Apartment Hunting Pointers
Whether you need a new apartment, workspace or office, parking space, or temporary sublet, the search for space can be even trickier here in Brooklyn than it is in Manhattan. There isn’t some magic database out here that gives you all the units and sizes and management companies attached to addresses, like there is across…
Whether you need a new apartment, workspace or office, parking space, or temporary sublet, the search for space can be even trickier here in Brooklyn than it is in Manhattan. There isn’t some magic database out here that gives you all the units and sizes and management companies attached to addresses, like there is across the river. It can become even more complicated when you consider that there are sometimes cultural, linguistic, and religious barriers that can stand between you and that space you just have to have (that is, if you can find it). Unless you are teaching yourself Yiddish during your lunch break or Polish after work, chances are you are going to need a little help finding a place to sleep in Brooklyn.
In order to find the perfect space, you’ll have to work at it — usually with a broker that knows the turf, unless, of course, you have already lived here for years, or are that rare lucky case that strikes gold on the first Saturday of your search. Nevertheless, if you are setting out to tackle the search on your own, here are a couple of great places to start.
base4space.com
Recently launched space search engine with a lot of promise. Easy to use and comfortable interface. I hear rumors of Base including an affordable housing section. This should really set the record straight regarding what affordable truly is…
Craigslist
Old faithful. You can find just about anything you want on this site, but finding space can be tricky. Just don’t make this the only place you look.
Backpage
Village Voice’s answer to Craigslist.
Billburg
Hit or miss…this site is usually overrun with listings from brokerages with interest in the site.
ListingsMania
A newcomer to the space search engine. It is fairly easy to use and there seem to be fewer bait-and-switch ads as, say, Craigslist.
Expo.Live
Microsoft’s answer to Craigslist. Personally, I haven’t used it too much. It’s kind of annoying to look at.
For even more options, check out the lists compiled by Curbed a few months back — The Official Alternatives to Craigslist List and The Official Alternatives to Craigslist List (Redux).
Hey Moron it is easier to find an apartment if your monkey ass knew what you can afford. Getting a real estate license to find an apartment is exactly what a monkey would do. Voila!!! Bet you feel good because you wasted all that time. A smart person with a real estate license is laughing at you all the way to the bank. Idiot
Here’s a great apartment-finding tip, I actually did this: Get a realtor’s license. Seriously. It only takes 40 hours, 2 tests (that a trained monkey could pass) and about $200. Get a broker to “hire” you (believe me, they’ll hire anyone) and voila – access to millions of apt. listings. Then quit and let your license expire.
Don’t even bother listening or taking anything written in CURBED seriously. It’s all pathetic gossip that is meaningless and useless.
I remember the good old days when folks waited for new issues of the Village Voice at Astor Place to get the newest apartment listings. That old custom seems like a lifetime ago….