NYC Apartment Hunt: Touring 12 NYC Apartments (videos + rent)

come tour 12 apartments with me in new york city!!! I can't wait to see which unit you think I picked, don't forget to leave your guesses in the comments 😈
⏳ last year's living situation: 1:18
🤑 budget: 3:15
🔍 search tools: 4:33
💕 qualifications: 4:58
🏡 the apartments: 7:42
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[@MargotLee]

I'm already having so much fun reading your guesses of which apartment I chose 👀 Reveal & full tour will be in my next video- don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss it!

[@meelissaroos]

So hard to guess, but I personally absolutely fell in love with number 11 with the view, the direct sun light and the features. I'm guessing number 11!

[@emiliamurdock4195]

Definitely 11!!

[@tjsleiman]

So did I!🥰

[@ellenjohnson3361]

The floors don’t match tho from her voiceover vid

[@ava3973]

same!!

[@oluwabukolaashaye4982]

Me too

[@sunflowermary2]

Those prices never fail to blow my mind. Don’t get me wrong I know that NY prices are way up there, and Margot works hard to earn that money and pay for herself. But still, they blow. my. mind. As a reference, I make around two times that rent budget per YEAR, so that someone can pay that money for rent (aka it’s 1/3 of what they make a month - and they’re not even considered rich) it is just wow.

[@stargirl661]

I just feel the need to share that these are like fancy manhattan prices it is totally possible to get something cheaper but still nice for 2500 or less

[@yourbeautybaby]

i feel you on this. I cant even afford 1k for rent, (hence why im stuck living at home lol) and i work full time, so hearing that im like wow what am i doing so wrong in life lol

[@DrkRse0788]

As someone who lives in the midwest and pays $725 for a 3bd 2bath house w/yard garage and finished basement, I cant even fathom paying this much for an apartment..I know people pay for the NYC experience but I just cant wrap my head around it.

[@lorrainei1622]

The average New Yorker doesn’t live like this, they live at home or with roommates or pay about 1,500 for a apartment in queens or Brooklyn.

[@yourbeautybaby]

@@lorrainei1622 oh i know! i just mean i cant even afford 1,500/2,000 (same average price where i live) and i work full time too haha! gotta love the insane housing market

[@brianalucinda4102]

4th floor walk up!!! That would be my pick solely based on how gorgeous it was inside. Whatever you chose, I can’t wait to see

[@shaliloves1d]

I’m guessing 11! That one stood out to the me most from this list and it’s great that there are only four tenants!! so excited to see which one you chose :)

[@alexism7800]

If anyone watching this is considering NYC and using this for reference, please don’t automatically swear off uptown. Margot was only looking below 14th (which is 100% her prerogative! Nothing wrong with that). But you can get A LOT more bang for your buck…as in half the prices that she was looking at if you broaden your search. Over the summer I was in a 4 bedroom apartment with a big kitchen, two bathrooms, elevator, and IN UNIT washer and dryer in morningside heights for ~4,600 TOTAL. Just something to consider. You can always ride the subway for 20 minutes to go downtown if you want/need the excitement.

[@luciapage-harley8860]

"I wanted to experience other areas of the city" *only looks south of 14th st* I love you girl this just made me laugh!! I lived in the upper east side for a few years and it was AMAZING. so glad you got the apt you love!!

[@jkbutforreal]

I loooved this video thank you so much for telling us prices and actually showing us the apartments and giving us pros and cons! I love when we actually get some detail in videos like this!

[@samarrawilliams388]

congrats on the new apartment!! I’m obsessed with your aesthetic so I’m excited to see what you do with your new space!

[@Bethhurley45]

I’m gonna go with 11 which was so gorg! so proud of you gal - what a way to start the new year ❤️

[@user-vc3vm7oc8x]

I love this video! it somehow reminded me of your old college videos, its so informative and helpful about what to look out for when renting (you are a great mentor!) I am so excited for the move-in vlogs :)

[@Vickivideos]

this was super interesting and I loved the way you laid out the video and explained everything!

[@cozetteeastman1952]

I think #11 ! I really liked that one too, I think I would have chose the $2700 one because you could use all of that extra money to save and use to enjoy the city even more! It just depends how much time you spend in your apartment. I hope you love what you chose!

[@keyi222]

the 11th !!! for me a new build is always a huge plus, also the decor is just gorgeous

[@addiebueide5922]

i felt the energy shift when you started talking about 11, i think that's the one!!

[@carajennings5670]

It's really hard to guess, because they all seem to have the same amount of pros and cons. I feel like you would have prioritized the natural lighting and the 24/7 doorman. So, maybe the 1st apartment or the apartment with the video-intercom system.

[@mariastellacarvalho1516]

I hooope its number 11, I loved it, beautiful windows, use of light and a distribution of space that makes sense.

