Real estate broker fees (for rentals): c/d

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What the fuck? If I find an apartment myself on craigslist, go to see it, and want it, why should I pay an extra month's rent to the person who took the 10 minutes to show it to me?

― Hurting (Hurting), Thursday, 29 September 2005 13:27 (twenty years ago)

You shouldn't. I have never had to do this. Where do you live?

― n/a (Nick A.), Thursday, 29 September 2005 13:31 (twenty years ago)

Let me guess: NYC?

― n/a (Nick A.), Thursday, 29 September 2005 13:31 (twenty years ago)

Well, close. Ish. Depending on who you ask.

― Laurel (Laurel), Thursday, 29 September 2005 13:36 (twenty years ago)

In every situation like this I've been in, the landlord pays the broker to show the apartment, not the renter.

― n/a (Nick A.), Thursday, 29 September 2005 13:42 (twenty years ago)

Well I've never actually paid a fee like this. I just don't even bother to go see any apartments with a "broker fee".

Obviously, in a time before craigslist, the fee made at least some sense -- you pay a broker to do all the legwork, and the broker also might have listings that other people don't. But why the fuck should I pay when I'm doing the legwork myself? The broker is making like $1200 for 5 minutes of work.

― Hurting (Hurting), Thursday, 29 September 2005 13:53 (twenty years ago)

it's a scam.

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 29 September 2005 14:37 (twenty years ago)

one month's rent would be a GOOD broker's fee in manhattan. most places want 15% of a year's rent.

― carly (carly), Thursday, 29 September 2005 14:59 (twenty years ago)

which is like 2 months' rent.
which is the worst thing i've ever heard.

― carly (carly), Thursday, 29 September 2005 15:00 (twenty years ago)

it disgusts me that this is legal.

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 29 September 2005 15:04 (twenty years ago)

yeah, it's revolting. it's like you need 4 months of rent in cash to move in (1st month, security, broker's fee..). 4 months of rent in new york is an insane amount of money.

― carly (carly), Thursday, 29 September 2005 15:11 (twenty years ago)

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