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

Manhattan Apartment Prices Hit Record High

By CHRISTINE HAUGHNEY

While most of the nation plods through a housing slowdown, Manhattan is experiencing its highest prices in history.

The average price of a Manhattan apartment in the first three months of this year was $1.7 million, up 33.5 percent from the same period last year, according to the real estate appraisal firm Miller Samuel Inc., which processed the numbers for the brokerage firm Prudential Douglas Elliman.

But the record prices do not tell the entire story of Manhattan’s real estate. Although prices are rising, sales are slowing, and executives of the four largest brokerage firms in Manhattan said they see some trouble, though not disaster, ahead for Manhattan’s real estate.

The huge price increase reflects the sale of an unusually large number of very expensive apartments, which skewed the average. In this year’s first quarter, 71 apartments sold for more than $10 million, compared with 17 apartments in that range for all of 2007. This year’s first quarter also included the sale of dozens of apartments at the extremely high-priced 15 Central Park West and the Plaza Hotel.

A number of brokerage firms released data about the first quarter that generally showed the same trends. All showed that the median price of an apartment grew. According to Miller Samuel, it was up to $917,000 from $840,000, suggesting high prices for many types of apartments.

Keep Reading here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/02/nyregion/02prices.html

Not All Apartment Leases Are Created Equal

Before signing any lease:

1. Take a walk through the unit that you are renting to make sure it is in good repair.
2. Be sure to read the lease completely.
3. All verbal promises should be reduced to writing within the lease.
4. Are there provisions for a job transfer within the lease?
5. How and when do you give notice to move?
6. Must you give notice even when the leaseexpires and you wish to move? Can you go month to month at the expiration of you lease?
7. How long does the landlord have to return your security deposit once you have moved.
8. Who is responsible for the repairs to the apartment?
9. If you move into an apartmentcomplex, there are usually maintenance people to take care of all needed repairs. On the other hand if you are renting from a private landlord, you may be responsible for part or all of the repairs.
10. Are late fees addressed in the lease?
11. Who is responsible for the utilities?
    What happens if you cause damage to the apartment?
12. If you want to make a change to the lease, cross out the clause in question. Then both you and the landlord must initial the change for it to be binding.

Queens, Harlem, Washington Heights

http://www.vantageresidential.com/

"Vantage Residential is dedicated to proving that a fabulous apartment in a hip neighborhood doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. We'll accommodate you, whether you're looking for a large, family-sized apartment with a view of the Palisades, or whether you'd prefer a cozy studio in up-and-coming Jackson Heights. In other words, we'll give you options–you should have them, this is New York. CONTACT AN AGENT: 888-312-2180"

These guys have tons and tons of apartments all over Astoria, Coronoa, Elmhurst, Flushing, Hollis, Jackson Heights, Kew Gardens, Rego Park, Richmond Hill, Sunnyside, Woodhaven & Woodside.

I've used them in the past when I had lived in Kew Gardens and I was impressed which is why I bring this up on the post. If there is a fee involved, it is next to nothing.

In the Spirit of Election Day....

I was surfing the internet and came across this group who have a cool idea and vision.

8 Tips for Renting the Right Apartment

So, you're looking for an apartment to rent or share with a roommate. Whether you're a first-timer or an experienced apartment-hunter, it's worth taking the time to decide what's most important to you in where you live and to plan your search strategy accordingly. With that in mind, here are eight tips to consider:

1. Make a list of your top housing priorities.
Do you need extra parking spaces? A place that welcomes pets? A large kitchen or linen closet? A ground-floor entrance to your home? Or what? Thinking through your needs ahead of time can help you find an apartment that meets those needs, instead of one that just strikes your fancy at first glance.

2. Check out the property.
In addition to examining the condition of the for-rent unit, walk through the property to see whether it appears to be well-maintained. Is the landscaping healthy or dying? Nicely trimmed or growing wild? Are any windows, steps or railings broken or dangerous? Do the access doors open easily and shut tightly? Walk through at night, too. Are the parking areas and pathways well lit? What about the stairwells and hallways?