[@moyamawhinney]

omg omg im so so so excited for u and AHH coming to visit asap hehehe 😎😎😎😎

[@Fresh-sh2gc]

She's moving in with a guy?

[@alexandria7922]

number 11!! I love that one and can't wait to see how you decorate!

[@vickigrafczynski481]

I think 11 bc you mentioned good location and natural light! Love your videos Margot!😋

[@rachelhuff6810]

6 or 10! Despite the natural light I feel like 6 is really beautiful, but 10 is an amazing price

[@foofeuh]

wow you are so well spoken! also loved the concept of this video, keep it up!

[@AndrianaFromQueens]

I'm going with either 10 or 11! So smart to have gone in with a list of what you wanted, so that you could really narrow down which apartments would work for you or not.

[@balletshark0101]

looooove your nyc apartment content, thank you for including prices in this video!

[@daniqsaa]

Yesss thank you for sharing! Can't wait to actually see how you decorate it 😍

[@anaromero3761]

I think its number 11, you looooove green spaces ant it may sound silly but having trees close to your windows will make you feel happier and if you have sunlight it´s perfect for you buuut number 9 for me it´s amazing because of the view and even if you don´t feel like home because it´s a new one I had really bad experiences living on old buildings :( Can´t wait to see which one you chose love!!!

[@josephinehejselbk977]

I LOVED number 1! It seemed so great even with these maybes! Its not forever anyhow

[@lizhailey]

The view for apt. 6!! Holy hell!! It had such a beautiful patio space and even the inside of it was beautiful!

[@Jessica-tv2qz]

Really hard to guess, they were all so pretty! But I personally loved 11 and it seemed very you, the features were gorgeous!

[@mackenzieshipley7550]

11 fits the natural light and calm bright feeling!!

[@melissagrindon9074]

11!!! Can't wait to see your new adventure, congratulations xxx

[@mollyhennessy6350]

loved this video!! you’re so well spoken, and so appreciate your transparency. cant wait to see where you ended up :)

[@SabrinaPlaza1031]

Rue is so adorable 🐶 . This is my first Margo Lee Moving video😃. At the beginning, you said what was your “Must Have’s”: Doorman, Good Location, and out of all of the apartments the one close to your first budget was 2.5K I think the winner is apartment 10 at 2.7K (Following the Rent rule)& natural light I would definitely cancel out #12. The fact the broker was rude.

[@KyraBecker]

I have no idea which one you picked but I’m so excited to find out !! Congrats 💞💞

[@hannahrempel]

oooo apartment five may be a sneaky winner, I think space is hugely important and it had the most!!!

[@haidyn1230]

Thank u sm for not giving it away!! So many youtubers would sit in front of the obvious green accent wall from option four and expect us to be suprised😭

[@rach2896]

lmao at 30% can promise you a lot of entry level workers are paying 50-60% a month in rent in the city

[@ILY2MuchProductions]

yeah her view on that seemed a bit out of touch with reality.

[@bikothrifto]

Exactly!!! I was trying to find a way to articulate this. "You're supposed to do 30% and I wanted to be weeelllllll below that so I started looking at $2500". It's so out of touch! There are plenty of studios/1bd apartments for under $2500, so then when she says she had to up her "budget" to $4k?? Obviously she's in a very different financial situation than the average person, but it seems like she might not know that...

[@CookiesNCream4ever]

Yeah basically a humble brag bringing up that 1/3rd recommended amount and then saying $2500 was way below that for her

[@aleksandrapotempa947]

i'm guessing 11! 6 was beautiful too, but natural light is so so so important to me too, so i really get your need for it 🌞

[@georgiabeith5009]

I totally feel you on not wanting to spend too much of your monthly income on rent. I was the same when I was looking (I live in London so comparable to NYC). I ended up having to do just over 30% of my monthly income on rent (utilities included though). But my compromise was sharing with two others and living quite a bit further out (probably the equivalent of living in the outer boroughs compared to on Manhattan). I hope I can boost my income over the next few years so my rent makes us progressively less and less of my monthly income. But I think it’s a sacrifice we have to make if we want to live in these big global cities - ah, c’est la vie!

[@hannahannahanna]

Queen! I'm so excited for the apartment content...my guess: #6

[@savedaccount5614]

6 and 11 were my faves, so gorgeous!!

[@saraturkis]

I think you chose number 10! I know I'd definitely choose that one at least

[@sara.l4234]

But number 7 was so gorgeous. I loved it.

[@vaysinterlude]

congrats on the new place!!!

