Moving to NYC/NJ Area. What do?

Mim

Hello H/A!

Basically, I got offered a government job in Manhattan. I start the 25th. I'm trying to find an apartment to live in at least by next week but I have no idea what I am doing. I moved here from Houston, but I'm not foreign to the east coast (previously a Philadelphia resident). I've tried e-mailing realtors, and inquiring from listings I've seen on various websites, but to no avail. Apartment complexes listed with availability, upon calling them, do not or won't have any until August. So my questions are:

1. What is the best way to find an apartment on short notice?
2. How risky are roommates you've never met before? For those who do not know me, I am 28, female and wind can knock me over.
3. Realtors? Are they the best way?

Now, I have a budget of about 1200, with my parents and boyfriend chipping in. Boyfriend (hey @Sarksus ) is planning to move down himself come December, but he's totally cool with staying somewhere outside of NYC. Preferably Jersey City/Hoboken/Union City. If I had to say what I was looking for, basically a studio, but preferably a 1 bedroom. Laundry facilities in the building or nearby. Definitely near transit to NYC/Manhattan. I do not want to share a bathroom, and while in the event of roommates I will share a kitchen.

This is my first time living on my own, and with such a short time frame (I have been looking for awhile but again, no nips) I'm freaking out.

What do, H/A? WHAT DO?!

Hakkekage

Give me your contact information and hang out with me when you get here betch.

Legit though? You're in a tough spot but not all is lost. However, let go of your dream of a private bathroom. On $1200/month, that's not going to happen. I'm sorry.

Try a site like padmapper or streeteasy to narrow down rents and results from multiple listing sites. Be wary of false ads. Some scumbags will list a nice looking room and then when you show up take you around the block to their shithole of a place that they're actually renting out.

You are going to have a hell of a time not getting hit with a broker's fee, unless you end up in a situation where you have roommates and the arrangement there is you pay the roomie and they pay the landlord (if you can avoid it DO NOT DO THIS. Roomies can also be scumbags and pocket the money and then landlords can come knocking, usually quite angrily).

Jersey City is a good place to look. However even for JC $1200/month is pretty low, even for a 2brm with roomies. You have to get really luck to find a place within decent walking distance of the PATH.

I'm sorry. This is your first time living on your own and you couldn't have been thrown into a less hospitable rental market for beginners.

Darkewolfe

Realtors aren't a big help with finding apartments, in my experience.

I am not a small female, so I have less concern about it. However, I have some friends who are, and they had similar experiences to me when finding roommates via craigslist. The best way to do things was to have a succession of meetings, phone or skype first, then at least one in person meeting, to get to know the possible roommates. Craigslist roommates will sometimes be perfect, and sometimes miserable, just like all roommates. I'd start searching and e-mailing everything that seems interesting. Also post a looking for post, but be much more careful about meetings as a result of that.

Mim

Hakkekage wrote: »

Give me your contact information and hang out with me when you get here betch.

Legit though? You're in a tough spot but not all is lost. However, let go of your dream of a private bathroom. On $1200/month, that's not going to happen. I'm sorry.

Try a site like padmapper or streeteasy to narrow down rents and results from multiple listing sites. Be wary of false ads. Some scumbags will list a nice looking room and then when you show up take you around the block to their shithole of a place that they're actually renting out.

You are going to have a hell of a time not getting hit with a broker's fee, unless you end up in a situation where you have roommates and the arrangement there is you pay the roomie and they pay the landlord (if you can avoid it DO NOT DO THIS. Roomies can also be scumbags and pocket the money and then landlords can come knocking, usually quite angrily).

Jersey City is a good place to look. However even for JC $1200/month is pretty low, even for a 2brm with roomies. You have to get really luck to find a place within decent walking distance of the PATH.

I'm sorry. This is your first time living on your own and you couldn't have been thrown into a less hospitable rental market for beginners.

I have found SOME listing for 1200 and under in JC/Hoboken/Union City, it's just a matter of getting the listings to contact me back.

I'm really just looking to avoid an hour and a half commute. My folks and I found a place in Newark for $850, but that commute would be a kick in the ass. I don't mind not walking to a PATH station. As long as a bus gets me there within a reasonable time frame, I'm happy.

How much is too much for a broker's fee? I pulled out a small private loan to fund my move, so I'm not sweating a fee too much, but I have no idea what's too much.

Darkewolfe wrote: »

Realtors aren't a big help with finding apartments, in my experience.

I am not a small female, so I have less concern about it. However, I have some friends who are, and they had similar experiences to me when finding roommates via craigslist. The best way to do things was to have a succession of meetings, phone or skype first, then at least one in person meeting, to get to know the possible roommates. Craigslist roommates will sometimes be perfect, and sometimes miserable, just like all roommates. I'd start searching and e-mailing everything that seems interesting. Also post a looking for post, but be much more careful about meetings as a result of that.

Cool, cool. I'm also looking at the NYC subreddit where they have postings for roommates as well. I'm just overly cautious and trying to not waffle too long and end up homeless.

There are some realtors (?) I think in JC who I am waiting to contact me back. The listings on their site seem within my price range, but I think I have to go through them?

