Rental Brokers: Scam? or Bam!
I’m the same guy who wrote ‘Moving to Brooklyn” (BTW thanks for the informative responses …hey, I almost started a fist-fight there!). I found a rental broker online who -for a one-time payment of something like $ 200.00, promises to provide me with a 3-month daily listing of no-fee apts for rent. They send me…
I’m the same guy who wrote ‘Moving to Brooklyn” (BTW thanks for the informative responses …hey, I almost started a fist-fight there!). I found a rental broker online who -for a one-time payment of something like $ 200.00, promises to provide me with a 3-month daily listing of no-fee apts for rent. They send me daily e-mails with pics showing usually walk-ups that go for $1600 to $ 2200. Some are way uptown (Harlem or MH) and a few are sprinkled all the way down from 96th to Chinatown south.
My question is: is this for real?. Because from what I read & hear rents in Manhattan from 96th down average like $2500 for a studio, and these people are showing me 1 bdrs. for the prices I listed above. What gives?. Are these type of brokers usually on the up&up?.
Greetings from Southern CA, they most beautiful and boring place on the face of this planet bar none!.
I say – particularly if you’re looking from outside NY – just use a broker. Pay the fee – it sucks but – if you get a good broker it’s worth it. find someone good – spend 2-3 days looking then TAKE the apartment. In this city – by the time you think about the place – someone else has put in an application and rented it. (that’s of course in manhattan…)
I would OF COURSE recommend you move to BROOKLYN. good luck!
Scam Scam Scam
Definitely DO NOT do it! No one ever rents apartments as a result of these things.
Also check out Craigslist “No Fee” or “owner listed” rental categories.
Please don’t do it; I was stung by one of these scams when I moved to the city, and never saw my money back even though I threatened all kinds of legal action. Craigslist is the best way, it just takes a lot of leg work and a lot of positive thinking!
Why not sign up for NY Times Real Estate Alerts? Put in your parameters and they send you emails with apartments with your specifications. You will probably get a mixture of broker apartments and owner apartments. Also Sublet.com is a way cheaper way to find apartments than your 200 dollar deal. Last but not least, Craigs list. Good luck!
This is called an AIV – Apartment Information Vendor. Read this report from the NYC dept of consumer affairs for details on this type of service: http://newyork.craigslist.org/about/aiv.report.html
I should add that the $200 scam service is not the same as a broker who will take you to see their (real) apartment listings. A regular broker won’t collect a dime from you unless you sign a lease.
Don’t do it – total scam. Best thing to do is look at listings on craigslist, village voice, etc. You can find a place without a broker but it will take some legwork. If you want to find something decent, and quickly without hassle, you should use a broker. If you’re in the apartment for a few years the sting of apying someone all that cash will eventually wear off.