3BR apartment, East Village

Tony Arendt, 24, membership coordinator; John Hull, 24, UX architect; Peter Van Brunt, 24, associate of corporate markets
Rent: $4,000, including heat and hot water
Broker: Jen Amadio, Miron Properties (917-301-7263, jamadio@mironproperties.com; mironproperties.com)
Broker’s fee: None
Deposit: First and last three months’ rent
Moved in: February 2012

THE SEARCH: After looking on sites like Naked Apartments (nakedapartments.com), StreetEasy (streeteasy.com) and Craigslist (craigslist.org)—the latter of which can be “very misleading,” notes Hull—the three roommates found an apartment and signed the papers. “On our move-in day, [the broker] called and told us there was one guy still in the apartment,” says Van Brunt. “John and Tony went to talk to him. He opened the door with the chain on and said, ‘This is my apartment, and that’s why I’m in here and you’re out there.’ We were basically homeless for two weeks. We found another apartment managed by the same company on 9300 Realty [9300realty.com]. It was a nicer place, with a balcony, a dishwasher and washer-dryer, [in] a better location. We said, ‘Give us that apartment at the agreed-upon rent, even though it should be a little more, and prorate us [this month], and we’ll be fine.’ ”

THE BROKER: “Miron seemed like they were really looking out for us,” says Van Brunt. “We had put all of our furniture in an unfinished unit in the building where the squatter was. When we agreed to move to the place we’re in now, the management company said they’d move it, but they only moved our beds and couches. Miron paid for the rest.”

THE APARTMENT: “In terms of what I like best about the apartment, I would have to say the balcony,” says Hull. “It’s very nice to have a space where you can get out of the apartment and relax.” Arendt adds, “I like the fact that we have everything we need right in the unit, even though it’s a little cozy at times.”

THE NEIGHBORHOOD: “We are surrounded by amazing food, all my friends live within walking distance, and our apartment is in a safe and clean neighborhood,” says Hull. Arendt adds, “There is no question that I appreciate the food the most in the East Village. There seems to be an authentic or famous New York restaurant on every corner, and there is no way you could ever get to them all.”