Rental Timing

1. if you pulled the trigger now, you're giving up one month of rent and getting piece of mind that your search is over. what's your opportunity cost? after you diligence your neighborhood, you should know a good place when you see it. for one month of rent, i think you take it now - you should still try to negotiate whatever you can though, including broker's fee, rent, and even move-in date (assuming it's open for debate).

2. owner's are scrambling, that's certain. it really varies, though. some are in tough spots, some aren't as worried about filling vacancies immediately. you've got to feel the owner out through conversation. sometimes, but not always, a broker can give you an idea of how much room there is to talk. i'm saw a few places over the past weeks where the tenant was paying about $200 more than the current asking price for apts in the 2-3k range. broker's fees are a tough topic. again, it varies. a lot of owners are paying brokers, but some have arrangements to pay individuals, who in turn reach out to select brokers. if you are shown an apartment from a broker, expect to pay some fee - these guys aren't handing out apartments, even in this climate. there are many work-arounds though; consider contacting management companies directly. there are a few good threads on that topic you should seek out.

hope this helps and good luck.

There is no reason to pay a broker's fee right now. If you are shown a place with a fee, point out that you can go to the place down the street/block and pay no fee and get a couple of months free rent. Many individual condo owners are not negotiating - they would rather drop the price of the apartment than pay the broker's fee. If this is the case and you must have the apartment with the broker, negotiate the rent down to where the broker's fee is amortized over the year. But my best advice, having just done this a couple of weeks ago, is to go through the management companies.

evnyc - do you have any suggestions for good management companies in Gramercy/Union Sq/Greenwich Village?

I think in ANY month if you wait until after the first, you have less selection, but more desperate landloards willing to negotiate...at least in this market. Especially small landlords and condo owners.

yings - I'm looking in the same area for a 3br (talk about a fun search). Unfortunately many of the nicer rental buildings have "building brokers" that handle all the rentals. A couple of examples:

Zeckendorf Towers - http://www.1irving.com/index.htm
300 Mercer - http://www.barakny.com

There probably is some room even in these buildings since the landlord may be willing to still pay their internal broker fee. If anyone has any other buildings / mgt companies, I'd love to know...