Apartment hunting- real estate etiquette QUESTIONS -PLEASE HELP!!

Im going to make a long story short...
We are looking for a 2bdr for $1400 max.

We have been looking for apartments... I found one thats OK for $1300 on our own.

APARTMENT #1
Pro's- $1300, renovated (cheaply though), big living room, glendale area

Cons- 6 family building (a little too big for me), 3 story walk-up, no closets in master bdr, floors are old.

We also went through a real estate agent. A couple of days ago she wanted to take me to see an apartment, she mentioned the address and it rang a bell to me, turns out it was an apartment I was planning to go on my own already from the newspaper. So I called her and told her that I thought the whole point of going through a real estate agent was to see exclusive properties that really couldnt be found publicly listed. (Why would I pay her a monthly fee for an apartment I could see on my own?) I told her that I was gonna see that one alone, she said OK. Anyway that apt. didnt work out. 15 minutes later she calls me says "I have another property to show you, this time its exclusive" then she tells me the address--turns out I already saw it--- it was from craigslist!!

Next, she showed us an apt. and I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.

APARTMENT#2
Pro's - 2 family house, major closet space, beautifully renovated (GUTTED). Upgraded everything, even better area of Glendale.

Cons- Smaller lvg room AND $1400 real estate FEE.

**Major point: The real estate lady told us it was going for $1250 NEGOTIABLE, then when we got there she said "oh sorry they listed it for $1250 negotiable BEFORE renovations, now they want $1600..." she made it seem as if this was news to her. (we brought it down to $1400).

The second apartment hands down is much better to me, I love it, I can see myself living there for the next 2-3 years. BUT we absolutely cannot afford the $1400 real estate fee!!

QUESTION: So now this is what is bothering me, if the real estate lady attempted to show me something publicly listed before and she was gonna take the monthly fee from me, is this apartment also publicly listed? I dont want to pay her $1400 for something that I could have found in the paper/craigslist. I want to go to the owner now and ask her flat out... "Did you list it with the real estate?" If she says yes, then there is no way around the fee... if she says no, then can I make a deal with this lady directly??

My husband says If I did find this one on my own its a different story, but I didnt find it, therefore if its public or real estate it doesnt matter-- there is no way around the fee.

THE ONLY THING STOPPING US FROM GETTING THIS APT IS THE FEE. Am I wrong? Is there no way around this fee? Can I go ask the owner directly?

Also, my husband is thinking of it as apt #1 for $1300 VS. apt#2 for $1500 really (cause of the fee)... he said for him its a no brainer apt#1 because its cheaper plus its not HIS OWN house so he doesnt care if its the nicest. BUT he keeps saying "whatever I want" even if its not the financially sane decision.

PLEASE HELP, I NEED TO MAKE A DECISION BY 1pm. Thank you and sorry it was so long.

Message edited 6/12/2010 9:05:44 AM.

Re: Apartment hunting- real estate etiquette QUESTIONS -PLEASE HELP!!

I think your husband is correct. She gets the fee because she found you the apartment. Maybe you *could* have found it on your own, but you didn't.

Re: Apartment hunting- real estate etiquette QUESTIONS -PLEASE HELP!!

Re: Apartment hunting- real estate etiquette QUESTIONS -PLEASE HELP!!

Thanks ladies.. I think you are right too, I just want this apt. so bad I'm willing to justify getting it by any means...

Do you guys think she would negotiate her fee? If so by how much? How low can I offer her without sounding ridiculous?

Would you personally go with the first or second apt?

Re: Apartment hunting- real estate etiquette QUESTIONS -PLEASE HELP!!

it doesn't hurt to ask on the fee

but realize that she isn't making the whole thing and it's really not up to her

she is most likely only make 25% of it b/c the listing agent gets half

and then the broker gets half

Re: Apartment hunting- real estate etiquette QUESTIONS -PLEASE HELP!!

i have a 2 bedroom apt for rent and theres no fees and its in that price range! fm me if you have questions!

Re: Apartment hunting- real estate etiquette QUESTIONS -PLEASE HELP!!

Posted by Meggo613

i have a 2 bedroom apt for rent and theres no fees and its in that price range! fm me if you have questions!

Re: Apartment hunting- real estate etiquette QUESTIONS -PLEASE HELP!!

I just want to throw this out there , Dh and I were so against renting a place from a REA, why should we have to foot the bill? Well we found a house that we loved ,and decided to just go for it ! Thank God we had the REA ,b/c living here has been hell ! I can't begin to tell you what has gone down since living here, you would be , but if it weren't for the REA , we would have never gotten through what we did ( landlord, tenant downsatirs, and many other things lol) . I will never rent another place w/o a REA. Not saying all rentals end up in this situation ,but you never know if your moving into a slumlords home ( the REA documents EVERYTHING) .

Sorry so long ,but I just wanted to share my story

Re: Apartment hunting- real estate etiquette QUESTIONS -PLEASE HELP!!

Posted by My3girlsMylife

I just want to throw this out there , Dh and I were so against renting a place from a REA, why should we have to foot the bill? Well we found a house that we loved ,and decided to just go for it ! Thank God we had the REA ,b/c living here has been hell ! I can't begin to tell you what has gone down since living here, you would be , but if it weren't for the REA , we would have never gotten through what we did ( landlord, tenant downsatirs, and many other things lol) . I will never rent another place w/o a REA. Not saying all rentals end up in this situation ,but you never know if your moving into a slumlords home ( the REA documents EVERYTHING) .

Sorry so long ,but I just wanted to share my story