Going International: Moving to NYC from Another Country

1. Preparing Your Documentation: Do You Have Your Visa & How Will You Pay Rent?

2. Upfront Costs and Timing

3. Understanding NYC

4. Learning Your Apartment Options

5. Conclusion

Moving to New York City is a significant life event for many people. NYC is packed with vibrant energy, life and cultures, with people from all over the world coming here to live, work and prosper together. While NYC is a city of opportunity, moving here can be extremely difficult, especially if you’re coming from another country.  The process of renting is confusing, and on top of this, many real estate brokers and scammers partake in predatory practices, which can target renters who don’t know any better. Things like fake listings, endless uncertainty and unnecessary, overpriced fees plague renters citywide, with international renters being especially vulnerable. But don’t worry; we are here to help!

At ApartmentsTogether, we have helped clients from all over the world find their dream NYC apartments. We are there to walk you through the process and help you avoid getting taken advantage of each step of the way. We are there 24/7, and will answer your questions until you secure your apartment. With that in mind, here are a few key things that you should be aware of when moving to NYC from another country.

Preparing Your Documentation: Do You Have Your Visa & How Will You Pay Rent?

Moving to New York City is NOT cheap, and if you’re coming to NYC from another country, you may be shocked at how expensive some of the apartments are. When it comes to applying to an apartment as an international renter, you need to provide documentation that shows both what you are doing here (employment, school, etc.) and how you will pay rent. The documentation you need to provide can be extensive for international students, but to simplify it, focus on who is paying rent (You? Parent? Guardian? Employer?) and how are they affording it? Obtaining a Visa will be your first, and most likely be your most difficult step, but then you’ll need to show employment, income, and money in the bank (if you’re a student, whoever is paying will need to show this). Then, there are several ways to proceed once your Visa is set.

Obtaining a Visa

The The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website is a useful resource. It provides details on each visa and the eligibility requirements. Internations.org also has good information on New York Visa Categories. Getting a Visa can be difficult, but is necessary for long-term living/working.

When it comes to types of Visas, every employer is different. For example, if you work at a company that has offices in New York, your employer may be able to apply for an intra-company transfer visa for you. It’s important to note that moving to NYC is definitely easier if you already have a job lined up. Especially when it’s a job with a larger company since they will then likely have immigration lawyers at their disposal to guide you through the process.

Other Application Documentation

On top of your Visa, there are several additional documents you will need when applying to an NYC apartment. Again, landlords want to see that you have both active income and some money set aside (because it shows them you can pay rent). The documentation required to apply can vary, but the typical documentation an international renter might need would be:

1. Passport & Visa

2. Letter of Employment & Paystubs

3. Bank Statements & Investments

4. Tax Returns. 

5. Letter of Enrollment and Class Schedule if student

The truth is, many NYC landlords are strict with who they approve. This can make it especially hard for international renters, who may be lacking in a credit score or Social Security Number. The more documentation you can provide to show income, the better job you do at showing the landlord you will be a good tenant who pays rent on time (a landlord reference letter is an example of another document you could provide to show you’re a good tenant). If you can’t provide sufficient information and/or documentation, you may have to use a third party service like the Guarantors, RHINO, or Insurent. 

Upfront Costs and Timing

Renting in NYC is like living in NYC: fast paced and expensive. The average apartment rent in NYC is $5000 and even with that, apartments don’t last more than a few days. When your situation is all set and you’re ready to move, it’s time to actually begin the process of finding an apartment. Upfront costs for apartments can be harsh in NYC, so having money set aside before you move is critical. Timing for renting apartments will vary depending on your situation, but giving yourself a few months is probably best.

Upfront Costs

Upfront costs for NYC apartment rentals can be harsh. For most renters, you should expect to pay at least 3 months rent upfront at lease signing. For example, if an apartment’s rent is $3000/mo. Then a renter should expect to pay ~$9,000 total upfront for the apartment itself (not including furniture & moving).

1. $3000 for the first months rent

2. $3000 for Security Deposit (can be refundable)

3. ~$3000-5000 Broker Fee.

4. $1500-$3000 in moving costs, furniture

**It’s important to note that these costs are NOT per person if you have roommates**

ApartmentsTogether is here to help you skip broker fees, which can help mitigate this upfront cost. Furthermore, your security deposit can be refunded to you at the end of your lease. 

If you need to use a third party guarantor service, you usually pay a nonrefundable fee instead of your security deposit.  Considering the cost of moving and living in NYC, if you want to live comfortably, we suggest both having a job, and also saving up between $15,000-25,000K before moving.

Timing

When it comes to the timing of your move, it will vary and really depends on how urgent your situation is. Assuming the application documents are all ready to go, some people can take weeks or months to learn the different neighborhoods and tour, while others start and finish the whole process in a week or two. Some people will even do short term rentals (1-3 months) to familiarize themselves with NYC and tour before deciding on a long term option.

