Welcome to Hell (or Finding a Cheap Apartment in NYC)

There's no denying it. New York is one of the most expensive cities in the world. And if the $11 movie tickets, $16 cocktails and doctors who don't take insurance aren't bad enough, try finding an affordable apartment. NYC is a city of compromises: either live in a 6th-floor walk up shoebox in Chelsea that costs half your annual income or an enormous cheap apartment so far in the Bronx that none of your friends will visit. But, your perfect place is out there. Don't give in too early and be ready to get creative with location and size.

In my apartment searches I've seen some nasty places. One apartment, complete with a filthy carpet that included one hoop earring, was in a to-be-converted housing project with a bullet-proof-glass security checkpoint advertised as a luxury doorman. A broker in the East Village showed me a 5th-floor walk up with a guy actually asleep in one of the rooms (he told me to just quietly walk past him so I could see the view from his window). I've seen air shafts, clogged toilets and "small kitchens" (code for a mini fridge and a sink). And at a lot of these places, just as I wondered who would pay to live in such an expensive shit hole, there were several people frantically scribbling out security deposit checks and applications.

I just found a new apartment in Brooklyn and the best way to go about the excruciating process is to look everywhere. Start with craigslist but beware of the brokers. Unless you're willing to pay up to 15% of your new annual rent for the privilege of having a deadbeat broker let you in an apartment and pressure you to sign right there, check the by owner and no fee listings. Try the sublet section of craigslist as well; NYC is full of people who have to leave town and break their lease at the last minute. Better yet, avoid the middle man and call up management companies that will rent their properties straight to you. NYbits.com has a good list of buildings with rentals, but I didn't find too many within my price range.

Ask friends and colleagues how they found their apartment and contact their management company or landlord. Be prepared to hold out until the last minute. New York is a seller's market and openings pop up every day for immediate occupancy. Usually you'll find the most apartment openings a few weeks before your move in date.

Consider looking outside Manhattan. Hop on the subway or train or Path and explore the neighborhoods. You'll find people like you who appreciate fun neighborhood bars and restaurants and are smart enough to dig around to find a good deal on an apartment. Check out Groundednyc.com for listings in Brooklyn. It's new to the online apartment listing world, but they have some interesting inexpensive places listed. I avoided the websites that require a fee to see the apartment listings because I don't think they are legitimate. If you're found an apartment using these sites, please let me know. But as far as I'm concerned, most of them are a scam. Keep a list of questions to ask about every apartment you see such as:

• What's included? (I love how people in this city act like having water included is a luxury. But the places that include electricity in the rent? Pretty sweet.)
• Will I need a guarantor?
• Is there an on-site super?
• Is there laundry in the building? If not, where is the closest coin-op or wash and fold?
• Is there air conditioning or a window suitable to hold an air conditioner?
• Where is the closest subway or other transportation? (Google the address to be safe since having to walk four avenue blocks is much different than four numbered street blocks)

If you happen to speak with someone who has lived in the apartment, ask if they've had any problems with the landlord or super and if they have seen bugs or mice (and run if they say yes to either). And while you're at it, Google the landlord. I have a friend who googled her new landlord and found a few "worst landlord in NYC" posts and articles and notices of legal action.

Bottom Line: Think smart, ask questions and do whatever it takes to avoid using a broker to find an apartment in NYC