Finding an apartment in Brooklyn is a daunting task, but the apartment of your dreams is out there. You can find it!
Difficulty: Hard
Time Required: 2 - 4 weeks
Here's How:
- Decide where you want to live.
Brooklyn is filled with diverse neighborhoods, and it's important to decide which neighborhood best fits your lifestyle. Looking for a short commute to Manhattan? Consider Williamsburg or Brooklyn Heights. Need to be near a park? You may want to look at Park Slope or Fort Greene. - Talk to your friends and coworkers.
In Brooklyn, the best apartments are often snatched up before you have a chance to even see them. Ask everyone you know for apartment leads. It may be the only way to get to that steal-of-an-apartment before someone else. - Read the newspapers.
Don't underestimate the power of newspaper listings. Check the NY Times, the Village Voice, and local and community papers. Don't forget to look at the publications' websites, too. - Go online.
Craigslist has a wealth of apartment listings, whether you're looking for a roommate, a sublet, or an apartment of your own. - Walk around.
Decide where you want to live, and then walk the streets of that neighborhood. Look around for "apartment for rent" signs. Check the bulletin boards at local coffee shops and supermarkets. - Use a broker.
If you're stretched for time or are looking for something very specific, then a broker may be the way to go. Just be prepared to pay a hefty finder's fee, sometimes up to 15% of your annual rent. - Use housing service resources.
Make the most of your school or alumni association. Or ask if your office offers any sort of housing assistance. - Call management companies.
Often, brokers will charge you a fee for an apartment that you could've found on your own simply by calling a management company.
Tips:
- Be patient. Finding a great apartment takes time.
- Be persistent. Check listings daily.
- Be smart. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
