So, you need a new apartment in New York City. Maybe you know 100% you’re not renewing your lease. Or you just got a job in NYC but it doesn’t start for a few months. Maybe you’re moving for school and want to get a head start on the hunt. But in NYC, searching for apartments more than 30 days in advance is a no-go. The market moves fast and real-estate brokers and agents will ignore you if your move-in date is too far in the future. So what can you do if you don’t want to rush and feel pressured to find an apartment in just a couple of weeks?
Here are a few tips for searching early in NYC.
1. Look on community forums for lease breaks or takeovers.
In some cases, tenants may post their lease breaks early if they know they have to move. They can be hard to track down, but if the stars align, you may find a post that coincides with your move-in.
2. Call buildings directly to see if they have upcoming availability that match your dates.
If there’s a building you like, but there isn’t any future availability, give their leasing office a call. Leave your info and tell them the dates you’re looking for. Hopefully they follow up if something matches up later on.
3. Browse future listings on openigloo to find NYC apartments in advance
Put your desired move-in range on openigloo, and it’ll show you all apartments that may be coming available during that window. Openigloo will only show apartments that you’re eligible for during your timeframe. This is your way to get ahead of the craze and connect with a landlord before the apartment is even available. No more crowded open houses and bidding wars.
Finding an apartment in NYC is tough – but it can be a little easier if you leverage the right strategies. Research the buildings and landlords, read reviews on openigloo, and check the city data to make sure the property is in good shape.
Are you apartment hunting? Check out available and future listings on openigloo.