to move or not to move?

I think it depends on where you're looking. Different neighborhoods have different patterns. If you're talking areas with major condo gluts - Flatbush, LIC, Williamsburg, there are a lot of condos now renting and things aren't getting much better. I'd maybe put in an offer...

I was talking to some Upper East rental brokers. There was a bit of a dip a couple months back, then not so much inventory opening right now, and they're telling me that September is going to have a *lot* of choices given that a lot of leases end and a lot less folks are entering the workforce.

That being said, I think finding the specific apartment you like is what its about. I don't see $1k drops in the near future, and waiting until you see what's worth the money to you might make the most sense.

Thanks for your response! I do feel that brokers are pushing harder than usual this time of the year. My gut feeling tells me to wait for couple of months and start looking in the fall. I know the prices won't drop dramatically, but at least they wont go up (I hope).

Look on October 1 for a November move date.

Agreed... pretty much any broker I've ever talked is a lot less excited to talk to you more than 30 days before you move. Things move quickly, so if you aren't ready to take an apartment by the next month, they often don't want to "waste" time on you...

See recent posts on threat about 15% broker commission on rentals. I think paying such commission for rental is insane waste of money and unnecessary transaction costs. Many of Manhattan's finest rental buildings rent units directly through managing agents for no fee.

I've rented in both a condo and a coop and found that you pretty much need 60 days because of the board process.

Rent a coop? Are you nuts? If there is a 1-2 year limit on occupancy in the building for sublets, why on earth would someone be willing to pay a 15% commission as a transaction cost? Unless the apt is a steal or a corp. is picking up the expense for you or something, it's such a financially unsound thing to do with your money.

It was a long time ago that I rented in a co-op, think I found it on NY Times or Village voice back in the days when people use that before Craigslist. There was no fee and I was allowed to stay for 4 years and my rent didn't increase the full four years, because after all if you pay on time and don't ask for much maintenance and repairs from the owner and neighbors don't complain, you are a good tenant and little reason to get rid of you except for a greedy owner which he wasn't

whatever you do, don't rent from qwerty unless you clean your bathtub weekly.