So rental season 2023 is here. If you are going to take the time and energy to travel to NYC and search for an apartment, you will get much better results and be more likely to get the apartment you want if you are prepared.
So what does that mean?
Paperwork– every landlord may be slightly different but you will almost always need the following items.
Photo ID. Proof of employment and income. This is usually an employment letter and pay stubs. If you are self-employed you may need a letter from a CPA to explain your financial situation. Proof of assets, usually 2 recent bank statements. Tax returns. The first 2 pages will be ok.
If you are a student, or a job hunter, or you don’t make 40x the rent, or you are very new at your job you probably need a guarantor. This is usually a family member in the US with good credit and who makes 80 times the rent. You can combine two guarantors, this is common for roommates in 2brs. Have a good talk with your search partner before you start looking.
Please please, assemble your documents before you find an apartment you like. It feels awful to see applicants fail because they can not organize what they need in time. As an agent it is frustrating and heartbreaking.
International students especially need a good plan. The best bet is to have a qualified family member in the US to be your guarantor. But if not there are companies such as Insurent and The Guarantors who can serve as a guarantor. But not all landlords work with them. I see so many people show up at showings not realizing that many landlords do not accept these policies.
Moving to Manhattan? Apartment hunt help! 