4. FIND AN APARTMENT YOURSELF USING THESE TECHNIQUES.
Employer or school
You may want to begin your search by asking your employer if the company has any real estate services; some large companies hold apartments for employees or have very good contacts in the rental market. Similarly, if you have any school affiliations – alumni or current – contact your school and inquire as to whether the school has any apartment bulletin boards or online listings. These housing openings are often more affordable and safer than something you could find on your own, and many are only open to people affiliated with the university.
Online
There are a bunch of apartment sites out there, but we like Move.com apartments & rentals the best. HomeStore provides regularly updated listings of apartments available for rent in various neighborhoods based on options you select. They also offer moving tips, roommate advice, legal tips and other information useful to renters.
Newspapers and magazines
Newspapers and magazines are good sources for apartment listings, both in print and online.
LOOT - A weekly publication of classified ads (a new edition comes out every Wednesday and is sold at newsstands). Loot also has ads for sublets, shares, artist studios, lofts, and condos.
NEW YORK NEWSDAY - Although once a New York City paper, this Long Island publication includes listings of apartments and houses for rent or sale primarily in the Long Island and Queens area. Newsday's online real estate listings are at www.newsday.com/classified/realestate/.
NEW YORK OBSERVER - A weekly newspaper sold primarily in Manhattan with a small real estate section with apartment listings, mainly for apartments in Manhattan.
NEW YORK PRESS - A weekly newspaper sold primarily in Manhattan (212-244-2282) with a large section for real estate classifieds (primarily in lower Manhattan).
NEW YORK TIMES - The real estate section, which includes listings for the greater NY Metro area, is included in the Sunday edition. Be aware that subscribers have an advantage, since their real estate section is delivered with the Saturday edition. The Times also offers an online listing there.
VILLAGE VOICE - A free weekly paper, which can be very difficult to find above 14th Street, the Voice lists a large number of apartments in lower Manhattan and Brooklyn near the harbor, but few choices for those looking in other areas of NYC. The apartments listed in the print version of the Voice are also available online at http://newyork.backpage.com/gyrobase/classifieds/index. Since the Voice is very popular and often lists inexpensive apartments, you will probably have more success on-line. You will also want to check the web site as soon as it has been updated, usually at noon or 1pm on Monday or at midnight Tuesday through Friday.
Neighborhood bulletin boards, postings
Aside from letting you know what the area is like, walking around the areas that you would like to live can be helpful in uncovering leads. People often post flyers offering nearby apartment sublets and rentals at churches, gyms, recreation centers, bus stop shelters, and telephone booths in the neighborhood. Go. Look.
Doormen
We've done some devious things to find apartments in Manhattan. Some of them just made us look really dumb, but the one strategy that has turned up some good leads is talking to doormen. Not just random doormen, which, although interesting, is probably less helpful than talking to the doormen at buildings in areas you are interested in living in. Dress nicely, politely approach the doorman, and tell him you're interested in living in the area. He may know of an opening in the building and help you out. It happens. (Tip him if he helps you.)
