On knowing a local, locals will know which neighborhoods align with your lifestyle. They'll also be able to share helpful details about which brokers to work with / avoid, and how to time the markets.
Basically, any apartment you see on zillow/streeteasy (they're the same company) that's been listed for more than 1 week in a desirable neighborhood is either not "bona fide good" or incredibly overpriced, which could (incorrectly) lead you to believe that no good rental options exist in NYC.
The reality is that all the bona fide goods are snapped up within 48 hours. The best ones are practically snapped up before they're even listed. Unless you've lived in NYC for a while and tried to play the housing game, this reality isn't super discoverable.
The landlord's broker will show prospective tenants before the apartment's listed (and before the prior tenant has moved out, if they get the prior tenant's permission).
If a prospective tenant is seriously interested, you can have all the paperwork submitted before the apartment appears on Zillow. We got our last apartment this way. I think the apartment was vacant for less than 7 days.
It tilts the market in favor of people who are willing + able to pay a broker fee. Personally, I'd rather there be no brokers (it'd make the market more fair) but the game is what it is.
Basically, trade-offs.
On knowing a local, locals will know which neighborhoods align with your lifestyle. They'll also be able to share helpful details about which brokers to work with / avoid, and how to time the markets.
Basically, any apartment you see on zillow/streeteasy (they're the same company) that's been listed for more than 1 week in a desirable neighborhood is either not "bona fide good" or incredibly overpriced, which could (incorrectly) lead you to believe that no good rental options exist in NYC.
The reality is that all the bona fide goods are snapped up within 48 hours. The best ones are practically snapped up before they're even listed. Unless you've lived in NYC for a while and tried to play the housing game, this reality isn't super discoverable.