Reasonable Brokers (For Rentals)
After much hunting for something to buy, my husband & I have decided to rent for the time being (in large part due to imminent parenthood). It’s been a long time since I’ve dealt with the bk rental market– I owned for a while & am now living in a rental inherited when a friend…
After much hunting for something to buy, my husband & I have decided to rent for the time being (in large part due to imminent parenthood). It’s been a long time since I’ve dealt with the bk rental market– I owned for a while & am now living in a rental inherited when a friend moved out. Does anyone have any advice on which brokers have the right balance of good listings/reasonable prices/reasonable fees? Is it even possible these days to find a no-fee apt? I’m in need of some good apartment karma, so any thoughts are appreciated!
Use an old-time broker with a storefront in the area where you are looking OR rent from a landlord off Craigslist. Beware as 98 percent of “for rent by landlord” listings on Craigslist are actually unlicensed brokers posing as owners. If the spelling errors and broker hyperbole don’t make it obvious already, you can screen them out on the phone because they will immediately admit to being “managers,” not owners. Don’t give money to an unlicensed broker, obviously, since you could wind up the victim of a scam.
one (better) word only: padmapper.com
one word only: craigslist.com
I;m not sure why anyone goes pays broker fees anymore. The last 3 times (over 9 years) I listed my place on craigslist I had ample applicants and was happy with whom I found. Many landlords I know use word-of-mouth, block elists or craigslist.
When I was last looking seriously, I saw places with Tina Fallon or Realty Collective. She was knowledgeable about the buildings and landlords, informative but not pushy.
we’ve cast a wide net. carroll gardens, ft greene & windsor terrace are the top choices, though.
good brokers definitely vary by which neighborhood you’re looking in.
The guys at Garfield Realty are all really nice and super prefessional. I rented through them a few years back and had an overall positive experience. As I recall it they charge a % fee for their listings but they only showed us nice apartments and didn’t waste our time.
I’ve had a very pleasent experience with Mary Mulcahey from TB Shaw Realty. She knows the area, is down to Earth and does not pressure as some realators do. (347) 853-6976, mary@tbshaw.com