If you ask any renter in New York City, the rent is too darn high! We’ve all heard about steep rent increases in the city, but only some of these are legal. Read on to learn more about how much landlords can raise rent in NYC.  Does New York City Have Rent Increase Laws? New York doesn’t have a law that caps rent increases on all apartments, but rent increase laws protect some residents, notably those living in rent-stabilized apartments. If you live in a rent-stabilized apartment, your landlord can only raise the rent by 1% to 5% most years, depending on the rent board’s decision. Howeve ..read more

Buying a home can be an exciting experience, but it’s also a significant financial responsibility. So it’s essential to take stock of all the expenses before you apply for a loan, especially the monthly payment. But if you’ve never applied for a mortgage before, you may not know what to expect. So, to help you prepare, here’s a look at the monthly payment for a $350,000 mortgage. Monthly Mortgage Payment for a $350,000 Mortgage  Your monthly mortgage payment depends on various factors and won’t be the same for everyone, even if the home is worth the same amount. The two factors that will ..read more

Thousands of New Yorkers decide on getting roommates when they choose to save money on rent. If you’re a native New Yorker, you might have a buddy you’re willing to room with. But, if you are new to town, you will need to find a roommate. Luckily, NYC has plenty of roommate-finding websites. How do I find a roommate in NYC? The best way to find a roommate in New York City is to room with someone you know well—such as a friend, colleague, or relative. If you are going to school, ask for a roommate matching service through the school.  If you don’t know anyone but want to get a roommate, th ..read more

You walk to the bathroom, turn on the shower, and test the water on your hand. There’s no hot water. No warm water is coming out, no matter how you toggle the knob. What gives? Why is there no hot water in your apartment? There are a lot of things that could stop your apartment from having hot water. Here are some of the most common causes: What Could Cause My Apartment To Have No Hot Water Water Line Maintenance The most common reason your apartment might not have hot water (or any running water) deals with water line maintenance. When this happens, you’ll generally be alerted before it happe ..read more

New York City’s rental broker fees are difficult to understand and navigate. There was even a legal challenge to potentially banning NYC broker fees at one point, but they are still around and perfectly legal.  What is a NYC Broker’s Fee? In NYC, a broker’s fee is the fee a renter will pay to a real estate broker when renting an apartment from them. Broker fees are how your real estate agent gets paid and how brokers get enough money to continue their work.  As a renter, you will have to pay these fees as a part of renting an apartment in one way or another. Broker fees are common in ..read more

Brooklyn is a great place with plenty of amazing neighborhoods. It’s full of activity all over while offering plenty of good opportunities to kick back and relax.  Whatever your lifestyle, you’re guaranteed to find something that works well for you in some corner of Brooklyn. If you don’t know where to begin your search, here are our suggestions for the best neighborhoods in Brooklyn. 10 Best Neighborhoods in Brooklyn Dumbo Bay Ridge Park Slope Williamsburg Bushwick Carroll Gardens Greenpoint Clinton Hill Prospect Heights Brooklyn Heights DUMBO DUMBO is the best neighborhood in Brooklyn ..read more

Though most people don’t immediately think of it, many New Jersey cities and towns are shockingly close to New York City. As a result, these NJ suburbs of NYC tend to be popular picks for families and commuters that work in the city.  Living in New York City may be glamorous and fun, but it’s not for everyone. Some people just want to be able to live a suburban life while still enjoying the gorgeous sights of the Big Apple every day. And you know what? That’s totally acceptable and easy to do. Best Places To Live in NJ Close to NYC Jersey City Weehawken Keansburg Alpine Hoboken Ridgewood ..read more

Choosing to live in New York City or Los Angeles is a classic dilemma for many. However, comparing both cities is not that difficult if you have a clear list of priorities and use it as a reference in your search.  Let’s look at some of the main factors that affect quality of life and examine which is better, Los Angeles or NYC.  NYC vs. LA Cost of Living New York City has a reputation for being expensive. This is especially true if you compare it to Los Angeles. On average, you can expect to pay 25-30% more for similar conditions in NYC compared to LA.  Depending on your occupa ..read more

As a landlord, it’s important to vet your tenants thoroughly to ensure they will be able to pay the rent each month. In addition to running their financial reports and credit check, you may also want to check their rental history. A rental history check is a report which lists all the properties a tenant has leased in the past. It may also list the contact information of the management company or landlord, so you can verify any information the tenant listed on their application. If you are interested in running a rental history check on prospective tenants, here are a few free options you can ..read more

New York City life can be a bit much, especially if you enjoy some peace and quiet at night. That’s why so many commuters prefer to live in one of the top New York suburbs. So which NYC suburbs are best?  Greenwich, Connecticut Greenwich is the best New York suburb thanks to its short commute time and excellent schools. Greenwich is an expensive town, but it’s a wonderful place to raise a family. The area’s schools are some of the best in the nation, crime rates remain low, and Connecticut’s public transit system remains quick and reliable.  Living in Greenwich is one of the best way ..read more