[@mgsuriel9226]

Looking for a doorman is the funniest thing ever cause they’re so rare

[@edwardleecaliforniausa]

Good morning I'm so excited yessss and congrats on the apartment and I loved your vlogs and you are sweetheart

[@MaddiesYoutubeChannel]

i moved into an apt seven months ago and it’s my first without a dishwasher and i miss it so much😭i will never be able to live in another apt without one

[@Lianne459]

Take it from a person likely older than most of your subscribers that has live through a few real estate downturns when “experts” predict the end of NYC. It never happens and NY always comes back. It’s the best city in the world with unlimited possibilities, especially for young people

[@LucienSabre]

I’m gonna go with apartment number 6 - because it’s my favorite (the one I’d go with…nothing beats brick walls) - and, as second choice, apartment 12. 🏡🏠

[@vesper180]

Number 6! It had some good pros, was a one bedroom and really cute!

[@daniellewhitt5055]

it was one of the two in east village!!! so hard to choose though! congrats 💖

[@cath_chartrand]

thanks for bringing us along this fun change in your life!!

[@romylagesse882]

6 or 11!!! can't wait to see which one!

[@danielchoo8273]

i really like number 9 it was an excellent apartment. thanks for the tours!

[@snonyc1060]

All my life i’ve wanted to live in New York and i still badly do but the prices are driving me crazy....i honestly don’t know how i’m gonna do it but i’m gonna do it! New York is the one place that’s always gonna be in my heart

[@morganw2492]

it depends where you live. I'm in Brooklyn in a 1 bed for $1600. There's also a lot of good deals in Queens. Even in Manhattan, if you live further up, there's a lot better deals

[@harriettgibbs6897]

These prices seem so crazy to me, I live in London and have lots of things on the ‘must-have’ list and pay £1500 including utilities!

[@danielesimon-thompson4772]

yess!! I'm from LA, but lived in London, LA, and SF and London is definitely cheaper. You can find a lot more affordable apartments with great features. It might have to do with there being a strong sublet market in the UK, overall just being easier to rent an apartment, and the fact that inflation is higher in te US (especially in big cities!). UGH I miss London so much!

[@iffy9165]

@@danielesimon-thompson4772 did you find London better than the other cities?

[@cassidybruns8651]

okay girl get in your bag 😍😍

[@sushiputa2896]

I'm mind blown by the rent of every single apartment, I thought rent in Paris was the worst but it doesn't even compare to nyc

[@evunee]

IKR. Imagine paying 3k a month and not even having a closet...

[@imdva]

her budget is on the high end, ik people who pay $4500 and it’s a 2 or 3 bedroom, but yea it’s still pretty expensive for purely the space you get

[@feliciacarlsson7417]

Nr 11 and 12 were my personal faves actually

[@francescapimlott5122]

defo apartment 11!! No explanation but it seems your vibe

[@carlottar7337]

I admire the transparency in this video and I loved seeing the apartments and truly, this isn’t your fault. But you saying that 30% of your income on rent seems a crazy amount when among my friends and I in london (not far off NYC rent wise) it’s quite normal to spend between 40-50% of your income on rent and bills, did seem a little tone deaf. For a lot of people it’s not a choice to spend that much but an absolute necessity when there pretty much is nothing cheaper and if moving elsewhere isn’t really an option.

[@juliashort7679]

Totally get where you’re coming from, but I think it’s a bit different in the US as we’re often responsible for the cost of our own medical care, insane student loan debt, and emergency savings with the general lack of a social safety net!!

[@MargotLee]

Thank you so much for this comment- I completely hear & agree with this. It is definitely a privilege to have rent vs income be a choice I am able to make and I'm completely aware of this. I apologize if I spoke on this insensitively!

[@carlottar7337]

@@MargotLee no need to apologise!! I think it’s just something to consider but I do really admire the transparency in terms of prices which you don’t get as much in these videos :)

[@carlottar7337]

@@juliashort7679 also very fair!! Hadn’t really thought about that- it is v much a privilege to know that there’s at least some support available if things go wrong

[@morganfoster149]

As an Apartment Locator it is very very normal for you to be qualified for an apartment at 1/3 of your annual income. For example, if you made $36k a year, you can only qualify for a $1000 apartment, otherwise you’d have to get a co-signer, who must make 5x the rent monthly as a sort of insurance to the management. Weird rules and often potential loopholes, but seems to be a thing all over the US.

[@cassidybruns8651]

i definitely would’ve went with 6! that’s my guess :)

[@LoveLife-jt8oz]

I loved the new built apartments

[@anniem1239]

i think 11 makes the most sense!!

[@skylardoran9283]

My guess is either the 1st one of the 11th one!!!!!

[@sofianna28]

I live in the east village and I love it, have fun finding your apartment

[@IngridFontana]

Wow, I'm watching your video now, so its great to know that it was last January, so I can know now which one you picked 😁😂

[@faithsmith6334]

i think you went with option 12! besides the broker being mean you seem like you still loved it :)

[@foofeuh]

wowwww number 11 is amazing!

