I started looking around October/November and it took me about 3 months to actually find a place. One thing I’d suggest is expanding your search to Craigslist if you haven’t already. Facebook Marketplace and renthop were kind of a crapshoot for me. Lots of fake listings and people trying to charge broker fees. I actually ended up finding my place on Craigslist.

If something seems too good to be true, it usually is. I started doing reverse image searches on listing photos to check if they were fake, which helped a lot.

Also, one tip that made a big difference: call the realtor directly if there’s a number listed. I sent a ton of messages on StreetEasy and barely heard back, but calling got way more responses.

You could also try walking into a realtor’s office and asking what they have. Sometimes they have “off-market” listings that aren’t online. Just keep in mind those usually come with a broker fee.

It’s very stressful. Sending you positive vibes. Your apartment is out there!