Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
New York is that of the “relative bargain.” For those not easily discouraged, however, a couple of resources can
help a home-seeker get ahead.
For hotels, hostels, and other short-term digs, see Chapter 2, “Cheap Sleeps.”
No-Fee Rentals
Broker's fees, the 10% to 15% surcharge slapped on by the realtor who tours you around a series of spaces that
are way too small and more than you can afford anyway, are the painful cost of renting in NYC. You can beat the
system by contacting landlords directly, through their classifieds in the
Voice
and
Times,
and through their web-
sites. It takes some legwork, but if your need for housing isn't urgent, it's the way to go. If you know a specific
building you're interested in, try to talk to the super. They'll know what units might be available soon. Patient
perusal of Craigslist may be the best bet of all.
Mixed Income digs
In an effort to keep neighborhoods from becoming entirely monolithic, the city offers tax breaks to developers
who are willing to set aside a certain number of units for middle- and low-income residents. As with everything
else, the key is persistence. Waiting lists can be long and your lottery odds can be slim, but every time you make
the effort to apply you tilt the playing field in your favor.
Department of Housing Preservation & Development
This city agency connects buyers and sellers. The web-
site lists lotteries for subsidized housing purchases, which will give you the keys to your own door at a sub-
stantially reduced cost. You'll have to meet income eligibility thresholds, and the property will have to be your
primary residence. Most housing is in lower-income neighborhoods, often in outer reaches of the outer boroughs.
Right now the pickings are pretty slim, but check the website for future apartment availability. There's also a lot-
tery list for rental apartments, which are available way below market rates if you're lucky enough to have your
application selected.
311.
For purchases,
www.nyc.gov/html/hpd/html/buyers/lotteries.shtml
;
rentals
www.nyc.gov/html/hpd/html/apartment/lotteries.shtml
.
Mitchell-Lama Housing Companies
MacNeil Mitchell and Alfred Lama's program has been around since 1955,
offering housing to New Yorkers with lower-end incomes. You can choose from 97 city-sponsored buildings and
19 cosponsored by the federal government. Rents are highly subsidized, but the application process is cumber-
some and not every building has an open waiting list (you'll also have to meet certain income requirements). To
get a PDF file listing buildings with open lists, log on to
www.nyc.gov/html/hpd/downloads/pdf/ML-waiting-
Lists-Status.pdf
.
Each building requires a separate application. There are also state-administered units, which
can be found at
www.nyshcr.org/Apps/hsgdevls/hsgdevls.asp
.
For general information, call
212/863-6500
for
city units, or
866/463-7753
for state units.
New York City Housing Development Corporation
The city promotes several mixed-income new develop-
ments in the five boroughs. The
80/20
program is fairly common. Twenty percent of a building is rented at below-
market rates to people who earn significantly less than the neighborhood's median income. You have to apply
directly to the developer and the process takes a while, but if you get in, you'll score a deal. In many cases, you
can move up in income brackets without jeopardizing your cheap rent (or cheap purchase—the same program
also offers apartments for sale). Note that the buildings involved are usually in developing neighborhoods, not
in the city's trendiest zip codes. Log on to
www.nychdc.com
for a full list of HDC-financed sites, or call
212/
227-5500.
Renters' Assurance
Despite the incursions of the open market in recent years, there remain over one million regulated apartments in NYC. The
Metropolitan Council on Housing
(
www.metcouncil.net
) has spent the last 50 years fighting for the rights of renters, and
the preservation of affordable housing. It's an uphill battle against the big-money powers that be, but individuals can arm
themselves with knowledge. The Met Council Hot Line provides information on tenant rights and dispenses advice. Call
