Please tell me there's hope!

endlessluv429 Posted: May 02, 2004 07:32 PM

Please tell me there's hope!

We started looking @ apartments this weekend. i know we just started looking, but we saw about 4 places and it gets more depressing with each visit. it's really sick what people will even have the nerve to SHOW you, let alone charge you $1000 + for a month. We are trying to avoid the realtors fee, but I am beginning to think it is the only route to go--anybody go through this?! i'm glad we started looking so early on, i just cannot believe how SMALL these 1 bedroom apartments are. it's crazy.

ok, my vent is through. thanks for listening

HappyLady05 Posted: May 02, 2004 08:39 PM

Re: Please tell me there's hope!

we're going to start looking for apartments in june and july. any advice??? i keep hearing horror stories about trying to find a decent place!

groovypeg Posted: May 02, 2004 08:43 PM

Re: Please tell me there's hope!

some advice:

check the local pennysavers. thats how we found our 2 br 2nd floor apartment in east northport. yes, we went thru a realotr, but it worked to our advantage, b/c she showed us places that had not yet been printed in the paper. we had first dibs to nice places. i would check out east northport, it is a big renters community.

Happybride2005 Posted: May 02, 2004 08:47 PM

Re: Please tell me there's hope!

I know what you mean. They think if you if they have rooms, its good to rent. I went to look at rooms on time to share with a person, there wasn't a window or closet in the room.

DjPiLL Posted: May 02, 2004 10:37 PM

Re: Please tell me there's hope!

I've been there. Unless you have an extreme stroke of luck... you aren't going to find a decent 1br without using a realtor.

The ones you are looking at that aren't listed with a realtor... a good amount of them are 'illegal' rentals probably... hence why they look so tiny.

Not that there is anything wrong with living in an 'illegal' rental... if you find a place and like it... its all good.

Good luck. I know how crappy the rental market is.

DecBride04 Posted: May 03, 2004 09:45 AM

Re: Please tell me there's hope!

Have you tried 'Yahoo' You can search for FREE for apartments on Long Island. I know back when FH was renting, that is how he found his place. It was great and no fee's.

endlessluv429 Posted: May 03, 2004 10:05 AM

Re: Please tell me there's hope!

thank you everyone!! we check the pennysavers every week and try to make phone calls friday afternoon, i'm off fridays, so i try and get a jump on them before anyone else!! the annoying thing is, yesterday i must've called about 6 people and only one turned out being suitable for 2 and that was sooo small, but really--but that in the ad so you don't waste anybody's time. grrrr---thanks for the advice everyone!

The Original 2nd-time-around Posted: May 03, 2004 10:09 AM

Re: Please tell me there's hope!

What areas are you looking in??

AtticaQT Posted: May 03, 2004 11:09 AM

Re: Please tell me there's hope!

where are you looking? My mom has some newly renovated 2 bedroom apartments available in queens.

antoinette Posted: May 03, 2004 12:22 PM

Re: Please tell me there's hope!

I would reccommend using a realtor, even though you have to pay a fee ( usually one month rent) it can be very worth it because they can find you the best places and they will weed out the garbage for you. Pluss they take care of all the formalities with the lanlord.

Teri Posted: May 03, 2004 01:29 PM

Re: Please tell me there's hope!

We didn't mind paying the realtors fee at all - we found a great apt within 24 hrs of meeting with the agent.

Plus, I agree that they'll have first hand info.

Where are you looking? The complexes that I know of in central Nassau are now up around $1200+.

endlessluv429 Posted: May 03, 2004 02:05 PM

Re: Please tell me there's hope!

we are looking in Bethpage, levittown, wantagh, bellmore, seaford, massapequa area. or western suffolk! thank you ladies

nylisa Posted: May 03, 2004 02:40 PM

Re: Please tell me there's hope!

Posted by AtticaQT

where are you looking? My mom has some newly renovated 2 bedroom apartments available in queens.

What part of Queens?

VickiC Posted: May 04, 2004 08:28 AM

Re: Please tell me there's hope!

We looked at about 40 apartments before we found ours - I'm not kidding. And believe me, I really wasn't being that picky. Call me crazy if I wanted a bathroom that I wasn't skeeved out to take a shower in.

We got married in August, started looking for an apartment in April, found ours in July, and moved in August 1st. We also found ours through a realtor. Most realtors will list an illegal apartment - you just pay the fee in cash instead of a check.

endlessluv429 Posted: May 04, 2004 02:29 PM

Re: Please tell me there's hope!

Posted by VickiC

Call me crazy if I wanted a bathroom that I wasn't skeeved out to take a shower in.

THANK YOU!! sooooooooo gross some of the stuff we saw. i literally got an instant stomach ache! lol

dcwife Posted: May 04, 2004 03:26 PM

Re: Please tell me there's hope!

We did not want to deal with the small apts- try looking at complexes. Ours is pretty big for like1300 including parking and we didn't have to pay any fees and don't have to deal with living with our landlord.

kdelace Posted: May 08, 2004 12:43 PM

Re: Please tell me there's hope!

i would go through a realtor. When i was moving back to long beach, it was hard trying to find a decent apt on my own. I went to a realtor, she showed me a brand new apt, just built in this private house before it was on the market. I took it right away and having been living in it for two years, now with my husband. we are paying $1200 but its a decent size apt and it was brand new! plus that is not a bad price for long beach...

endlessluv429 Posted: May 08, 2004 01:39 PM

Re: Please tell me there's hope!

yea i am thinking the only way to go is a realtor. we have one apartment possibility through my cousin, but if that doesn't work out, a real estate broker it is!

After what I saw today, I am better off living in my HONDA CIVIC--I literally had to shower after seeing this one apartment this morning.

dm24angel Posted: May 08, 2004 09:18 PM

Re: Please tell me there's hope!

Where are you looking? I think its completly hit or miss and being in the right place at the right time. Before we got this apt we were living in a one bedroom apt inside FH's brothers house at $400 a month!!!! (sigh...wish we were still there)
Anyway, we looked at sooooo many and it was depressing how samll/dirty they were...add that we have 3 cats (yes 3) and we couldnt believe how hard it was. We ended up calling this one place 5 times, annoying the guy till he called back, and its where we ended up..in Lindenhurst in a one bedroom complex( 5 buildings total) for $1025 for one bedroom and we have an EIK, full dining room, large bath...so keep looking, I think you should pay no more then $1100 all or $1000 for a one bedroom, dont let them sucker you into anything...
Good luck...believe me I knwo its hard, my mom was on the waiting list here ( at these buildings for a yr and finally got in last Sept. )

dm24angel Posted: May 08, 2004 09:22 PM

Re: Please tell me there's hope!

Now that I saw where you were looking, I will check if you FM me that you want me to if my landlord has any openings....I could even take some pics of the inside for you ( if theres an opening) we are in Lindenhurst ( 1 block south of Sunrise Highway) and I highly suggest apt. complex's...we have had landlord problems with every rental ( and we've had a lot) that we ever had and none in complex's..I think there are soem good ones in Bethpage/Farmindale...Massapequa ones ( we called about 3) were all about $1300-$1400 for one bedrooms...