Apartments For Rent Blog

When it comes to renting an apartment, in New York City, you are very likely to find that it can get to be quite expensive and you will want to make sure you are getting the best possible price you can on rent. So, can you actually rent an apartment for $700 month?

The answer to this can really vary, depending on what type of apartment you may be looking for. It is possible to find an apartment for you to rent for this low cost but you can expect to get a very small one. This is certainly something that you will want to take into consideration prior to renting and when you do this it can really help you know what your options are.

Most people who wish to rent in New York City are somewhat aware that this is a very nice place in which to live but are also very aware that this can be a very expensive place as well, so if you are looking for a great place to live and don’t mind taking the time and spending the money to do so, you can really enjoy staying in this city.

It is a great idea to be certain that you do check around to help you get the absolute best price and you can do this and it is very likely when you do that you can really get the best New York City Apartment possible.

Did you know that when it comes to New York City, there is never a shortage of things to do and you are very likely to enjoy the vast array of things that you can do from shopping to seeing shows. The array of things to do is there and more, so be certain that you take advantage of this great chance if you live there.

As far as the prices of apartments in New York City, they can vary greatly so you will want to do all you can to get the best price and have a budget in mind. This is one area where a lot of people may fall short and if you do not have an idea of the type of budget you have to spend, then you can easily spend way too much money.

Prices can range from as low as $700 a month for a tiny space to 1500 or more. So,  it is very difficult to get exactly what you may be looking for if you do not have some type of price to go by.

So, yes, you can rent an apartment in New York City for $700, but it may take some time to find and it is not the norm to be able to do so. Most apartments cost much more than this to rent and you should really keep this in mind.

When you do decide to rent, you will want to know as much as possible about the security deposit and this is a good thing to know because it can be quite a huge amount of money to put upfront and this is  really something that we should know as much about as possible in order to be prepared for it.

You may be wish to know how the amount of the security deposit is calculated as this is a common question for many. The amount of the security deposit is usually a month or two month’s rent, so you will certainly wish to keep this in mind when you are looking for an apartment to rent and need to secure it for the future.

It is a great idea for anyone to consider the security deposit or how much it will be when you are looking for apartment rentals. You will have to be sure you have this amount on hand prior to being able to secure the apartment. If you don’t have the security deposit then you will not be able to rent the apartment and this can make a difference as far as what you being content with the apartment that you are able to get.

When you go to rent an apartment and are making that commitment to do so, they will certainly ask you for a security deposit and this will allow you to be able to rent the apartment. If you do not have the security deposit, then there is a very high chance that you will not be able to rent the apartment you are looking at.

We all want to be certain when we take the time to rent an apartment that we are prepared for whatever may come our way and this will certainly mean having the money that we will need to in order to make this happen. It is a great idea to check ahead of time with the landlord and then you can see the amount of money you will need for the security deposit. It is very important that you do take this into consideration if you are considering renting.

The security deposit is the amount that is set by the landlord and you must pay this amount if you do wish to rent an apartment. This helps secure to the landlord that you will be able to pay for any damages in the event you incur some while you are there. It is a great idea to make sure you take the time to find the best apartment that interests you and also one that you will be happy to call home.

When you are looking for apartments, and are getting ready to pay the security deposit, you will want to make sure it is a place that you really want to stay. When you do this, you can rest assured that making the time and the commitment will certainly pay off for you in the long run.

Realistically, there are no “top apartment finders” that are relevant everywhere. While there are a number of websites that try to bill themselves as being the most comprehensive resource for finding an apartment anywhere and everywhere; without exception these are for profit entities whose primary interest is generating revenue for themselves, not helping you find an apartment. Further, the rental market is generally very dynamic and changes a lot on a regular basis, though not always in the same way at all places. Instead, any apartment finder really has to be local and have immediate access to local information about the general market, prices and availability.

In fact, the major apartment finder websites online are primarily designed for “search engine optimization” (SEO), or to attract the attention of search engines as opposed to apartment hunters. One element of SEO design is to put a lot of information on the website, however once the information is posted and the search engines recognizes it there is no real incentive to keep the information up to date and usually it is not. For example, in Denver, Colorado, the Spanish Gates Apartments burned to the ground (this author lived literarily across the street) in 2003; and yet today if you search for “Spanish gate” apartments Denver you get at least ten major apartment finder websites reporting about the availability of these apartments that have not actually existed in more than seven years. Undoubtedly similar things are true with all of their listings. These websites are designed for search engines, not for people trying to find an apartment.

Most major cities and metropolitan areas have their own local apartment finder services which specialize in the local area and this may be the best for many people looking for an apartment. However, like the websites they are usually for profit entities that make their money by charging the apartments an inclusion fee and there are always at least some apartment managers unwilling to pay for these inclusion fees so the directories are rarely complete. If you can find a locally based apartment finder guide that is advertiser driven instead of based on inclusion fees, it is much more likely to be all inclusive. Most importantly, the information provided in these local apartment finder guides and services is much more likely to be current and relevant. 