As a typical renter, you should give yourself 60-90 days total to move. A month or two to compile your documents and do your research into the market. Then, a few weeks to actually tour the different apartments. Scheduling and attending is definitely the most time consuming aspect of the apartment search, so it’s imperative you give yourself time to get the hang of it (We are here to help!).

Understanding NYC

Another good step to renting an apartment in NYC is understanding the apartment market, the process and the current systems in place. I think when most people think of NYC, they are actually thinking of Manhattan (The Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, and Central Park are all located in Manhattan) but NYC is actually made up of 5 bureaus: Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx Staten Island, and Manhattan.

Location: Each Block is Different

NYC is truly one a kind, with each bureau, neighborhood and even each street having a different energy and feel. Before you move, it’s important that you understand each neighborhood will have its pros & cons, and different neighborhoods will vary significantly in price. Understanding what neighborhoods you like, while factoring in price, will be helpful.  If you’d like to learn the average neighborhood prices, feel free to sign up for our newsletter, but it’s important that you understand with so many fake listings with fake photos online, trying to learn the market on your own can be tough.

Summer Vs Winter Rental Market

NYC’s Summer: April-August

NYC’s Winter: September-March

Not only does location affect the price of apartments, but so does timing. When renting in NYC, it’s good to know that moving during the Winter can save you money. Because most NYC renters move during the Summer, it’s a lot more competitive and more expensive during these months. If you can move during the Winter, it may be in your best interest.  We wrote a more extensive blog about this, here.

Process of Moving to NYC

The process of renting in NYC is truly unlike any other city. Being organized, as well as learning the intricacies of the rental process in NYC is critical to securing your dream apartment efficiently. At ApartmentsTogether, our goal is to educate and empower NYC renters by providing them with all the information they’ll need to confidently navigate the apartment rental market. Schedule a call here to learn more.

Do Some Research Into NYC’s Systems

Be aware of how the banking, health, educational, immigration system works. Understand that New Yorkers get around mainly via public transportation. You can never be too informed.

Learning Your Apartment Options

Now that your documents are organized and you’re feeling confident in your understanding of the market, it’s time to narrow your apartment options. Each apartment will have its pros and cons, and understanding the tradeoffs is key to making an educated decision. In this section, we will be covering the different types of apartments, the best way to tour and how to narrow down your options.

Long Term Rentals vs. Short Term Rentals

Short term rentals are rentals that are less than 12 months. These short term rentals can be a good way to familiarize yourself with NYC before committing to a long term (12+ month) option. If you reach out, we can assist you in securing your short term rental as well as your long term rental. Please keep in mind that, typically, the shorter the length of the lease, the more expensive the rent is monthly.

Roommates

Having roommates helps mitigate the harsh apartment costs in NYC. You should have your roommate situation sorted before you start looking for apartments, unless you plan to just rent a furnished room. When moving to NYC, you can either look for a furnished room in an apartment with strangers (which is more common for short term rentals), OR you can look to rent an entire apartment with roommates you know that you’ve agreed to live with beforehand. Finding roommates online can be risky business, so if you know someone personally, we suggest starting with them. We wrote another blog on this here.

Learning your Apartment Preferences

As mentioned, each apartment will have its pros and cons. No apartment is perfect, and the only way to get everything you want in an NYC apartment is to be a billionaire. Because of this, understanding what your priorities are is essential. Some things may be “must-haves”, but then you’ll quickly come to realize they’re really just preferences. Be willing to adjust and compromise, and make sure you and your roommates are on the same page.

Tour in Person

This one is important, especially with the amount of scammers there are out there! Every apartment will have features that you can’t see in photos, so touring in person if you can is essential. Fake listings and scams will cost you time, money and energy, so to avoid getting taken advantage of, it’s critical to make sure we confirm the listing is real BEFORE you tour, and also that you in person BEFORE you send anyone any money. ApartmentsTogether will run background checks into any listing you find online. If you can’t make it to the city, ApartmentsTogether will tour for you.

Conclusion

NYC is an incredible city, but unfortunately the process of renting an apartment in NYC can be difficult, confusing and full of pitfalls. If you’re moving from another country, the process can be even more complicated. On top of the typical problems renters face, many brokers/scammers will target international renters trying to force them into paying ridiculous upfront fees. If you don’t know any better, you can fall victim to predatory practices. 

At ApartmentsTogether, our team is here every step of the way to guide you through the NYC rental process. We’ll educate you on the red flags, run background checks into brokers/landlords and more, to ensure that you can avoid a bad rental experience. We’ll also help you skip broker fees, saving you a ton of money! Want to learn more? Schedule a call to learn more about what we do!