So 2 friends and I have been trying to look for a 3br apartment in Greenpoint or Williamsberg Brooklyn (preferably near the L or F trains) and Craigslist has been of little help. Most of the listings are like repeat listings from thieving brokers. Does anyone have any recommendations besides Craigslist for no-fee apartment or maybe owner direct apartments? My price range for the total apartment is like 2800-3200. We are looking to move in 3/1/11.

1. What sites besides Craigslist do you recommend?

2. Is that price range reasonable for Greenpoint near the first few stops off the L train?

3. Can I just walk around the neighborhood hoping to find a number or owner and negotiate directly (instead of paying a damn broker)? Is it possible to just walk to building to building, find the super, ask if there are any open apartments and then call the owner directly?


4. other advice?

i suggest learning where greenpoint and williamsburg are. greenpoint is not on the L, and the F train doesn't run anywhere near either place.

thieving brokers might be able to help with this

Brokers these days pretty much all get their fees from the landlord, not from you. I understand it's built in somewhere but you shouldn't pay a direct fee to them.

Movies have led me to believe that New Yorkers are a fierce but proud bunch, and will always help a fellow New Yorker that is in real need. Try knocking on doors.

this is 100% false in nyc

also, all apartments are huge, and are very affordable. also, no people of color live in nyc, so you should be totally safe.

OP, you suck at NYC. Stay in whatever flyover state you live in now.

You should move to Marlboro Projects. It's nice there.

i have a one bedroom in brooklyn available for rent....pm me if u decide to go for a smaller place.

your best bet is craigslist no broker owner only. brokers charge one month fees and then theres the security deposit and one months up front. ull end up broke before u know it.

let me know if u got any questions, i know the rental business very well.

haha

I doubt you'd be able to walk around and simply find listings or easy ways to contact people. Also, in the "trendy" part of Williamsburg, some of the spots are quite nice/expensive.

I couldn't tell you a thing about public transportation since I have taken it a grand total of four or five times this century, but, I know the area quite well, my office is in Williamsburg, so fire off any questions you have about certain blocks etc

When I lived in BK those area's of Brooklyn were ******. And no one with lighter than olive skin complexion would voluntarily move there.

I've heard living on the streets is big these days in New York.

yeah but all the ******ed puerto ricans moved to PA, so it's cool now.

I thought williamsburg was in virginia.

Lol state_a_ments

sick brag

nevermind

FYP and LOL.

go through the management company. Brokers are sorta pieces of ****. I used 5 different brokers and eventually was like god you guys are ******ed and wasting my hourly. So I just looked up some management companies and went to open houses. It's easier you dont have to pay broker fee and deal with incompetent brokers who think if they 2 jokes or tell you how they are honorable it will be ok. I suggest using this site http://www.nybits.com/apartments.html.

Alot of apts in nyc are fee, some are no fee those that are no fee the landlords pay the brokers like 2 weeks rent basically. If you go direct through the management company they will usually give you 2 weeks rent on your last month in the lease. Just talk to them.

Buy some cinder blocks and plywood at Home Depot, go to the roof of a building in the neighborhood you want, and build your own apartment. The landlords don't want you to know this, but they do not own the air above their building so this is completely legal.

OK maybe a blanket statement but I didn't pay fees on my last two apartments and lots of brokers I talked to were contracted by the landlords and got no fees from new tenants.

Check the newspaper for landlords renting without using Realtors or middle men.

I was able to find three nice, no-fee apartments in NYC using Craigslist. Use the "No Fee" search function and I'm sure you'll find something. You can also try subletting, there are often long-term deals available.