NYC apartment hunting advice

[elpollodiablo]

Hey New Yorkers

D & I are on the apartment hunt this month; ideally we're going to find a place in Queens or BK for move-in 6/1, so we won't have to fuck around with a temporary sublet and have to move our shit twice. It's become clear that I'm going to have to come up to the city solo for a few days around the end of the month to find a place--we don't want to put the stress of travel on Marin any more than we have to, and it's become clear that she doesn't do really well with extended periods of time away from D. I think two or three days would be too much for everybody.

Me coming on my own isn't ideal for a number of reasons. While I've started to rebuild my credit, it's nowhere near as good as D's. And while she's been working consistently for her old UES firm, I've been a penniless grad student for two years--most of the earnings are in her name. Compound that with the fact that I don't have a job in the city yet, and we'll be subsisting on her (relatively ample) salary to start--even though I'm confident I can land something in the 40-50k range without too much trouble (we'll see if I eat some major crow on that one).

I dunno that anyone would necessarily be able to comment on our specific predicament, but I'd just like to hear any thoughts you guys might have--how I can best improve our chances, what I can do to secure a place quickly once I've found it, what extra assurances I might have to give a broker or management company b/c of our unique situation, etc. It's going to be kind of a huge hassle if I come back empty handed, then we have to find a sublet while we look for something more permanent, etc. We know exactly what we're looking for and more or less where we'd want to live (though we're flexible in that regard to a certain extent), we have both rental and work histories in the city, fortunately cash isn't a problem, and we're fully prepared to pay a broker's fee. In those regards, we're pretty well-positioned. But I'm a pretty shitty proxy on paper, and while D has done the NYC apartment hunt half a dozen times now, this'll only be my second (and before I was just looking for a temporary sublet, handshake agreement-type situation).

[Bernard]

Wish I had this 1 weird trick to share that the landlords don't want you to know about. Best of luck to you. We'll be doing the same thing next month though in a much easier market, so you have all my sympathy.

[dieblucasdie]

Can you not still apply under both of your names? Have her send in her info/signature via fax/email? Put her name at the top, most landlords will only run her credit if it turns out good, and just run the background check on you.

And just say, "We're moving here for my wife's job. I just got my Masters and will be looking for a job."

If credit does become a problem, you can offer to put down extra on the security deposit, if you're able to do that financially. A lot of landlords will be amenable to that.

[elpollodiablo]

Yeah we're definitely putting her face forward, as it were--I'm just expecting the ol' cocked eyebrow to one degree or another since she didn't take my last name and isn't anywhere to be seen as I furnish all of her vital info and documents, etc. But I'm hoping if I can articulate our situation well enough there will be some flex.

Thanks for the responses, guys!

[dieblucasdie]

Yeah, hopefully, "She's at home with our baby" should get you some leeway on that front.

[clare]

Yeah, I don't know how different that stuff is regionally,but certainly here if you're married, and have respectable jobs (or careers) there's no problem renting, apart from the fact that the rental market is so squeezed that there are hundreds of applications per property.

[Ignatius]

I understand the unsureness where you're coming from, epd, but I can only imagine you come across as a pretty decent, straightforward dude. If you end up dealing with a landlord who has such a difficult time trusting you on that front, that might signal a bad relationship down the road anyhow.

[DCDave]

Just bring a photo of you and her and your baby.

[jebreject]

Make sure it's not an obvious shop though

[Ignatius]

hahahah gosh that was great jeb.

[Greg Nog]

"Welp, here's the whole family, and I am related to them and love them and stuff"

[Ignatius]

ohhhhh christmas

[elpollodiablo]

shoooooop

[dieblucasdie]

I can tell from the pixels

[milly balgeary]

Tell em Milly sent cha