looking for a place to live in new york is like nothing i’ve experienced before, and i say that as the memories of looking for a place in bangalore in 2015 and house hunting in memphis in 2018 are still very fresh in my mind. even with lots of advice from friends and copious amounts of research, it was still the experience of a lifetime.

this post is going to be part-narrative, part-lessons learned, and i’m not entirely sure how it’s going to flow. i’m asking you now to bear with me and be patient, and we’ll get through this together.

my experience.

all told it took me about 6 weeks to find my place. i viewed somewhere around 20 places in person, i applied to approximately 7-9, and i was finally approved for what has become a really great spot for me [as everyone said, it worked out when it needed to]. that doesn’t include the at least 50 other emails i sent that went unanswered, or the one that was rented while i was on my way to see it. somewhere around the fourth “we’re renting to someone else” response i was pretty dejected, but taking a break during my road trip to memphis was great for getting my perspective back. and then, within a week of getting back to the city, i had a signed lease and a move-in date. am i paying slightly more than i should be? yes. am i in pretty much the exact location i wanted to be? also yes. it all worked out in the end.

things i “knew” but didn’t really know.

everyone wants to move to astoria. i knew this in theory but didn’t realize how prevalent it was until i was waiting for my turn to see an apartment and talking to people who were moving from harlem, the upper east side, and various parts of brooklyn. astoria has always been a bit of a “sleeper hit”, and never more so with its proximity to manhattan and the ease of getting to laguardia or out of the city. so, you know, all of the reasons i also love living here.

it’s a full-time job. i spent literal hours every day emailing and texting with brokers, scheduling visits, following up, updating my application docs, and following up again. i had to cancel multiple dinners and friend meet-ups to see apartments that either weren’t good or that 30 other people were also applying for. luckily my supervisor was sympathetic, i work from home, i was searching in the neighborhood where i already lived, but it took up so much more physical and mental time than i was prepared for.

it’s expensive. i go into more detail below, but the fees ate up most of my savings.

if you are looking for a place in nyc.

it’s not for the faint of heart, but it can be done. it requires a lot of patience, a good amount of money up front, and a small bit of luck, but it eventually works out. here are some things to keep in mind if you want to live in nyc:

have downloaded pdf copies of the following ready to go:

• your id
• statements for any bank accounts you have
• your current employment offer letter
• your most recent w2
• your last 3 pay stubs
• depending on your situation, you might also want to have a pdf letter of recommendation from the person / company from whom you are currently renting as well as access to a credit report

make sure you have enough money in your checking account to cover first month’s rent, a broker’s fee [this amount varies and can sometimes be very steep], and application fees [some charge this and some don’t and the amount also fluctuates].

when you reach out to visit an apartment, be prepared for a “can you come today at 2pm” response and to go at 2pm or else the apartment will be rented before you have a chance to see it

• and if you like an apartment you see, be ready to submit your documents asap

take lots of photos! most times you are in and out of an apartment in 5 minutes because there are 3 people behind you waiting to see it for themselves, so if it’s one you have even a passing interest in, take photos so you can refer back to them.

if you can, take a friend. it always helps to have a second set of eyes, and they will ask questions or notice things you don’t.

new york city has this rule that says your annual income has to be 40x the monthly rent [ie if the rent is $2,000, your annual income should be $80,000]. some places won’t even show you an apartment if you don’t meet this requirement, and others might humor you but will go with another applicant who earns more. some will allow you a guarantor [someone who will cover your rent if you cannot, usually a parent or other relative], but they’ll have additional requirements such as needing to earn 80x the rent, living in the tri-state area, etc.

be prepared to not get closure. a few places told why they didn’t select my application [mostly because my salary is too low or because of my mortgage in memphis], but most just said “we’re going with someone else” and that was the end of it. most don’t ask follow-up questions, and you’ll be left wondering what made someone else’s application more compelling than your own when it’s literally just numbers on a page.

trust your gut! that broker who gives you a weird vibe? the living room that looks a lot darker in person than it does in photos? the one that feels a little too far from the subway or a little too secluded for your liking? whatever it is, if your gut says no, trust it. and if your gut says yes, submit those documents asap!

i don’t know if any of this is going to be helpful for anyone else, but it certainly was very cathartic for me to get it all out. thank you for going along on this journey with me, and if you are searching for a place in nyc, all the best to you.

xx