• Broker Fees in NYC: How Does It Work? And Who Pays?

    Broker Fees in NYC: How Does It Work? And Who Pays?

    Broker fees are almost always a cause of confusion and frustration for New York City renters. So, what is a broker fee? It’s a fee you pay to the agent or broker who is managing the listing. In New York City, renters are responsible for paying this fee, even if they did not explicitly choose…


  • What You Need to Know About Affordable Housing Lotteries in NYC

    What You Need to Know About Affordable Housing Lotteries in NYC

    You may have heard of the affordable housing lotteries in NYC. A couple of City agencies run these lotteries to place candidates in buildings across the five boroughs. Typically, real estate developers receive tax abatements and other incentives to allocate a percentage of their new buildings to affordable housing. Units in the lottery are rent-stabilized…


  • Rental Guide for International Students Moving to New York City

    Rental Guide for International Students Moving to New York City

    6 Things You Need To Know About Renting as An International Student: So you just found out you’ll be moving to NYC as an international student! One of the things on your checklist is to figure out housing. Sometimes campus housing offices are helpful, but in a lot of cases you’ll be on your own.…


  • 5 Things To Do If You’re Late or Can’t Pay Rent

    5 Things To Do If You’re Late or Can’t Pay Rent

    As rents continue to rise across the country, making full and timely payments can be challenging. Life happens, and certain circumstances may impact your ability to pay. Maybe a roommate left, or you lost your job, or had an unexpected expense. If you find yourself in a situation where you can’t pay rent in full…


  • How To Find Out If You Have A Rent-Stabilized Apartment In NYC

    How To Find Out If You Have A Rent-Stabilized Apartment In NYC

    We’ve all heard the stories of the New Yorker paying just a few hundred dollars a month for their apartment. Many renters think this is a pipe dream – something that is only available to the New Yorkers who were lucky enough to find a good deal in the 1970s and never leave. When apartment…


  • 3 Tips For Finding NYC Apartments in Advance. Is It Even Possible?

    3 Tips For Finding NYC Apartments in Advance. Is It Even Possible?

    So, you need a new apartment in New York City. Maybe you know 100% you’re not renewing your lease. Or you just got a job in NYC but it doesn’t start for a few months. Maybe you’re moving for school and want to get a head start on the hunt. But in NYC, searching for…


  • 3 Things To Know About Heat & Hot Water Rules in NYC

    3 Things To Know About Heat & Hot Water Rules in NYC

    Imagine you just spent a fortune finding and moving into an apartment. But now you realize the heat and hot water is subpar. In New York City, landlords need to make sure their buildings and apartments have functioning hot water 24/7. Additionally, the heat needs to kick in when it’s supposed to. Here are 3…


  • What’s the difference between rent-stabilized and rent-controlled apartments?

    What’s the difference between rent-stabilized and rent-controlled apartments?

    8 FAQs about rent-regulated apartments in NYC. In NYC you may hear people talking about rent control. It’s a blanket term to describe some sort of policy that restricts rent increases on housing. But in NYC it means something a little different. New York City has both rent-controlled and rent-stabilized apartments (together they are referred…


  • 2 Email Templates To Get Replies From NYC Real-Estate Agents 

    2 Email Templates To Get Replies From NYC Real-Estate Agents 

    Don’t make these common mistakes if you want to try and get a response from NYC real-estate agents every time! Renting in New York City can be frustrating to say the least. Getting the attention of NYC real-estate agents can be even more of a challenge. They get inundated with requests and emails from renters…


  • 2 things you need to qualify for a New York City apartment

    2 things you need to qualify for a New York City apartment

    Apartment hunting in New York is no easy task. With high rents, and a competitive rental market, securing and qualifying for an apartment may seem impossible. New and old New Yorkers alike can struggle to keep up with all the changing requirements. At openigloo, we receive tons of questions about the NYC application process. Such…