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That's even more encouraging. I am planning to move my family back to NYC...either Brooklyn or Queens this summer. I have been combing CL to get an idea of the lay of the land. I keep finding so many brokers that I have almost decide to pay one. Mind you, I NEVER paid a broker when I lived in NYC. I do have close friends that can help out when I am ready to move, though.
The brokers will post anywhere on CL, even under the owner only section, which is annoying.
For any "scam" to work, the need is for generally desparate and naive people.
Are all or the majority of ads on Craigslist scams?
Absolutely NOT!
That is the fact. Now, here is the caveate:
TOO many people go onto to CL hoping for, rainbows and miracles, which simply do not exist!!
For example, people looking for a $500 one bedroom apt in a great trendy neighborhood, 15 minutes from work and the middle of Manhattan, super clean, no bugs, all amenities, and an in house masseuse (sp?)!!
Or, a 2/3 bedroom in a great family neighborhood with good schools, playgrounds, absolutely no crime, all ameniities, free parking, and free babysitting!! All for...$500!!
Of course, none of that exists anywhere, but Heaven, yet people go onto CL searching. For everyone who actually moves to NYC, there are a hundrend people trying to find a way.
Now, if YOU happen to be in the categor of "desparate" and "naive", guess what?
Most of the ads on Craigslist, that will catch your attention, will be SCAMS!!
IF, you aren't "desparate" and aren't "naive", then guess what?
It is far less likely that you will be drawn to a CL scam.
This is how the world works. Scammers don't try to scam $3000 apts onto people who can afford $5000 apts. NO, they scam $3000 apts onto people who can only afford $500 apts, but desparately hopee there is some miracle apartment/LL awaiting!
SCAMMERS will offer just what you desire, at the price you want and can afford. This is the business the are in. The problem is that, when you are in a low rental bracket, what you desire can never be what you can afford.
Sooo, it is not that the majority of CL ads are scams, it is the reality that the majority of the CL ads YOU are drawn to, are scams.
Get it?
****
Scams are easy to spot, takes a minute or two. Got my apt off CL!
Let's put it to the test.
Tell us, what are you looking for; and, what ads attracted you and/or were scams?
Well, the difference between scam and broker can be academic. Most of the ads are posted by companies for apartments 8 blocks away from the neighborhood they say they are that "just got rented" with photos of a different place stretched wide in photoshop. Some are straight-up scammers. I did get my place thru CL though. It works, but you have to be careful. And avoid anything by Rapid Realty. Good luck.
There is no single "best." Craigslist is terrific for some things, if used correctly and cautiously, as with all things. It is great for housing, in that it probably has the largest number of listings, and particularly for cheaper apartments where the landlord doesn't want to pay a broker fee. There are a few genuine scams (like Nigerians offering non-existent apartments), and quite a few misleading broker ads (like bait-and-switch which you will find anywhere - those existed even pre-internet). It's up to you to be a cautious shopper.
Same with jobs. I have a friend who hired someone for his small company through Craigslist. On the other hand, again, it's for lower-level jobs. If you hope to get a $100K position as an executive, you won't find it on CL.
As always, probably the most scam-free source is the New York Times, but meager pickings there.
There is no single "best." Craigslist is terrific for some things, if used correctly and cautiously, as with all things. It is great for housing, in that it probably has the largest number of listings, and particularly for cheaper apartments where the landlord doesn't want to pay a broker fee. There are a few genuine scams (like Nigerians offering non-existent apartments), and quite a few misleading broker ads (like bait-and-switch which you will find anywhere - those existed even pre-internet). It's up to you to be a cautious shopper.
Same with jobs. I have a friend who hired someone for his small company through Craigslist. On the other hand, again, it's for lower-level jobs. If you hope to get a $100K position as an executive, you won't find it on CL.
As always, probably the most scam-free source is the New York Times, but meager pickings there.
Agreed. i got my current job this way over 7 years ago from the NY Times.
Thank you to everyone who commented you’ve been very helpful! The reality is I'm not looking for inexpensive apartments in midtown or downtown! I know the reality of it is i’ll end up in harlem! and I know when they say “upper west side” it can very easily mean morning side/harlem, even washington heights. So I’m aware of the scammers and I know what can be a steal or a scam, I just wanted advice from those with experience because I wanted to focus my time and energy to something thats worthy! CL every now and then won’t prove so bad, i guess!
Craigslist jobs require payment for posting. My last 2 jobs came from craigslist and at these companies i was also posting on craigslist when we were hiring.
Also wanted to state that theres a difference between a real estate agent and a broker. Its one of those pet peeves that gets me lol. Every broker can be an agent but not every agent is a broker but works for a broker.
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