[@Kim-GTA]

You seem cool, I’m glad you found your new place!

[@shannenlim5941]

first! im excited!

[@janamcvey]

i'm gonna say you picked apartment 12!!💛

[@Carestre]

Im guessing apartment 6! I would have gone with 6 or the second unit of 7 if I had your budget 😍

[@miriamajigboye7473]

Love your vlogs 💖

[@LauraCoeur]

If I'd move to New York I would totally get a 24/7 doorman 😅 I have a Gardienne in my building in Paris and it makes me feel so much saver.

[@sandymcsansan]

i actually think more people in nyc want a doorman when they’re not home to accept packages… so not nights or weekends

[@corneliastreets]

6 and 11 stand out as the best picks for sure

[@SimEssence]

oh my god, i leased in the one on chrystie and i literally had to stay in a hotel for 2 months before I moved in and I go to school in the city what a freaky synchronicity

[@Yuyuyaraa]

I’m guessing 6 or 12!!!! Number 6 is a bit of gamble because I feel like you really value natural light so idk if you would want to give that up and actually so is 12 because if I had a situation with a broker like that, I wouldn’t want the hassle of dealing with the person at all

[@elsaj2000]

I'm gonna guess 11 or 12. They are both gorgeous

[@lindsayh.5768]

This video is so entertaining

[@caroliner.3152]

Apartment 11’s windows gave me Paris vibes (I’ve never been to Paris so I’m only guessing 🤪) and I feel like that’s so you. Emily in Paris but make it Margot in New York City 🥰 final guess

[@the.annethology]

I think you picked apt 10. It had all your must haves and the cons were easy to resolve! (like decor) for 2700, it's a steal! (being in a great location, it's in NY not in TX ok? lol)

[@amylindharrison]

I think apartment 10 - love videos like this 😄

[@lauragracemusic6875]

10 or 11 !! Both are gorgeous

[@KatyaCraftyCrab]

Obviously you into number 11, but I would definitely choose apartment 9. It is modern, new and view is spectacular

[@Ziplock8cp]

i'm trying to match the flooring of the unit you're currently in to one of the apartments lol... maybe 5??? (although 11 was my fav!)

[@janajohannaa]

6 or 11! Loved both

[@SarahSchneider2]

NYC rent prices are crazy but I know it's all about being in the prime location in a major city. I still personally can't imagine paying $3 K to $4 K for a small studio apartment that's not even updated. I pay $910 monthly for my 714 square foot 1 bedroom apartment in Michigan(Not in a major city but it is in a college town).

[@1313hao]

It just blows my mind to see these prices! I live in a suburb of Canada's capital (Ottawa) and I have a massive house (4 bedrooms), on a corner lot, forest in the back, large in ground pool we just got installed last fall and our mortgage payment is 2700$ a month).......I cannot imagine spending 3-4k a month on these tiny, tiny apartments. But I guess it's a lifestyle....

[@lolah3838]

I've lived 25 miles outside of NYC all of my life and still remember the time (in the 90s) when average people could afford NYC rents. Developers have completed changed the game since then and many people who live in the tri state and have seen this change are so over NYC at this point. (not just because of rents but because of the upscaling of many things that we don't relate to). When you go now you notice that it's mostly young people of generational wealth who live in the areas that young people from no money used to occupy, and, naturally, high end retail moves in to accommodate that lifestyle.

[@gracevolpe9047]

living the dream!

[@laurenmcgehean]

imma guess number six, but looking forward to whatever you chose!

[@era_4101]

the apartment with the rooftop deck would be my dream apartment

[@jillianwright3695]

I think you're going with the 4th floor walk up!!

[@niccjagger3918]

i liked the one in the east village the most

[@abigailandjavisfamily]

My favorite was 6 & 7 😍

[@dietperfume3373]

For transparency's sake, just curious to know if you applied with a guarantor for your lease (even though I know you pay your own rent as you said)? Beautiful apartments and you should be super proud of yourself! and completely agree with you on changing up locations~~ just moved from the les to hudson square area of the wv for the same reason :)

[@MargotLee]

i did not use a guarantor :)

[@allthesehearts]

My guess is apartment 11!! (maybe also because it would've been my own choice haha)

[@nirvanaluvr19]

I love how your name is Margot and you look so much like Margot Robbie

[@westcarolina7559]

3:50 This is unreal...❤ I live in London - 80% of the income is spent on rent for something not even that nice.. cause its England... bare bricks and mold..Having a lovely and safe place under 30% of income is a dream!

[@stephaniedcflores]

Also I loved 9th, 12th then 11 but idkk i feel like she’s gonna pick 12 or 11 🤎