NY Summer Associate Apartment Rentals Forum

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone have the slightest idea as to where one could possibly find some decent studio/1 bed rental options for this Summer? 99% of online listings are 12-month minimum lease terms and the only month-to-month ones are monastic cells priced well above market (to the point I'd be better off just staying at a hotel).

I'm completely at a loss here. Any advice would be appreciated (or, alternatively, if anyone is sub-leasing between May and July 31...)

[Saami]

Have you tried Craigslist? https://newyork.craigslist.org/search/s ... =all+dates

Some look expensive as fuck compared to the market, but it looks like there's some diamonds in the rough.

[almostperfectt]

When I was a summer, a good number of people rented rooms from Columbia and NYU law students who summered in other regions

[Res Ipsa Loquitter]

The NYC rental market is crazy right now, even for folks willing to sign a 12 month lease. I would suggest splitting an overpriced AirBNB with 1-3 other summers.

[Anonymous User]

In the past, there were FB groups where students (not only law students) leaving NYC for the summer posted their apartments to sublet. Apart from FB, check out Craigslist, listingsproject, and projects like nycintern.org.

I know NYU rents out some of its dorms on a weekly basis over the summer. Possibly Brooklyn Law School, New School, Cooper Union, and School of Visual Arts too? I’m sure that it’s all wildly overpriced for what you get, but hey, it’s NYC. At least those institutional landlords aren’t going to scam you outright.

I would generally be skeptical of using Airbnb in NYC.

[Anonymous User]

Most of the universities in NYC rent weekly or in 10 to 11 week blocks for non-affiliated students seeking summer housing. NYU, New School, among others are viable options.

[Anonymous User]

Op here. I'm actually at CLS at the moment (and using their grad housing), I just thought it might be better to get a place closer to Midtown (I can either extend my current lease or let it expire on May 31). It'd be preferable in terms of the commute (plus my current apartment is extremely dreary, unpleasant, and overpriced). I'm happy to dole out the extra money for a different place - it's only for 2 months. I get that this move isn't exactly optimal money-wise (I could be maxing out Roth contribution), but I think being comfortable for those 2 months is worth the extra cash.

Apart from university housing subleases - any other possibilities? I've managed to find some subleases on Craigslist, but they're ridiculously overpriced and tiny (smaller than even my current studio). Any other trustworthy sites worth looking at?

[becodalapa]

Op here. I'm actually at CLS at the moment (and using their grad housing), I just thought it might be better to get a place closer to Midtown (I can either extend my current lease or let it expire on May 31). It'd be preferable in terms of the commute (plus my current apartment is extremely dreary, unpleasant, and overpriced). I'm happy to dole out the extra money for a different place - it's only for 2 months. I get that this move isn't exactly optimal money-wise (I could be maxing out Roth contribution), but I think being comfortable for those 2 months is worth the extra cash.

Apart from university housing subleases - any other possibilities? I've managed to find some subleases on Craigslist, but they're ridiculously overpriced and tiny (smaller than even my current studio). Any other trustworthy sites worth looking at?

What an incredible waste of money.

[Anonymous User]

Op here. I'm actually at CLS at the moment (and using their grad housing), I just thought it might be better to get a place closer to Midtown (I can either extend my current lease or let it expire on May 31). It'd be preferable in terms of the commute (plus my current apartment is extremely dreary, unpleasant, and overpriced). I'm happy to dole out the extra money for a different place - it's only for 2 months. I get that this move isn't exactly optimal money-wise (I could be maxing out Roth contribution), but I think being comfortable for those 2 months is worth the extra cash.

Apart from university housing subleases - any other possibilities? I've managed to find some subleases on Craigslist, but they're ridiculously overpriced and tiny (smaller than even my current studio). Any other trustworthy sites worth looking at?

???

Just sign a 1-year lease for an UWS or Manhattan Valley or Morningside Apartment. Believe me, SA life is not so demanding that you will begrudge the 25ish minute commute to/from Midtown. (And let’s not pretend that living in, or close to, Midtown is some special prize either — quite the contrary.) And regardless of where exactly you look, the limited housing stock available for 2-month rental is going to be fairly shitty, i.e., “dreary, unpleasant, and overpriced.”

You can find a decent apartment walking distance to Columbia in the $2-3k/mo range. (Source: I live in one.)

[Anonymous User]

Op here. I'm actually at CLS at the moment (and using their grad housing), I just thought it might be better to get a place closer to Midtown (I can either extend my current lease or let it expire on May 31). It'd be preferable in terms of the commute (plus my current apartment is extremely dreary, unpleasant, and overpriced). I'm happy to dole out the extra money for a different place - it's only for 2 months. I get that this move isn't exactly optimal money-wise (I could be maxing out Roth contribution), but I think being comfortable for those 2 months is worth the extra cash.