I wish someone on the PA forums was looking for a roomie

EDITED TO ADD: Are there other locations that are convenient but cheaper? I'm beginning to look in Yonkers/Bronx

mts

its actually really easy to get into manahtten from outside the city assuming you are ok taking a train/path. that would in theory expand your doable radius to north jersey, CT or most of NYC area

tapeslinger

jerrrrseeeeey ciiiiiityyyyy

Depending on where you end up, PATH is literally 10 minutes from downtown.

That said! There are several neighborhoods here and they are NOT created equally. If you need help figuring out whether you're looking at a hike or a manageable distance from the train, hit me up!

Hakkekage

Where is your job located, Mim? I assuming if government, closer to downtown by City Hall? You do not want to live in Yonkers/Bronx and commute that whole way. Your commute may still take an hour and a half even if you are closer than Newark, because more important than simple distance is proximity to transportation lines.

If downtown: Jersey City is still your best bet. Queens is a bit far (looking at 45min-1hr), Brooklyn is better but too expensive.

Honestly? at this point you have to take what you can get. You're looking at a very short time frame with no ability to look at these places in person (like i said, fake listings are all the rage). As for broker's fee: It's typically 1.5-2 months of a full year's rent, and that's on top of the usual 1.5x a month's rent for the security deposit. They can get hefty.

Caveat: I never had the luxury of having to do my own apartment hunt in NYC so this is all based on Beasto's experience. However when we were thinking about moving to a bigger place we were trolling padmapper for listings.

https://www.padmapper.com/?viewType=MAP&lat=40.727262&lng=-74.044049&zoom=15&minRent=250&maxRent=30000&minBR=1&maxBR=3&minBA=1&cats=false&dogs=false

Mim

Hakkekage wrote: »

Where is your job located, Mim? I assuming if government, closer to downtown by City Hall? You do not want to live in Yonkers/Bronx and commute that whole way. Your commute may still take an hour and a half even if you are closer than Newark, because more important than simple distance is proximity to transportation lines.

If downtown: Jersey City is still your best bet. Queens is a bit far (looking at 45min-1hr), Brooklyn is better but too expensive.

Honestly? at this point you have to take what you can get. You're looking at a very short time frame with no ability to look at these places in person (like i said, fake listings are all the rage). As for broker's fee: It's typically 1.5-2 months of a full year's rent, and that's on top of the usual 1.5x a month's rent for the security deposit. They can get hefty.

Caveat: I never had the luxury of having to do my own apartment hunt in NYC so this is all based on Beasto's experience. However when we were thinking about moving to a bigger place we were trolling padmapper for listings.

https://www.padmapper.com/?viewType=MAP&lat=40.727262&lng=-74.044049&zoom=15&minRent=250&maxRent=30000&minBR=1&maxBR=3&minBA=1&cats=false&dogs=false

Yeah I'm like a few steps away from city hall. I found a couple of apartments in Yonkers that were super close to their metro station, so Sarks and I figured it wouldn't be too bad? Or do the lines normally have trouble and break down often, adding to the commute? I'm just at a point where I'm flinging anything at the wall to see what sticks.

I finally got in contact with a realtor today and she's beginning the look. I can possibly stay in an extended stay, as there was one apartment that opens up August 5th in JC, that I'm not opposed to. I have the money to cover that. I'm also waiting for an apartment to get back to me in Hackensack (sp?) that has an opening right now, but no one ever wants to answer their phooones.

Mim

ALSO, I found this place: http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/abo/5679244808.html

and I wrote them expressing interest. They replied back with an e-mail:

Thank you for your interest in the property listed for rent. You were the second to contact from the ad. The first prospective renter no longer had to move because of his work situation. So we give the opportunity to you. We just completed all new renovations and are now ready to rent with flexible terms. We will work with you on move in date, lease length and security deposit.

I understand that you desire the exact address of the property but my husband does not want me disclose due to safety reasons. We have had a string of break-ins, squatters and thefts at our other properties. We want to prevent that with this property because of the renovations that have cost lots of money. You are going to be the first to move in with the renovations. That is why we want to confirm you have your latest report before we arrange a tour.

All utilities are priced into the lease along with garage parking spaces. The appliances in the kitchen as well as laundry room were just installed. You have the option to choose your paint color and flooring prior to your arrival

When you want to come look at the place, then please visit the link below and grab your report. We recommend this site because all of our tenants used it and haven't had any problems. Just fill out the form and indicate that you want the report. We are not concerned with any negative report items, it's more of a formality to ensure you have rental history. Simply get your report by CLICKING HERE

Do not send me the report over mail, bring it to the tour. Please let me know when you grab your report. I can then schedule you for a showing of the place.

See you soon

I can't tell if it's a scam or not, but the link sends me to Credit Updates. I'd rather use my own bank's credit report, but right now I'm just worried about getting scammed. Does this ring any bells to you guys?

schuss

Most places ask for credit reports and have their own sources (IME out west), but if you have a credit report handy, offer it. If they refuse, then it may be sketchy.

Mim

schuss wrote: »

Most places ask for credit reports and have their own sources (IME out west), but if you have a credit report handy, offer it. If they refuse, then it may be sketchy.

Yeah, I just wrote back asking if it was okay to use my own credit report site as opposed to the one they gave. The apartment seems incredibly cheap, but they make mention of other tennants so maybe they can afford it?