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EDDIE LANDSBERG
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      • CHELSEA awaits you
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Apartment Hunting as an Artist or Performer

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​Renting an apartment as a performing artist, musician or gig based worker can be really difficult anywhere. 

You might say, we suffer from a type of de facto discrimination.    And while it is illegal to refuse to rent property based on someone's source of income, the fact is that many artists have their fair share of hurdles to overcome when it comes to signing a lease.

Some key issues include the difficulty of proving gig-based (even cash to pocket) income, post pandemic credit issues and debt exacerbated by student loans and periods of living off of credit cards or paying credit card bills late during dry spells.

So how do we get around this?  Here is some advice from my perspective as a musician turned real estate agent.  (Note that this advice is offered on a personal, not professional level.  In addition, I cannot give financial or legal advice.)

First, having a "normal" day gig while apartment hunting for proof of income never hurts.   Ideally speaking you need to prove that your household makes 40x rent, but even with a third party guarantor you might be able to get it down to as little as 27x.  The key point is that landlords usually care less about what you have in the bank, and more about what's coming in.   

Second, as an artist, read this book:  It has a lot of useful information.  I actually picked it up at the Julliard Bookstore:

How To Be an Artist Without Losing Your Mind, Your Shirt, or Your Creative Compass:  A Practical Guide
Joanneh Nagler, The Countryman Press (2016)
    (link)

Third, it doesn't hurt to apartment hunt with an empathetic agent, especially one who is going to try get you in the hands of the right people and show you the right places.  Examples include smaller more flexible landlords as well as guarantor companies such as "The Guarantors" and Insurent.

In the end, the sad truth is that there's a two way street between actors and artists who've just given up on the security and protections of "on market" apartment hunting and agents who may not be so eager to return the calls of tough case artists   I mean, think about it from the agent's perspective:  You're trying to help that client put in an application and the client gives you a blank stare when it comes to filling out the employment information and says...

Employed... sure!   That last audition was really promising I'm waiting for that callback any day now!

*Gotcha, and hope you make a million, kiddo...

But the truth is, options are available.   This is particularly true if you have a peripheral skill or license that allows you some flexibility when setting your hours.  Not surprisingly, it is not common to find aspiring artists and musicians working gigs in almost every job imaginable in NYC, real estate and teaching included.  There are even recruiters who specifically target performers, for example, by advertising side gigs in Playbill. 

So, all I can say is network, strategize and don't give up hope.   Also be sure to ask each and every one of your colleagues what they do during dry spells and if they can hook you up.  You'll be surprised.
​

further reading:
www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/educator-tools/adult-financial-education/
Understanding the 40x+ Times Rent Rule




Dealing With Noise Complaints as a Musician
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Keller Williams NYC
​Edward Paul Landsberg
License # 10401370067​
licensed Real Estate Salesperson​

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146 Sullivan Street #23
New York, NY 10012
(484) 460-2668

This site is copyrighted eddielandsberg.com 2001-2023 and beyond.

This website is owned and operated by Edward Landsberg doing business as Eddie Landsberg.   I am a Licensed Real Estate Sales Person affiliated with Krieger Real Estate.   The website is a third party website. I am fully responsible for its content.  
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The information on this site is presented as general information and for marketing purposes only and does not constitute  personal or professional advice.  Please refer to DISCLAIMER and Terms of Service.

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  • FRONT PAGE
    • New York City Listings Page (Rentals)
  • BIO
    • BIO as Real Estate Agent
    • BIO as Musican
    • Let's Search Together!
  • BROKER LINK
  • RENTER EDUCATION
    • Apartment Hunting On A Budget
    • Filling Out A Rental Application
    • How Guarantors Work
    • Proving Income if you are Self Employed >
      • Apartment Hunting for Actors, Artists and Musicians
    • Can international students rent apartments in NYC?
    • Can the landlord raise my rent?
    • Can foreign nationals rent apartments in New York City?
    • QUESTIONS ABOUT RENTING APARTMENTS IN NYC
  • SELLING/BUYING
    • Super Deals! (under $300k)
    • Condos & Co-ops / under 700k
    • Condos & Co-ops / Over $700k
    • Houses / Multi-family / Townhouses
    • All Properties (over 1.5M)
    • Eddie on City Snap
    • What's my house worth?
  • Featured Listings
    • RentHop
    • StreetEasy
  • LANDLORDS
  • 日本語
    • ニューヨーク市の賃貸物件
    • プロフィール
  • RENTALS BY BEDS
    • 0-1 BEDS by PRICE
    • 0-1 BEDS by RECENCY
    • 2 BEDS by PRICE
    • 2 BEDS by RECENCY
    • 3 BEDS by PRICE
    • 3 BEDS by RECENCY
    • 4 or more BEDS by PRICE
    • 4 or more BEDS by RECENCY
  • Pet Friendly Apartments
    • most recent
    • by price
  • Amenities
    • Search by Amenities
    • Elevator Only
    • Laundry In Building
    • Laundry in Unit / Dishwasher
    • Rentals with Swimming Pool
    • FURNISHED APARTMENTS >
      • most recent
      • by price
      • Roommate and Room Share Friendly
  • RENTALS BY NEIGHBORHOOD
    • Moving to New York City
    • MAP VIEW
    • DRAWING TOOL
    • Search by Neighborhood & Zip (Manhattan)
    • Popular Neighborhoods in NYC >
      • Long Island City (QUEENS)
      • Unbeatable Deals: Blocks from Central Park
      • Affordable Deals in the Financial District
      • Upper East Side Bargains and Deals
      • Latest on Market in Bushwick
      • Midtown Manhattan Rentals
      • Specials in Soho
      • CHELSEA awaits you
      • Astoria is Hot and Cooking!
      • Best of the Village
      • Washington / Inwood: The Very Best of Upper Manhattan
      • Upper West Side Living
      • Best Deals in Harlem
  • Search by Budget
  • Resources / Documents
    • 3D Viewings and Virtual Tours
    • How to DocuSign
    • Rent Calculators >
      • Gross Rent Calculator
      • Rent Pre-Qualification Calculator
      • Money Due at Lease Signing Estimator
      • Rent Increase Calculator
      • Rent Burden Calculator
      • Cheaper to Buy or Rent?
    • Lease Assignment
    • Monthly Budget Sheet
    • NYC Real Estate Market Reports
    • Tenant Rights and Disputes
  • FAIR HOUSING NOTICE