Apart from university housing subleases - any other possibilities? I've managed to find some subleases on Craigslist, but they're ridiculously overpriced and tiny (smaller than even my current studio). Any other trustworthy sites worth looking at?

???

Just sign a 1-year lease for an UWS or Manhattan Valley or Morningside Apartment. Believe me, SA life is not so demanding that you will begrudge the 25ish minute commute to/from Midtown. (And let’s not pretend that living in, or close to, Midtown is some special prize either — quite the contrary.) And regardless of where exactly you look, the limited housing stock available for 2-month rental is going to be fairly shitty, i.e., “dreary, unpleasant, and overpriced.”

You can find a decent apartment walking distance to Columbia in the $2-3k/mo range. (Source: I live in one.)

From a pretty cursory glance at some of the online listings, I don't see what you're seeing - the only decent, affordable, and furnished ones seem to be in Harlem, not Morningside or UWS. Note that by affordable I mean below $2,4k. I have no intention of paying anywhere near $3k per month for the next calendar year. 2-3 months of that is fine, but beyond that is just pointless.

I do like this idea most out of all the other ones floated in this thread, though. If I find a nice place for a 12-month lease, I'll just go with that.

[Anonymous User]

When I went for my NY summer, I got an AirBnb with my boyfriend for two months. Was about $3k per monthl.

[jsnow212]

Op here. I'm actually at CLS at the moment (and using their grad housing), I just thought it might be better to get a place closer to Midtown (I can either extend my current lease or let it expire on May 31). It'd be preferable in terms of the commute (plus my current apartment is extremely dreary, unpleasant, and overpriced). I'm happy to dole out the extra money for a different place - it's only for 2 months. I get that this move isn't exactly optimal money-wise (I could be maxing out Roth contribution), but I think being comfortable for those 2 months is worth the extra cash.

Apart from university housing subleases - any other possibilities? I've managed to find some subleases on Craigslist, but they're ridiculously overpriced and tiny (smaller than even my current studio). Any other trustworthy sites worth looking at?

???

Just sign a 1-year lease for an UWS or Manhattan Valley or Morningside Apartment. Believe me, SA life is not so demanding that you will begrudge the 25ish minute commute to/from Midtown. (And let’s not pretend that living in, or close to, Midtown is some special prize either — quite the contrary.) And regardless of where exactly you look, the limited housing stock available for 2-month rental is going to be fairly shitty, i.e., “dreary, unpleasant, and overpriced.”

You can find a decent apartment walking distance to Columbia in the $2-3k/mo range. (Source: I live in one.)

From a pretty cursory glance at some of the online listings, I don't see what you're seeing - the only decent, affordable, and furnished ones seem to be in Harlem, not Morningside or UWS. Note that by affordable I mean below $2,4k. I have no intention of paying anywhere near $3k per month for the next calendar year. 2-3 months of that is fine, but beyond that is just pointless.

I do like this idea most out of all the other ones floated in this thread, though. If I find a nice place for a 12-month lease, I'll just go with that.

If you can't afford/be bothered to furnish an apartment, you shouldn't be moving out of CLS housing. Just extend it for another year.

[Anonymous User]

When I went for my NY summer, I got an AirBnb with my boyfriend for two months. Was about $3k per monthl.

For an Airbnb? I thought those were even more overpriced - where was this apartment?

[Anonymous User]

From a pretty cursory glance at some of the online listings, I don't see what you're seeing - the only decent, affordable, and furnished ones seem to be in Harlem, not Morningside or UWS. Note that by affordable I mean below $2,4k. I have no intention of paying anywhere near $3k per month for the next calendar year. 2-3 months of that is fine, but beyond that is just pointless.

I do like this idea most out of all the other ones floated in this thread, though. If I find a nice place for a 12-month lease, I'll just go with that.

I am going to attempt avoiding turning this into a full-blown NYC real estate thread ... but I think you'll be able to find a <$2.5k studio. Not saying there will be hundreds of options to pick from, but keep a watchful eye on StreetEasy over the next couple weeks and I bet you'd find some.

