As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, looking for an apartment in New York will be something you have to deal with during your whole stay. Factors such as the pace of New York City, relationships with roommates, and opportunities that may arise due to new friendships, or even the current pandemic (which has brought a drop in rental prices) will make you consider moving more than once.
Whether it’s because your first stay was in a temporary place, or if a good opportunity has arisen and you decide to change apartments, here are a few tips that have helped me.
First of all, you should always go and see the apartment, it is the best way to make sure you are making a good decision. You can check the state of the building, the apartment, meet the tenants if it is already inhabited, and get an idea of the neighborhood in which it is located: proximity to public transport, nearby stores, nearby entertainment … Today with the current pandemic there are many people open to virtual tours too.
Where to look for an apartment? The most reliable option and where you will find more options are through a series of applications, among which I recommend: Roomi, Streeteasy, Zillow, Naked Apartments, or Facebook groups like Gypsy housing Public Group. The Roomi application and Facebook groups are ideal for finding flatmates or renting a room in an already inhabited apartment. The rest of the applications focus more on the whole apartment rental.
Possibly the most viable and best option, economically speaking, is to look for sharing an apartment with other people, either with friends you have there, or go to an apartment that is already inhabited. To rent an apartment in New York, it is necessary to fulfill a series of requirements, which are not always easy to fulfill, and more so for students or young people who come with a work visa. That is why renting a room is the most advisable, and you avoid paperwork and procedures that do not have to be necessary.
