We talked about the challenging year ahead for NYC renters. Read it here.

For a full rundown of our 2013 predictions for the rental market, check out our last post.

Check out our piece on Lifehacker to find out!

If you’re part of the 34.9% of Americans who live in rented housing, the dreaded refrain of “rent is due!” likely flashes through your head every first of the month. And if you have a roommate (that’s about 38,705,000 of you, according to the 2010 census), that even further complicates the already tedious process.

Enter RentShare, the startup that wants to streamline your relationship with rent.

With RentShare, you can (finally!) pay your rent online. Roommates pay their individual share of the rent (using your bank account, credit or debit card), and the service sends a combined check to your landlord. There’s no need to get your landlord involved, so you don’t have to worry if he or she happens to be technologically inept.

Another clever feature of RentShare is that they give you the option of splitting household expenses. You add the cost of utilities and food into the system, and it adjusts everyone’s rent totals to even out the debts automatically. No more chasing your roommate for toilet paper money.

But what are the costs, you ask? The service is free if you pay directly from your bank account, but there is a 2.8% fee if you pay using a credit or debit card. And for the forgetful among us, you can either set up auto-pay or opt-in to receive monthly reminders.

Happy Hopping!
RentHop

Need some tips on how to break out of your bad lease? Check out our advice on Boston.com.

“Despite all your careful efforts, you simply can’t uncover everything you need to know about an apartment before signing the lease. No amount of due diligence and number of visits can fully uncover your neighbors’ strange habits or the super’s apathy towards your nonfunctional heater.

Renting an apartment is supposed to be a temporary, one or two year commitment, but sometimes even that is too long. Lee Lin, chief executive of RentHop, offered advice on breaking your lease.” – from Boston.com

We gave Boston.com some advice on the apartment hunting process. Check the piece out here!

“When it comes to apartment hunting, most people have a checklist of items that their future living quarters must entail. Two bedrooms? Check. One bath? Check. Proximity to public transportation? Check. But there are many more subtle features that often get overlooked, but can be just as important once the renter gets settled into his/her new digs.

Lee Lin, CEO of RentHop, the smarter apartment search marketplace, offered advice of other apartment “essentials” to look for.” Read more…

Inwood

Described by New York as the “Upper Upper Upper West Side.” And the views of Manhattan are pretty bonkers.

2 Bedrooms at West.10th ave – $4,445

Ditmas Park (Brooklyn)

A stone’s throw away from Prospect Park, this neighborhood is a “diverse community with stand-alone Victorian houses, good schools, and a rich dining scene.”

1 Bedroom at Dorchester Rd and Ocean Avenue – $1,275

Kingsbridge (Bronx)

According to New York “It may not win any beauty contests, but it’s well-stocked with amenities and prime for growth.” For sporty types, this location is just a few blocks away from Gaelic Park, a multi-purpose athletics facility.

1 Bedroom at Riverdale Avenue – $1,400

Maybe we can’t all have pools in our backyards. But we can get you close.

Based on this article by Curbed, and the announcement of an awesome sounding new saltwater pool opening in Williamsburg, here are a list of 13 places you can live to get front seats at the best swimming holes in New York.

1. Swim here: Red Hook Pool – 155 Bay St. Brooklyn 11231
Live here: 1 Bedroom at West 9th Street – $2,500

2. Swim here: The Beach at the Dream Downtown Hotel – 355 W 16th St. NY 10011
Live here: 1 Bedroom at W 17th St – $3,500

3. Swim here: Rooftop Pool at the A-Building – 425 E 13th St. NY 10009
Live here: 1 Bedroom at East 11 Street – $2,600