3. Talk to the neighbors.
If you're serious about a particular apartment, knock on a few doors and ask your potential neighbors whether they're satisfied with the building's amenities, management's responsiveness to repair needs and other issues of concern to you. Ask: Would you tell a friend to move into this building?

4. Examine the lease.
A lease is a legal obligation to pay rent for a specified length of time, and every lease has variations on the terms and conditions of tenancy. How much notice must you give before moving at the end of the lease term? Can the rent be increased? Are pets allowed? What provisions cover your security deposit and end-of-lease cleaning costs? If the terms of the lease agreement don't suit your needs, negotiate or reconsider renting the apartment.

5. Consider security.
Does the building have controlled access? If so, are the exterior security gates and doors closed? Are the locks in working order? Does your individual unit have secure door locks and window latches? (Some states have specific laws regarding minimum security devices for apartment units.) Does the building have a security service? If so, is a guard on duty 24 hours or does he or she just drive by periodically?

6. Ask about shared facilities.
Does the building have a swimming pool? A recreation or fitness room? Tennis courts? Laundry facilities? Who is allowed to use those facilities and during what hours? Is there an extra fee charged for use of the facilities? Where are the facilities located in relation to your prospective apartment? Do you really want to live poolside or near the laundry room?

7. Ask about utility costs.
Is the water bill paid by the owner or separately by the tenants? Are electrical or gas utilities included in the rent? Is there a single thermostat for the entire building? If so, who controls it?

8. Take notes.
Before you move in, document the condition of your unit and make note of any nonfunctioning doors or windows, leaking plumbing, missing fixtures, stained carpets and so on. Ask your landlord to initial a copy of your documentation to prevent disputes when you eventually move out. Better yet, take pictures or make a video of the premises before you bring in any of your furniture or belongings.

Actual and Authentic NO FEE APARTMENT LISTINGS! WOOO!

I brought the goods...enjoy!

Find a No Fee Apartment on the Internet!

Sometimes, the best way in finding cheap rental apartments is the cheapest and fastest way – through the Internet. If jobs, cars, and second-hand stuff can be found on the Internet, it should be easy finding cheap rental apartments on the Internet as well. Instead of browsing through the papers, squinting at the small prints in the classifieds, what you can do is to log onto the Internet, go to your favorite search engine and try to locate websites that lists cheap rental apartments there.

You may have to sign up for an account with them but with most of these rental apartment listing websites, creating membership accounts with them is relatively inexpensive. The most reasonable would have to be http://www.brokerrevolt.com

As a value-added service, you can also use the message boards in BrokerRevolt.com to find a roommate to share your no fee apartment or room with you as a cost-cutting measure. This tool is wildly popular among college students and those who are looking to minimize living expenses. And if you need to get someone to help you move your stuff to your new no fee apartment, provides a list of moving companies that you can select from too!

Other rental websites with a wide range of rental apartment listing are sites like www.rentalhouses.com and www.TuNu.com.

Look through the list of no broker fee rental apartments available at the area of your choice, click on ‘request information’ right there on the website and the system will automatically send your contact information to the manager of the rental apartment. Some managers list their own personal information on the websites, and if this is the case, take down their information and give the managers a call.

If the location is far from where you’re currently residing, schedule your visit to the rental apartment (if there’s more than one) on the same day so that you can make one trip to the place and take a look at the rental apartments all in one day. Save yourself the multiple trips.

If the managers have a website, ask them if you can take a look at pictures of the place online. Some managers provide this service. In fact, some managers will actually go as far as to send images of the rental apartment to your mobile phone or email address!

The key to finding cheap rental apartments through the Internet is to verify, contact and view.

7 Tips to Help you Select the Right Apartment

Finding the right apartment that fits all of your needs and desires can seem like a very daunting task. There are many factors to consider, and there is a seemingly infinite amount of apartments available. However, following these 7 tips can make your apartment search go a lot more smoothly. The more information you know about an apartment, the easier it can be to eliminate choices and ultimately find your dream apartment.

