Apartment Hunting Jobless
My lease is coming to an end and I have been planning to move August 1st. Unfortunately, I was laid off from my job this week. My boyfriend is an actor who is currently holding down a full time job through his temp agency and we are hoping to move to an apartment with a…
My lease is coming to an end and I have been planning to move August 1st. Unfortunately, I was laid off from my job this week. My boyfriend is an actor who is currently holding down a full time job through his temp agency and we are hoping to move to an apartment with a lower rent. A couple of people have told me that finding an apartment while you’re unemployed is impossible, but I need to find something because I don’t have the option to stay in my current place once the lease expires. I have a decent amount of savings, great credit, and references. Would you say it’s still “impossible” to find a new apartment?
I always have to follow the madman, at least he sounds like English is his 2nd not 3rd language this time.
Nothing is “impossible” in New York but I would say it will be difficult to render an apt from most major Landlords/Mngmt companies without a job, unless you’re willing to put down a ton in security, pre-paid rent, have a trust fund or a guarantor. I would focus on smaller, private LL’s first. Be honest about your situation, emphasize you good credit, rental, and job history, offer to pay a month or more in sec or last few months if need be. Good luck.
Don’t worry credit score and unemployed are the last thing homeowners are looking for in the terrible housing market. My only advice is start looking now because time passes quick. There are plenty of rentals in Brooklyn with plenty more to come in the following months. Whatever you do don’t use a real estate agency they will take your money for doing nothing. They are nothing but a bunch of bloodsucking parasites
I agree with more4less and collin85. We recently opted for a tenant with an excellent credit score, references and savings, but a far lesser annual income, over someone with a decent credit score, much greater annual income, but tremendous debt. Do NOT sublet, look for an apartment now.
go get sublease or room shares on cl right now till your job stabilizes.
good credit score, good references, and decent savings are more important. as a landlord, it would not surprise me that someone is unemployed now or becomes unemployed after signing a lease – ie not a surprised to be unemployed in this freaking economy. good credit score, good references, and decent savings are a good indication of you as a person and your financial maturity.
truth be told though, good hoods are still in demand (ie you’ll be competing against employed prospects with good credit score,……) so you’ll stand a better chance finding something outside of the prime BK hoods
If I were you, I’d sublet a place for August. I was just commenting on how many people are subletting their places this summer — notices all over the parents listservs and local hood blogs and my email in box. I’m thinking people who usually are out on the island, etc for August are no longer able to let their places sit empty for a month. Anyway, sublet someplace nice and hopefully, you’ll be fully employed by September.
Do you have any relatives you could add to the lease or use as guarantors? That would certainly help. Although if your boyfriend has a full-time job that is documentable and you will be living together, it sounds as if you might be fine even without guarantors if you put the lease in his name.
if youre credit score is above 700 and you have enough cash to cover 5 or 6 months you should be fine but limited. I would even suggest trying to do a shorter term lease. There are so many empty places right now you might even be able to get a month to month.