Need Renting Advice
I’m in the process of selling my beautiful apt. in prime Park Slope in order to lower my monthly expenses. As I’m closing in on my closing date I ran out of time for a place to buy and just switched my gears to looking for a rental. The problem is I’ve been an apt….
I’m in the process of selling my beautiful apt. in prime Park Slope in order to lower my monthly expenses. As I’m closing in on my closing date I ran out of time for a place to buy and just switched my gears to looking for a rental. The problem is I’ve been an apt. owner for 24 years and only rented one apt. briefly prior to then. I’m feeling overwhelmed and underwhelmed at the same time with what seems to be out there. I’d love to figure out how to tell good deals from scams on CL, for example. And while the general consensus is that it’s a renter’s market out there, I’m finding it difficult to convince some brokers to even show apts. I’m looking in Park Slope/Windsor Terrace/Greenwood Heights/Prospect Heights/Kensington (close to Prospect Park). Thank you for any advise, leads or even broker recommendations.
“Screw CL. Stick to the Times. ”
What the heck are you talking about BHO? Do you honestly think you can use the Times to find apts. for rent in Brooklyn?
What year do you think this is? 1989?
I like lesloaf’s strategy.
Wow! Thank you all for taking the time to answer my questions and relate your situations!
Gemini10, how are you finding contacts for condos/turned rental? Through brokers? Good luck to you to!
Northsloperenter, your tips about Craigslist are very helpful.
WTbound, can you recommend specific listservs in Windsor Terrace? I’m not familiar with any of them.
Is anyone familiar with Destination Real Estate? I found them through CL. They have good photos and videos on their website and charge 10% as opposed to 12 or even 15% that big brokers charge. I haven’t looked at any of their apts. yet.
Also, I went to see an apt. in Lefferts Garden yesterday, which I found on a flyer in a PS laundromat. It’s a beautiful 2-bedroom condo being rented by owner for the price of a studio in PS. It’s the first apt. I’ve seen so far in my search that was true to advertising, I just don’t know if I’d be comfortable in Lefferts Garden.
I have the impression that rents are much more negotiable than they used to be. A friend is a landlord in Windsor Terrace, and she told me that nearly everyone who was interested in her studio apartment recently offered a lower rent than she was asking. She ended up lowering the rent by $200/mo in order to get a person with a good job and strong credit. (And, even though it is a beautiful, recently renovated apt with a deck on a quiet street, she had a hard time finding renters). So, I’d say to look at places that are slightly above your range, and if you find a place you like, make a pitch for a rent reduction on the ground that you are a stable, mature, responsible renter.
the owner pays the broker fee now. Use a broker! Most of the landlords that use Craigslist are a huge pain in the Arse to deal with.
Don’t waste your time with a Manhattan-based broker. Go with somebody who actually knows the neighborhood. I liked Ideal Properties on 7th Ave:
– http://idealpropertiesgroup.com/search/rentals
As someone who is looking (but in the Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens area) I’m very much appreciating the tips on who to use to look. Please keep them coming!
I recommend David Ogden at Mark David in Soho. Tell him Wendy sent you 🙂
I’m an owner with a rental in Carroll Gardens and always use my broker (alan from Prudential Elliman) simply so I don’t have to do all the background checking myself. I bet many owners do the same for the same reason – it’s just less work. However, I think the best apartments (which my rental is not) are always rolled over to friends of the tenants that are leaving, which is why it’s so hard to find good ones…