Finding an apartment or home to rent in the tri-state area can be a bit frustrating, but once you find the right place the process is simple. Rental prices in New York city have gone down the past few years. This is in part due to September 11th and in part due to low mortgage rates, which have given many former renters the ability to buy apartments and homes. But, don't be fooled, rents in New York City and the suburban area are very high. You'll inevitably be dreading the first of every month when you have to write your rent check.

Finding an Apartment in the City

Finding an apartment in Manhattan or another borough involves looking at many places until you find the one that's right for you. You can rent an apartment through a real estate broker. Traditionally, renting through a broker meant that you would have to pay them up to 15% of the first year's rent. That's a lot of money for the short period of time the broker spends helping you find an apartment. In the current market, broker fees are sometimes being waved, landlords are offering one month free and more. In short, you may be able to find "no-fee" apartments through real estate agencies. You can also find apartments through many online rental services and local newspapers. The Village Voice, The New York Times. Or, through real estate agencies, like Douglas Elliman, Ardor NY, Corcoran, Bellmarc or Halstead.

To find a great apartment in New York City, try as many routes as possible -- a realtor, newspapers and online services.

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