Thinking Brooklyn but Deciding for Long Island City
Maintenance problems abounded. Mr. Hunt used a pan to collect the rainwater dripping through the ceiling, graduated to a bucket and, when that proved insufficient, a trash can. Last winter, some of his favorite shirts were soaked by rainwater. “It was imperative for my sanity to move,” he said. Photo LONG ISLAND CIT Y Along the waterfront on Center Boulevard, the many rental buildings were new, but not new enough. Credit Sasha Maslov for The New York Times He envisioned his new place as airy and clean, but also warm and inviting. “Telling a real estate agent your vision is not as clear as making a list,” he said. So he made one, including light, views and a rent of around $2,000 a month for a studio or one-bedroom. Using five apps — StreetEasy, Trulia, PadMapper, Naked Apartments and Zumper — he went to work. “I felt frantic about it,” he said. He contacted every agent who seemed to have a suitable listing. “The idea was zero fidelity.” He planned to remain in Greenpoint. But the fe...