RateYourBroker.com launches New York City edition!

RateYourBroker.com was formed to solve a problem in the real estate market. High fees and commissions were being paid to brokers not based on their skill or competence, but rather as a result of high consumer demand and a lack of transparency.

While many services have emerged to increase transparency in the form of no fee apartment listings, none have addressed the real estate brokers themselves.

RateYourBroker.com believes brokers and real estate agents a necessary and helpful service. We simply want to separate those who are professional and those who resort to sub-standard practices.

Register to share your experience and find a reliable, efficient and honest broker today!

Do Pets and Apartments Mix

If you’re a pet owner who is considering a move to an apartment there are certain things you must be keep in mind. First, whether or not your pet will be accepted by most landlords depends primarily on the type, size and personality of your pet.

Dogs:

• If you own a large dog, apartment living is probably not for you. Not only will accepting landlords be hard to find, but your dog will not be happy in the confined space of an apartment.
• A large dog needs room to exercise and play, neither of which is usually available in an apartment setting. If you plan to move to an apartment, make sure your dog is one that will adapt easily to this change in environment. Usually smaller, lap dogs are the best choice. However, even smaller dogs can cause problems.
• If your dog barks or whines a lot you may well find yourself at odds with the landlord, as well as with other tenants. Many times your dog only causes a disturbance because it’s lonely or bored. If you’re gone during the day, you can sometimes alleviate these problems by hiring a pet walker to come in and give your dog attention and exercise.
• You must also keep in mind that most apartment complexes have leash laws so you will have to accompany your dog each time it goes outside. Since most complexes don’t have areas where it’s safe for your dog to run free, this is as much a matter of your dog’s safety as it the protection of other tenants.
  

Cats:

• Cats are the pets of choice for apartments. Most are not as socially oriented as dogs and are quite happy left on their own. As long as your cat has a nice spot to curl up and take a nap, space isn’t an issue. More than likely your pet is a house cat so frequent trips outside aren’t required.
• But you must realize that some landlords do not accept cats any more willingly than they do dogs. Some have a strict “no pets” rule. If that’s the case, don’t consider renting there.
• If your pet is discovered you may be evicted and/or fined.
  

Other Pets:

• “Pocket pets” such as fish, birds, and reptiles usually don’t pose a problem when it comes to renting. However, you should still check with your prospective landlord to make sure.
  

General Tips:

Landlords who do accept pets often require a pet deposit. This is intended to cover any damage your dog or cat does to the premises, as well as additional cleaning that may be necessary when you leave the apartment.

If you’re searching for apartments that accept pets, there are many places to go for help. You’ll find lots of websites and message boards dedicated to this subject. You can also enlist the help of a local realtor or relocation specialist who usually have lists of “pet-friendly” apartments. Just make sure you’re clear on the policy regarding pets before you sign any rental agreement.

If you take into account your pet’s needs, as well as those of your landlord, you’ll be much more likely to find an apartment that meets your needs.

Tips for Moving in to your No Fee Apartment

Moving is one of the most stressful events in a person's life, especially when not only the possessions are moved, but family and pets are involved. Just like when we were in school, the best remedy for stressful events in life is preparation. BrokerRevolt.com has provided the folowing apartment moving and planning guide below containing useful tips to prepare for your move:

Here are a few questions they may ask when quoting a price :

1. How many bedrooms in your no fee apartment ?
2. What is the address of the apartment you are moving from and the apartment you are moving to ?
3. How many pieces of furniture do you want them to move ?
4. How many boxes do you want them to move ?
5. What floor is your old apartment on ?
6. What floor is your new apartment on ?
7. What day do you want to move on ? (Some movers charge extra for Weekend/ Holidays)

Here are some questions you would want to know about the movers:

1. What rates and charges will apply to your particular move ?
2. Are they insured ? what kind of incidents are covered ?
3. Do they have worker's compensation insurance?
4. You may want to see their proof of insurance.
5. Be careful of movers without a physical address, or if you don't know whether their address is correct.
6. It is better if you get recommendations for the mover

Many movers offers discounts or deals through Auto Clubs, Unions, and other organizations. Check with your mover to make sure you take advantage of all possible savings.

Another important thing to do before your move is to go to your local post office, and fill out a Change of Address form. Don't forget to contact your credit card companies, your bank, your employer, your stock investment companies, and your magazine/newspaper providers to make sure they send all paperwork to the new address.

Manhattan apartment prices are finally going flat

Posted by: Prashant Gopal on November 11

Manhattan apartment prices, which have soared quarter after quarter, are finally flattening out, according to a report today from the Real Estate Board of New York.

“The trend from the beginning of the year forward, is flat or slightly downward,” Michael Slattery, the Real Estate Board of New York’s senior vice president, told me today. “We’re starting to feel the impact of economic conditions.”

The median price for a Manhattan apartment (condos and co-ops) rose just 2.8% to $845,000 and sales transactions dropped 20% in the third quarter compared to the same period a year ago. Median home prices — including co-ops, condos, and houses — dropped in every other borough (down 9% in Brooklyn, Staten Island, and the Bronx, and down 17% in Queens).

This is a dramatic change. In the first quarter of this year, the median price for a Manhattan home jumped 18%, to $872,000, compared with the same period a year ago. The housing market benefitted from the city’s relatively strong economy and the weak dollar, which has attracted foreign buyers.

Read More: http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/hotproperty/archives/2008/10/manhattan_apart_1.html

Manhattan Apartment Prices Increase at Slower Pace

By Sharon L. Crenson

November 1 (Bloomberg)-- Manhattan's median apartment price rose 1.2 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier, the smallest quarterly gain in five years, appraiser Miller Samuel Inc. and broker Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate said.

The median price of all co-ops and condominiums in Manhattan, the most expensive urban real estate market in the U.S., rose to $835,000. The growth was the slowest since the first quarter of 2002, said Jonathan Miller, president of Miller Samuel, the borough's largest appraiser. Units with four bedrooms or more surged 11 percent to a median $6.45 million, while studios, one-, two- and three-bedrooms fell by 1.2 percent to 2.8 percent.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601093&refer=home&sid=aVdueuOE8F4c