Queens Bayside Area (apartment, rental, broker)

[Child Of God]

I visited the Bayside area last weekend located in Queens, NY. I found it somewhat frustrating, as no one knew how to go about finding an apartment there without going through a broker. I do not want to pay a broker fee, and pay a landlord a large amount of money either. I am considering the Master's program in Education at St. John's and I have been told that District 26 is the best school district in the Queens area. Can anyone help in suggesting ways to find an apartment?

COG.

[Andysocks]

My family found our apartment in Bayside when my mom's boyfriend noticed a for rent sign hanging up in a second-story window. so... no, don't have much advice, haha.

By the way, good luck getting a job anywhere in 26, it's virtually impossible aside from straight-up nepotism. Even many Long Island districts are probably easier to get your foot in the door.

[Child Of God]

Thanks for the information, even though you had no advice as far as the apartment, you did tell me my chances of getting into the school district as a teacher. I actually mentioned the school district because I have a school aged child. But, what is meant to be, will be.

Thanks again,

COG

[Moderate Guy]

Originally Posted by Child Of God

Thanks for the information, even though you had no advice as far as the apartment, you did tell me my chances of getting into the school district as a teacher. I actually mentioned the school district because I have a school aged child. But, what is meant to be, will be.

Thanks again,

COG

i have a strange feeling that your name is scaring people away or making them feel nervous to respond.

[Henna]

I don't understand the "what is meant to be will be" thing... does that mean you shouldn't bother trying to accomplish anything? Why would you bother trying to find a non-broker apartment if what's meant to be is that you will have to use a broker? I don't mean to be rude- I really don't get it.

On a practical level, common wisdom in NYC says that using a broker is the fastest, easiest way to get an apartment and you will have more options open to you if you do use one. If you choose not to, you will have to spend more time looking and you may pay more in rent. I don't have specific info about Bayside, but my impression is that most of NYC operates this way. There are threads on this forum that discuss this issue in more detail.

And the specific answer to your question is that if you want an apartment rental without a broker, you have to pound the pavement, knock on doors, speak to supers, and look for signs and ads in local papers placed by landlords.

[passdoubt]

Originally Posted by Henna

If you choose not to, you will have to spend more time looking and you may pay more in rent.

I don't think "pay more in rent" is correct. Without a brokers fee you're paying less... it's just harder to find a place w/o a broker because they have a stranglehold on the market here.

[Child Of God]

Originally Posted by Henna

I don't understand the "what is meant to be will be" thing... does that mean you shouldn't bother trying to accomplish anything? Why would you bother trying to find a non-broker apartment if what's meant to be is that you will have to use a broker? I don't mean to be rude- I really don't get it.

On a practical level, common wisdom in NYC says that using a broker is the fastest, easiest way to get an apartment and you will have more options open to you if you do use one. If you choose not to, you will have to spend more time looking and you may pay more in rent. I don't have specific info about Bayside, but my impression is that most of NYC operates this way. There are threads on this forum that discuss this issue in more detail.

And the specific answer to your question is that if you want an apartment rental without a broker, you have to pound the pavement, knock on doors, speak to supers, and look for signs and ads in local papers placed by landlords.

What I meant by what is meant to be will be" is this: If I ultimately have to go through a broker then I will, if I can find an apartment without going through one, then I will.

And, also I meant that if I am meant to get into the school district then I will, I am going to try by applying. And, if I do not, then it was not meant for me to teach in that district, but by all means I am going to apply.

Sorry if I confused you.

[Child Of God]

Originally Posted by passdoubt

I don't think "pay more in rent" is correct. Without a brokers fee you're paying less... it's just harder to find a place w/o a broker because they have a stranglehold on the market here.

That is exactly what I wanted to say. I do not want to pay a broker's fee because it would mean more money out of my pocket, than it would cost me to go directly through a landlord.

[Henna]

Originally Posted by passdoubt

I don't think "pay more in rent" is correct. Without a brokers fee you're paying less... it's just harder to find a place w/o a broker because they have a stranglehold on the market here.

This is just what I heard. I want to stress that I don't have first-hand knowledge, only what my friends who have moved recently have told me. I have a friend who just moved into a $1000/month apt. in Sunnyside and she did use and pay a broker. I really don't think she could have found this deal without the broker.

If you think about it - it does make sense. If there are 500 apartment vacancies in one neighborhood and 475 are listed through brokers and 25 are available through the owner, and you have a range of how good of a deal each apartment is, just running the numbers should mean that if you go through a broker you have a better chance of getting one of the "good deals".

Of course, you have to add your broker fee on to what you are coughing up in terms of payment. If you plan to stay a few years the broker fee makes more sense than if you are only staying for one.

[Andysocks]

Originally Posted by Child Of God

That is exactly what I wanted to say. I do not want to pay a broker's fee because it would mean more money out of my pocket, than it would cost me to go directly through a landlord.

Not necessarily, it's much easier to find better deals through brokers. My friend got a 3 bedroom in Greenpoint at a week's notice this past summer for 1600 a month through a broker... go on craigslist and you'll find nary a listing under 2400. Over time the broker fee pays for itself.