How to find an apartment on Long Island on a budget

Look for units with costs that might be included, such as utilities, says Long Island-based real estate agent Justin Galbraith, who owns RentalKingLI.com, which handles the search process for a client in exchange for one month's rent.

"Some rentals in houses are going to have gas and electric included," he said. "Sometimes in complexes, they include the heat and a tenant pays for Wi-Fi and electric."

Here are tips from Long Island experts on finding a rental in your budget:

1. If you find an apartment that you like and works within your budget, don't wait, said Jonathan Enriquez of Listing Pro Realty Services. "Jump on it," he said.
2. In complexes such as garden apartments, there's often a wait list but sometimes you can find out about vacancies by word-of-mouth, either through a current tenant or a real estate agent, said Wendy Sanders, who works out of the Roslyn office at Douglas Elliman Real Estate and specializes in rentals.
3. Consider renting with roommates, said James Britz, executive vice president and chief operating officer at the Long Island Housing Partnership, which offers free by-appointment counseling to help people figure out what they can afford. "We see a lot of people teaming up in larger rental units," said Britz, adding that it's common for people to share a three-bedroom apartment when they're struggling to make ends meet.
4. Units within houses tend to be affordable, said Galbraith, explaining that landlords are usually most concerned with keeping their space occupied to cover property taxes or make extra money. "They're not looking at it as a business like many apartment complexes," he said.
5. Try to negotiate with the landlord, said Britz. An empty apartment is a liability, especially for large developments, he explains. "There's more vacancy in some of the other units that are not brand new," he said. A company might be more flexible and "throw something in" to the lease, he said.
6. Walk around the area where you'd like to move, even around the apartment buildings where you're hoping to move to, and talk to neighbors, Sanders said. They might know of places that will open up soon or let you know about any in the future, she said. Posting on social media, especially in Facebook groups, might also help in the hunt, she says.
7. Make sure to check the Long Island Housing Partnership's website for available affordable housing units, Britz said. Complexes at lihp.org/rentals.html with the color green have openings, he said.