That said, your quest will become much easier if you relax either of the following variables:

• Furnished/unfurnished: there simply aren't many furnished apartments here. But unfurnished isn't a big deal: the only truly pricey thing you have to buy new is a mattress, most other furniture can be had for free (e.g., local Buy Nothing FB groups) or for cheap (e.g., Ikea or Housingworks). And stepping back, obviously 3L isn't a year to be spending a lot or living large, but do keep in mind that whatever V100 firm you're starting at in 2023 will pay your moving costs (yes, even intra-NYC moves). This makes it painless to take whatever furniture you accumulate over the next year with you into your post-grad apartment.
• Solo/roommates: having a roommate makes your budget very do-able. If you're anything like me, you probably loathe the idea of a roommate. But if you can get a CLS friend to split a 2BR with you, it could actually be a fun time.

[Anonymous User]

Op here. I'm actually at CLS at the moment (and using their grad housing), I just thought it might be better to get a place closer to Midtown (I can either extend my current lease or let it expire on May 31). It'd be preferable in terms of the commute (plus my current apartment is extremely dreary, unpleasant, and overpriced). I'm happy to dole out the extra money for a different place - it's only for 2 months. I get that this move isn't exactly optimal money-wise (I could be maxing out Roth contribution)

You do you, but this is really not it, boo. Maxing out the Roth IRA is clearly the better choice (and I say this as a CLS person). Are you a KJD, by any chance?

[gotCentred]

When I went for my NY summer, I got an AirBnb with my boyfriend for two months. Was about $3k per monthl.

For an Airbnb? I thought those were even more overpriced - where was this apartment?

I did airbnb for my summer in NYC too. The key is that many places have relatively large long-term stay discounts, which brings the price closer to market rent (but still more expensive than a 12 month lease). I lived in midtown east (with a random roommate) for about $2.5k/month.

[Anonymous User]

Op here. I'm actually at CLS at the moment (and using their grad housing), I just thought it might be better to get a place closer to Midtown (I can either extend my current lease or let it expire on May 31). It'd be preferable in terms of the commute (plus my current apartment is extremely dreary, unpleasant, and overpriced). I'm happy to dole out the extra money for a different place - it's only for 2 months. I get that this move isn't exactly optimal money-wise (I could be maxing out Roth contribution)

You do you, but this is really not it, boo. Maxing out the Roth IRA is clearly the better choice (and I say this as a CLS person). Are you a KJD, by any chance?

Did my lack of financial prudence give it away?

[Anonymous User]

Back in the good old days of this website, the housing swap board seemed fairly active, but I think it, like so many threads, has since died off. I live in NYC but spent my summers in DC and found nice places on Airbnb that were not outrageous, and both years I sublet to friends of friends at other law schools who were looking to come to NYC, so it's worth reaching out to friends at NYC law schools to see if they know of anyone who will be gone for the summer.

[Rule23andMe]

There's a google sheet that's been floating around with some of our (CLS) places listed. Some listings for Bay Area and Cambridge too. PM me for info/link.

and @ OP, your plan is certainly not financially optimal but honestly I support it: You're young, grad housing sucks, enjoy the summer downtown, yolo

[Anonymous User]

Listing project has a sublet category

https://www.listingsproject.com/newslet ... apt_sublet

[Anonymous User]

When I went for my NY summer, I got an AirBnb with my boyfriend for two months. Was about $3k per monthl.

For an Airbnb? I thought those were even more overpriced - where was this apartment?

Yep, AirBnb. This was Murray Hill. Was a few years back though (pre-COVID still though), don't know what the market is now.

[kickerconspiracy]

There's a google sheet that's been floating around with some of our (CLS) places listed. Some listings for Bay Area and Cambridge too. PM me for info/link.

and @ OP, your plan is certainly not financially optimal but honestly I support it: You're young, grad housing sucks, enjoy the summer downtown, yolo

Possible to DM me a link to the CLS Google sheet? Working at a firm in FiDi this summer, moving from Chicago.

[SEMorrison]

This is a facebook group called Gypsy Housing. It may halp you in your search.
Good luck. https://www.facebook.com/groups/3827629 ... 6113854935

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone have the slightest idea as to where one could possibly find some decent studio/1 bed rental options for this Summer? 99% of online listings are 12-month minimum lease terms and the only month-to-month ones are monastic cells priced well above market (to the point I'd be better off just staying at a hotel).

I'm completely at a loss here. Any advice would be appreciated (or, alternatively, if anyone is sub-leasing between May and July 31...)

Leasebreak or Craigslist will have short term options. I recommend splitting a really bad (therefore cheap) 2 or 3 bedroom with some friends from your school somewhere like the East Village, Williamsburg, Bushwick (basically fun and good nightlife, I'm old now and don't know where the kids hang out). You should spend basically no time at the apartment and enjoy 10-weeks of going out each and every night.