Hey everyone, first time moving to NYC from the Midwest for a job starting Sept 8. I’m getting totally mixed signals from brokers. I emailed a few listings and one guy said he only has Aug 1 availability and September stuff “won’t be out for another three weeks.” Another said good Sept 1 inventory is already moving and I should send my docs today.

I haven’t even seen a place in person yet. Should I just wait until late August? Is inventory really that tight? I keep seeing online listings that look nice but I can't tell if they're old bait.

Thanks for any blunt advice.

Listen, Sept 1 is our Super Bowl. Most normal tenants give 30 days notice so the real wave of Sept 1 inventory hits the last week of July through mid August. You’re not late, but you’re not early either. Get your paperwork squared now—ID, last two pay stubs, bank statements, maybe landlord reference. If a broker is telling you Sept 1 stuff is already moving, they might be trying to spook you into an Aug 15 sublet. Don’t fall for that.

Off-cycle start dates are less crazy, but Sept 1 is the big one.

Wait, I’m also moving from out of state but I was looking at an Aug 15 lease to start a new job on Aug 18. Does the 30-day notice thing mean there’s not much Aug 15 inventory? Should I just do a short-term thing and look for Sept 1 once I’m there? I haven’t booked a flight yet and I’m worried I'll show up with no actual apartments to tour.

firstwinter, Aug 15 is a weird middle. You get some places left over from Aug 1 that couldn’t rent plus some early Sept listings that landlords will hold for the 15th. Less competition, more chance of a weird layout or a unit nobody wanted. If you can crash with a friend for two weeks, I’d wait and grab Sept 1 or even Sept 15. If not, tell brokers you’re open to Aug 12-18 and have your forms ready. Don’t book a flight blind though—line up four or five tours for the same weekend.

Related question: is it dumb to sign a lease from a video tour? My co-worker did FaceTime with a broker and the place was fine but smelled like smoke when she moved in (she says). I’m from Ohio and can’t fly in easily, but I keep hearing “it’ll be gone by Friday.” Are there any buildings where the management is big enough that a video tour is okay, or should I just accept I might lose a place?

bronx_newbie, if you’re renting from a big managed building with an actual leasing office, a video tour is fine-ish. You can see the finishes, they have floor plans, and the super will fix stuff. For a broker showing a random walk-up, no way. I’ve seen a broker hold a phone at chest height and “forget” to show the window that faces a brick wall. Come to the city, even for a weekend. You’ll lose a place or two—that’s normal. Don’t let FOMO put you in a cinder block room.

Thanks, this is already more useful than the emails. Just happened: I asked for a live video tour of a place in Bay Ridge and the broker called back 20 minutes later saying someone applied. Is that real or just “apply now” pressure? I don’t have a NYC paycheck yet because I haven’t started. They said I could use my offer letter and bank balance. Is that enough for most landlords?

DykerNewbie, could be real, especially in Dyker/Bay Ridge at this time of year. But sometimes the “someone applied” just means another agent put a hold on it. The workaround is to ask for the listing link and application link. If they won't give you an actual application, it's noise.

Offer letter plus bank statements usually works, but have the letter state salary and start date clearly. Landlords here are paranoid. They might also want a guarantor if your bank balance doesn’t cover a few months.

Ok so I’m compiling docs today. I’m freelance with regular gig payments, not W-2. Is a PDF of invoices and bank deposits enough or do I need a CPA letter? One broker asked for “proof of income” and then said “we’ll see.” I don’t want to get skipped just because my income looks messy. I have savings but it’s not huge.

firstwinter, freelance is a pain but not impossible. Usually they want two years of tax returns, three to six months of bank statements, and maybe a CPA letter if your income fluctuates. Invoices alone won’t do it because anyone can fake a PDF. The more boring you can make yourself look, the better. If your savings are thin, line up a guarantor now. Don’t wait until they ask.