If you absolutely have to have an online source, one good idea that works in at least some areas is to visit the website of the local apartment association. Apartment owners and managers represent a formal trade group with their own interests and therefore they are usually organized into local associations. A Google search for “___city name___ apartment association” will usually pull up the local apartment association website. While the emphasis is primarily on the concerns of the apartment managers and the industry, most apartment association websites provide at least a few resources for tenants and most also include a directory of member apartment buildings and complexes. Further, many of the apartment association websites will provide a link to the apartment finder service that they consider most relevant to their local market.

San Francisco is quite well known for its effective rent control and active tenant’s union, so developers and property owners are always on the look out for ways to avoid this. One way to do so is to convert older housing that would otherwise fall under the rent control laws into subsidized – or Section 8 – housing which is not included in the rent control regime. Therefore, quite a few owners of older properties have decided to convert their properties into Section 8 housing as opposed to putting it on the open market where there are more restrictions on the amount of rent that can be charged. Of course the Section 8 program comes with plenty of its own restrictions, but quite a few landlords find it preferable to the San Francisco city rent control and active tenant’s union. Despite this, there is still a major shortage of subsidized housing in San Francisco which has led to many problems.

As is always the case with Section 8 housing, though it is a federal program run from the top by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), on the ground level it is administered by the local public housing authority: the San Francisco Housing Authority (SFHA, www.sfha.org). This should probably be the first place that people looking for subsidized housing in San Francisco should go to see what is available.  Due to the major shortage of public and subsidized housing in San Francisco, the SFHA has a prolonged application period as well as a lengthy waiting period to get into a subsidized unit even if the applicant qualifies. In fact, as of the time of this article (July 2010), the SFHA has completely closed the waiting list and is no longer accepting new applicants at all for Section 8 housing.

Further, the SFHA exercises its right to prioritize who gets precedence when a subsidized housing unit becomes available. This is quite common in major cities and San Francisco is no exception. The priorities adopted by the SFHA are divided into two groups: Local Preferences and Secondary Preferences. Local Preferences give primary priority to people that pay more than fifty percent of their income for rent, are currently living in substandard housing, and people that have been involuntarily dislocated through government action. Secondary preferences are for people that both live and work in San Francisco, military veterans, and people participating in particular “Welfare to Work” programs. The SFHA website provides further detail on what its preferences are and what can help improve your chances of getting subsidized housing in San Francisco. 

Since Section 8 housing is currently at capacity and the SFHA is not even accepting new applicants for the time being, people in need of subsidized housing may want to explore some of the other options available. These include a number of federal programs, such as homes built through the HOME program or the using the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC). There are also some programs operated by local authorities such as the Mayors Office of Housing (MOH) and the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency. Finally there are more specialized government programs that emphasize particular groups of people, such as the AIDS Housing Alliance, which helps people with HIV/AIDS with subsidized housing.

Assuming you are single or part of a close couple, you essentially have three practical choices when it comes to finding a good apartment in which to live. These three choices in apartments are (a) a studio apartment; (b) a one bedroom apartment, or (c) a two bedroom apartment. As is frequently the case, the middle option, between two greater extremes is usually the best option.

While studio apartments tend to be less expensive, they also severely limit the amount of privacy and living space available. Most studios are comprised of two rooms: a small, separated bathroom and one large room that serves as living room, bedroom, dining room, and kitchen. Sometimes the kitchen and bathroom are combined into a second room, but the effect is much the same. While this is a tolerable living arrangement for some people, the complete lack privacy and separate storage/living space makes studio living somewhat awkward. This is especially true if you have things you would like to keep separate or if you are part of a couple, where everyone needs a bit of their space from time to time.

Price wise, a one bedroom tends to rank between a studio apartment and a two bedroom and offers a more comfortable living arrangement. A one bedroom typically has a separate bedroom, a separate bathroom, more closet space, a semi-separate kitchen and dining area and then the main living area. This allows a bit more privacy and individual space as well as considerably more storage space than a studio. At the same time, one bedroom apartments are also the most common apartments since a couple, or even two parents and a child, and usually live in a one bedroom comfortably. 

Two bedroom apartments tend to be considerably more expensive and in greater demand than studios or one bedroom apartments. Typically a two bedroom apartment will have two separate bedroom, one (or one and a half) separate bathrooms, a separate living room, a combined dining area and kitchen, as well as ample closets and storage space. Such apartments are largely designed for families, with the parents taking one bedroom and one (or two) children taking the other bedroom. Since such apartments are specifically designed for multiple residents, many of whom have no other option than to get an apartment; two bedroom apartments tend to be in much higher demand, meaning that their prices are much higher.

While a studio might be fine for a young single person, in general they do not offer a very comfortable arrangement for a couple. A two bedroom is great for a small family, but probably represents more than a couple actually needs. Therefore, for couples, a one bedroom apartment is a good compromise. Further, since one bedrooms are the most common kind of apartments available, they are usually easier to find and easier to get into at a more reasonable price. A one bedroom offers a degree of separation so it is easy to entertain and have people over without having everything you own on active display to all of your visitors as is the case with a studio.