Apartment Hunting in the City

Joanna and Mary Helen climb to
a possible new apartment! :-)

Recently a good number of my friends are taking the courageous step of moving into the city; and I am reminded of the many dramas that I encountered just one year ago.  Without a doubt the biggest drama was the stress of apartment hunting.  


An apartment is the number one priority when moving anywhere -  where else are you going to go at the end of the day? However it's a completely different experience when dealing with a large city such as New York. One must tread with caution because there are cons everywhere!  The best advice to those on the hunt it to do your research and know who you are working with.  

THE WORST: Peter Parker's dirty studio apartment...
with communal bathrooms.

 Here are some advice and basic FYI's that one should know:-Work the streets, literally! Take a day to walk a neighborhood you would want to live in.  Contact leasing offices or ads you pass by.  You can even buzz supers in the buildings.

-Go to a broker and ask for an apt in the OO list (owner's pay list)

THE BEST:
Monica's rent controlled 2-bedroom
apartmentin Greenwich Village

-Tell EVERYONE you know that you're hunting.  One of my friends found an apartment through a friend's cousin's boyfriend.  Make sure everyone knows you're serious.

-Rent Control - The act of the government controlling how much a landlord may raise rent.

The near-impossible.  A multi-story luxury penthouse apartment on the Upper East Side is everyone's wish. But so few of us are Gossip Girls. But here's hoping! :-D