NYC brides -- help (SWR)

FH and I are moving to Manhattan after the wedding (our lease is up 9/30 but we'd like to find something for 9/15). When should we start looking for an apartment? We were thinking mid-August when we get back from the honeymoon, but should we be looking now? Thanks!!

I used to live in NYC- I would start looking now- buildings know what will be available and when- if you do it yourself you can aviod paying the crazy real estate agent fee-

What neighborhood are you looking at?

Jennie - In my 7 years in the city I have learned you kind of have to look in the month before you are moving. If it is a vacant apartment, they won't hold it for you for that long. It's a fast and furious game, and you have to TAKE the first thing you like - if you think about it, it will be gone.

Are you planning on using a broker or trying to do no fee??

We're pretty specific about what we want, so I don't know if that means we *should* use a broker, so they can call us when something meeting our criteria comes on the market or if we're better off searching for ourselves. If it means getting the apartment we want, I think we're fine paying a fee.

We're probably looking for something on Upper East Side, Midtown East or West, Murray Hill, or Gramercy/Union Square. We both work in Midtown East-ish, so we want something convenient for both of us

I got my best/favorite apartment through citihabitats - they are pricey, but the listings they get are unbelievable.

I'm sure you are already doing the craigslist, Village Voice thing?

Good Luck!!!

We too have found that you really need to look no more than a month before you need to move. And I've found that it helps to have all papers (financial statements etc...) in order and with you, so that if you love a place you can begin the appllication process immediately and not risk the chance of losing it. We lost a place once because we didn't have everything in order and ready to go.

We just moved waaay downtown to the financial district and LOVE it! Every train in the world runs down here, there are new building popping up all over the place, and many places are offering a few months free rent. We got 3 months free when we signed the lease on our current place.. It's about 15 minutes to mid-town (east or west) from where we're at.

Good luck in your search!!!

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Posted by belle22274

We too have found that you really need to look no more than a month before you need to move. And I've found that it helps to have all papers (financial statements etc...) in order and with you, so that if you love a place you can begin the appllication process immediately and not risk the chance of losing it. We lost a place once because we didn't have everything in order and ready to go.

We just moved waaay downtown to the financial district and LOVE it! Every train in the world runs down here, there are new building popping up all over the place, and many places are offering a few months free rent. We got 3 months free when we signed the lease on our current place.. It's about 15 minutes to mid-town (east or west) from where we're at.

Good luck in your search!!!

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How do you like living down there? The apts there look great but I was worried that there weren't enough restaurants/stores open late -- is that true? Thanks!!

I've lived in NYC for over 10 years and have lived in almost every neighborhood at one point or another and can honestly say down here is by far my fav!!! FH and I simply adore it. It's true that at night and on weekends it is quieter than most places (something we actually like). However the Seaport, Battery Park, Wintergarden, SoHo and TriBeca are all so close, we never find a lack of things to do or places to eat. There are a few 24 hour full service grocery stores (that deliver), as well as delis that stay open late. It is true that if you get the munchies at 2am on Saturday you'd be hard pressed to find a place to order from, but we're big cooks, so we find that we don't miss have 24/7 access to a million different dining options. (And with all the new fun things we'll be getting from our registry, it'll be even more fun to cook in! )

As far as nightlife, there's a bunch going on down by the Seaport, and lots of little bars around. Any real 'club' nightlife can be found in TriBeca or SoHo, both of which are really close.

No doubt the area is an 'up and comer', but we think it's great as it is right now. And it's got a young couple vibe moving in which is neat.

Feel free to FM me if you have any other questions. We did sooooo much research on the area before we made the move (from the UWS), that I feel like I could be a real estate agent down here.

Jenn,

I would start looking as soon as you get back from your honeymoon.

I agree with all the above. FH and I were considering moving to another apt. in the city before our lease was up at the end of last year, and when we started looking in November everything was available for the end of the month, and Dec. 1. And definitely do the Craigslist thing -- they list apartments with or without brokers, so it's good to see what's available without a fee before considering paying a broker. Good luck! We're moving to the Gramercy/Murray Hill area next month!

They let me see things early- when I just went to the buildings I liked or had signs outside-

The brooker fee is typically 10 to 15% of the YEARS rent- on a normal 1 bedroom apartment that can be $4000

It worth it to try and do it on your own- I tried with a brooker first- he didn't really listen to what you want

I lived in a great building- Plaza East on 34th between 1st and 2nd- doorman, new kitchen, new bath-safe, clean, great- I found it on my own- I was very happy there