How much to have ready for an apartment?

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Nov 22, 2007

Get rid of the car. Seriously. It's a liability in NYC. If you need wheels for the weekend rent them.

No pet deposits. They'll either permit the pets or not.

You need $3,000. First month's rent, one month's security. You might need to pay a broker to find you a place - that, I don't know what it costs.

Slimlady727 · Nov 23, 2007

its not hard to find an apt that rallows pets. look on craigslist.org.

i've been living in brooklyn all my life and i say dont get rid of the car. the subway systems isnt all that its cracked up to be and a car comes in handy a lot!

tib_nurse · Nov 23, 2007

i agree with slim lady. cars can come in handy especially if u plan to work late night shifts. you don't want to be waiting for a train at those wee hours.I live in Queens and for that amount, you can get a decent 1 bdrm/perfect studio here.Craigslist is a good place to start the search. good luck

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Nov 23, 2007

Let me amend my statement about the car. If you will be living in Manhattan get rid of the car.

loricatus · Nov 23, 2007

Try Sunnyside or Astoria. Would have to move the car for alternate side of the street parking twice a week. But, you can have your pets in many places without a deposit and walk to the train. My daughter pays $1375 (includes utilities) for a 1 bedroom in a nice post war building that permits pets, works in the city. To get decent rent controlled apartments in these areas, it is best to use a reputable real estate-so, cash needed would be first month's rent, 1 month real estate fee, one month securitydeposit.

My daughter's experience with craiglist rentals (private and through real estate companies) were horrible. She almost lost ~$3000.00 a couple of years ago with a real estate company that took her money and then said the apartment wasn't ready the day before move in. She wound up having to put her things in storage and live on a friend's couch because week after week, the apartment wasn't ready... I went to the real estate company like a mother lion protecting her cub and scared the cr** out of them so bad that they cut her a refund check right then and there; &, I told them "I'll be back" if the check doesn't clear. If you aren't prepared to act like an insane person that has the potential to do some bodily harm (or have a friend/relative with that capacity), be careful with who are dealing with. NYC is famous for it's scam artists. She eventually found, through word-of-mouth, a good real estate that held an exclusive on the rent controlled building she lives in now.

Also, FYI, NY State law requires no more than 1 month security deposit be collected by the landlord, that security deposit must not be intermingled with the landlord's personal funds & it must be held in a trust account (not spent). You will find that many on craigslist do not follow the law regarding security deposits. There are many webistes for you to research these rules and regs-try googling before your search.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Nov 23, 2007

loricatus, I think your daughter is in a rent stabilized apt, not rent controlled. Rent controlled apts are almost completely phased out and go to relatives who move in prior to Grandma's death and get to keep it.

loricatus · Nov 23, 2007

loricatus, I think your daughter is in a rent stabilized apt, not rent controlled. Rent controlled apts are almost completely phased out and go to relatives who move in prior to Grandma's death and get to keep it.

You are right. Sorry, forgot that there was a difference. My husband's nephew lives in The Village in one of the rent controlled apartments and only pays $550.00 a month for what has to be going for at least $3000.00/month for comparable apartments in the area-he has a private courtyard, loft... I should have thought about that before I posted the incorrect term.