but I don't know how legit those were).
Any help would be really appreciated!
Thank you.
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Response by needsadvice
about 13 years ago
Posts: 607
Member since: Jul 2010
Use the search function under rentals.
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Response by NYC10007
about 13 years ago
Posts: 432
Member since: Nov 2009
Exactly, use the rental search function. My guess, though, is that for under $1,000/month, (forget utilities), for your own place, you'll be in a pretty undesirable basement unit in a not-so-great neighborhood. There's lots of subsidized stuff that will give you what you're looking for if you income qualify and don't mind being on a wait-list for 5 years?
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Response by Truth
about 13 years ago
Posts: 5641
Member since: Dec 2009
You can rent a nice one-bedroom with full kitchen in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn for $1,500-1,600 a month.
$1675-$1750 will get you a nice huge one-bedroom with extra room for an office or small bedroom.
I have a beautiful 2-bedroom for $1,875 a month, no utilities included but it's newly renovated building and apartment. I have views and a great landlord.
If you rent in a private 2-family house, utilities are usually included.
So broaden your horizons, check this great neighborhood out in Brooklyn.
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Response by Truth
about 13 years ago
Posts: 5641
Member since: Dec 2009
Or just spring for a nice large studio with a kitchen for $1,000.
Less in a private house.
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Response by Truth
about 13 years ago
Posts: 5641
Member since: Dec 2009
The se search won't get you far, many of these landlords only use local RE rental brokers.
They don't even want their homes and apts listed on the internet.
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Response by Truth
about 13 years ago
Posts: 5641
Member since: Dec 2009
Or, go into the dry cleaners in the neighborhood you want to rent in.
They know about the apt. for rent around the corner that the owner doesn't want to rent through a broker.
Same with the local coffee shop. Spread the word around and look and act nice while you do it.
Drop off a shirt to clean at the dry-cleaner. Have lunch at the coffee shop.
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Response by cardboardbox
about 13 years ago
Posts: 8
Member since: Jul 2010
Thanks for all the useful advice. Anyone know one way or the other whether it's true that rents are lower in the winter months as opposed to the summer?
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Response by BigPapi
about 13 years ago
Posts: 95
Member since: Nov 2012
How's that rental function working , anyway ?
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Response by Truth
about 13 years ago
Posts: 5641
Member since: Dec 2009
That may have been true in the past but these days the landlords are getting renters all year-round.
You can ask at the local dry-cleaners, grocery-stores if you can put up a "Looking for Apartment to Rent" notice.
Some have bulletin-boards for that purpose.
Print some out and take them with you when you check out the neighborhoods where you want to rent.
Bring some thumb-tacks and tape with you, so you don't have to bother them for those things.
You can buy little packs of tacks at Staples.
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Response by jlnguyen
almost 13 years ago
Posts: 0
Member since: Jan 2012
I'm also curious as to which months are best to rent. My cycle is in July and I hear that's one of the worst months. I'm trying to decide if I want to sublet after/before July in order to get on a new lease cycle.
Use the search function under rentals.
Exactly, use the rental search function. My guess, though, is that for under $1,000/month, (forget utilities), for your own place, you'll be in a pretty undesirable basement unit in a not-so-great neighborhood. There's lots of subsidized stuff that will give you what you're looking for if you income qualify and don't mind being on a wait-list for 5 years?
You can rent a nice one-bedroom with full kitchen in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn for $1,500-1,600 a month.
$1675-$1750 will get you a nice huge one-bedroom with extra room for an office or small bedroom.
I have a beautiful 2-bedroom for $1,875 a month, no utilities included but it's newly renovated building and apartment. I have views and a great landlord.
If you rent in a private 2-family house, utilities are usually included.
So broaden your horizons, check this great neighborhood out in Brooklyn.
Or just spring for a nice large studio with a kitchen for $1,000.
Less in a private house.
The se search won't get you far, many of these landlords only use local RE rental brokers.
They don't even want their homes and apts listed on the internet.
Or, go into the dry cleaners in the neighborhood you want to rent in.
They know about the apt. for rent around the corner that the owner doesn't want to rent through a broker.
Same with the local coffee shop. Spread the word around and look and act nice while you do it.
Drop off a shirt to clean at the dry-cleaner. Have lunch at the coffee shop.
Thanks for all the useful advice. Anyone know one way or the other whether it's true that rents are lower in the winter months as opposed to the summer?
How's that rental function working , anyway ?
That may have been true in the past but these days the landlords are getting renters all year-round.
You can ask at the local dry-cleaners, grocery-stores if you can put up a "Looking for Apartment to Rent" notice.
Some have bulletin-boards for that purpose.
Print some out and take them with you when you check out the neighborhoods where you want to rent.
Bring some thumb-tacks and tape with you, so you don't have to bother them for those things.
You can buy little packs of tacks at Staples.
I'm also curious as to which months are best to rent. My cycle is in July and I hear that's one of the worst months. I'm trying to decide if I want to sublet after/before July in order to get on a new lease cycle.