Considering a move off-campus? Then this guide is for you: to help students new to the apartment hunting scene in New York City know what to expect, and what steps to take to find the perfect place.
Getting Organized
Make sure you’re ready. A move off-campus can be a big step and a significant financial undertaking, especially in New York City. Apartment life can be liberating: there are no RA’s, no 2 a.m. fire drills, and no mandatory moves every eight months—and having your own bed to sleep in isn’t bad, either. Unfortunately, that also means that you have to buy all your own furniture, and you’re in charge of any maintenance problems your new place might have. Convinced that you are ready to trade in the sleepy security guard for a superintendant? Read on.
To roommate, or not to roommate?
Most coeds choose to room with a friend during the initial move off-campus, for simple reasons: it’s less lonely, it’s safer, and it’s more cost-efficient. If you get lonely easily or are the forgetful type, roommate living might be for you – also, two- to four- bedroom apartments tend to be cheaper per person than one-bedrooms and studios. On the other hand, living with a friend can seriously test the friendship. Ask yourself: are your living styles compatible? What are each of your pet peeves? Are your schedules compatible?
Parental support
There’s no question about it, you need support from a parent (or other financially stable figure) when signing on an apartment in New York. Even if you’re prepared to pay the monthly rent yourself- which most coeds aren’t- apartments require guarantors to financially have your back, and these guarantors have to prove that they earn anywhere from several to almost one hundred times the monthly rent. Make sure that you and your parents are on the same page in terms of price range, apartment location, and roommate status.
Location, Location, Location
Pick the neighborhoods you’re interested in searching. Do you want a place in the NYU area, close to classes and on-campus friends? A less expensive (but more spacious) apartment in an outer borough? A space in a quieter neighborhood far uptown? There’s an inverse relationship between distance from campus and price, so be forewarned—a couple thousand dollars will get you far more in Brooklyn, generally speaking, than it will in Manhattan, even when you factor in the increased transportation cost. Familiarize yourself with these areas and their standard pricings by regularly checking out classified sections in local papers.
The Hunt
The New York real estate market is enormous, and there are tons of resources to help prospective renters find the perfect place. Start with the classifieds- local papers have good bets, and there’s a great off-campus housing registry on NYUHome that allows students to search for roommates and apartments listed by members of the NYU community. Beyond that, check out real estate companies in the areas you’re looking at, and consider contacting brokers for help searching for a place that fits your needs.
*A note on brokers:Be judicious. Some brokers cater heavily to newcomers to the New York City real estate market, and students- novices at apartment hunting, but with great financial resources- should be wary and informed about the market to protect themselves from being duped into signing onto an overpriced property. Brokers can also be a godsend, however, for students who are unfamiliar with the rental process and don’t have all the time or money in the world to devote to the search.
Visiting the spaces
Visit the apartments in person. Online photos are not enough. Trust us on this one. Notice whether the building seems well-maintained, and talk to other tenants if possible to get a sense of their quality of life in the building. You may also want to run a quick search on the zip code at www.nyc.govto check out the neighborhood’s crime and cleanliness statistics.
Signing on a place
Before signing on with a management company, I recommend running a Better Business Bureau search on the name to check out the company’s reputation and any outstanding complaints. Having parents in town for the signing makes things a lot easier, as the process involves a lot of paperwork for both the tenant and the guarantor. You’ll also want your guarantor around to read over the contracts you’re about to sign, and to make out the check for your security deposit.
Timing the process
Technically, you can begin and end the apartment hunt process in one day- I speak from personal experience- but I recommend starting your search about a month (or more) before you need to move. The extra time will allow you to get to know the market so you don’t find yourself signing onto a place that’s overpriced, and it will allow you the time to really see what’s out there and find the perfect apartment for you.
Happy hunting!
A few favorite resources:
–New York Times Real Estatelistings
–Village Voice Real Estatelistings
–Jakobson Properties
-Better Business Bureau search site
-New York City My Neighborhood Statistics search page