1. Find out how much the rent is, and all the financial details therein. This is very important for comparing apartments. Some apartments may have low initial rents, but may be able to raise the price of rent over time. Additionally, find out what types of financial responsibilities you have. Some apartments may require that tenants pay for certain utilities, while other apartments don’t. When comparing prices, make sure you know all of the costs.

2. See what kind of changes you can make to your apartment. Some landlords allow their tenants to paint walls, or change certain appliances or carpeting. Depending on what you want to accomplish with your apartment, this may be a very important question. Some apartments may not even allow their tenants to put holes in the walls in order to hang pictures.

3. Find out when you can move in. This depends on your needs at the time, and is a very important question. Some people may want to move in immediately, but may not be able to do so. In this event, they can often get stuck with a signed apartment contract, but no place to go until they are allowed to move in. In order to avoid this catastrophe, it is essential to find out the specifics of occupancy.

4. Ask about children and pets. Some apartments may not allow children. Many apartments don’t allow pets, or certain kinds of pets. If you have a furry friend that you would like to keep, then you definitely want to ask the landlord policies on animals.

5. Inquire about the consequences of a late payment. This is very essential to know for anyone, but especially if you have had financial troubles in the past. Some late fees can be very steep, and if finance is a worry, then you should consider this when selecting an apartment.

6. Ask about service locations around the apartment. Find out things such as, how far it is to the supermarket, the gas station, the bank, restaurants, and public transportation. When moving to a new place, you need to consider the area that surrounds you. If the distances aren’t practical for you needs, then you should consider other alternatives

7. Finally, find out about the neighbors, schools, and fellow tenants. You can ask about them, or just go around and meet them yourself. If you have children, then you may want to find about the school systems in specific areas. Also, it is a great idea to talk to your fellow tenants. Not only is it good to get to know them, but you can also find out about their opinions on the apartment and landlord

I guess YouTube is more than a kick in the balls

Part I


Part II

Sizzling Summer No Fee Apartment Specials

My last no fee apartment was fantastic…beautiful hill country views; a swimming pool that looked more like a resort in the Caribbean than an apartment community’s; awesome monthly parties where I actually made friends…in essence, the perfect apartment community.

Unfortunately, I rented this apartment at the height of a booming apartment market economy…so with a teeny, tiny special. Oh well. I often thought it was worth it when I lounged by that pool.

Times Change
Well, times and markets change. In fact, each market, submarket, city, and neighborhood can yield totally different concessions and specials. So just asking a friend what special he got may not cut it.

An apartment community’s special could be totally different from up north in a suburb to down south in the heart of the city. Pricing and specials depend on surrounding apartment construction, overall occupancy, floor plan occupancy, desirability of the area, and of course, that ever increasing interest rate pushing more and more people to stay in apartments. It can make it all quite confusing.

Where can you find specials?
So where can the average joe go to find out no fee apartment communities’ specials? How about the web?

Websites like BrokerRevolt.com are proud to showcase apartment community’s starting rates on all floor plans offered, as well as their randomly changing specials, to help each renter determine the starting specials at communities. Just look on the left side of each of our ads, underneath the main photo. There are such a variety of specials out there. You’ll find things like $0 deposits, $300 off first months rent, and free application fees.

Sometimes, these specials are on top of already great specials that individual communities offer when you call or walk-in. So you will always want to call each community that you’re most interested in to see if the floor plan you like features an individual special. You might get lucky.

Summer = specials big and small
As summertime arrives, specials will become less frequent. It’s a great idea to hop online, complete an apartment search engine’s personality matching search, then check out your matches. Most sites will list specials, so you’ll know what you are looking at.

Many properties may list “call for specials.” Don’t be aggravated by this. Accept it as up-to-the minute consistency. Many specials do change day to day and week to week, as different floor plans change in availability.



This is your best avenue to begin the discussion process as to what exactly sets this community apart and why you really may want to check it out before deciding completely on price alone. Check out our other article on what to ask when you call.

Then call. You never know—your favorite place may be priced right where you need it—and right when you need it.

For more tips on apartment hunting and living in apartments check out: Apartment Home Living.com