Most people think moving to New York is going to be easy. Just go ahead and hire a professional New York moving company, pack a few boxes, point the finger and you're off. Huge city, plenty of opportunities for everyone, empty condos ripe for the taking - sound about right? Well, sorry burst the bubble, but not everything is as easy as we think. New York City has a population of 8.5 million, according to the US Census Bureau. That's 8.5 million people living in one city, going to school, raising families, looking for work. And not to mention the amount of tourists and newcomers from all over the country. So you can get to understand how establishing yourself might be a bit more difficult than you planned. For starters, you need to consider where you'll live. Finding the ideal NYC condo is like trying to explore the entire Central Park in a day - it just can't be done. But with a little professional guidance from experienced veterans, who knows.

The ideal NYC condo is somewhere out there, just waiting for you to find it.

Carefully choosing the New York borough you want to reside in

The five major boroughs of New York are like cities within a city. They function as separate entities that end up making a whole. Which is why you need to carefully consider which one you want to end up in before going searching for that ideal NYC condo. So consider it this an introduction into the search - choosing from one of the following five:

• Manhattan
• Brooklyn
• Bronx
• Queens
• Staten Island

Researching the ideal NYC condo

Renting anything online before previously checking it is most commonly a huge mistake. At best, it's a 50-50 gamble where you might end up getting something great, but more often something terrible. This is why you should always personally check what you are planning on renting out. So if we are talking about apartments around NY, be it friend or stranger doing the renting, you have to be prepared for anything before you opt for the cross-state relocation. Which is why you should go through these preparatory steps:

Consider securing the help of a professional real estate agency.

• Get that insight into New York. If you are new to the Big Apple concept, get to learning. As previously mentioned explore the boroughs and get an overall vibe off of each one. Among the millions and millions of people living and that resided in New York, there are many that can offer useful insight. Online chat-rooms, forums, social media etc. Luckily we live in a modern world where everything is advertised online. So use that to your advantage
• Acquire the assistance of a real estate agent. In case you opted for a fast move option and don't have time to search, turn to professionals. Hire a real estate agency, provide them with a list of expectations from that ideal NYC condo you want and wait. They will do all the grunt work and find you the best matches of price vs. desire. It might not save you money, but it saves you time and stress.
• Read up on rights of tenants. In case you are a country child coming from a family owned home, you might not be familiar with the concept of renting. Moreover, you most likely did not have the chance to be a tenant. So check out tenant and landlord rights established by the city of New York. You never know what type of landlord you might run into, so better be prepared than sorry.

Screening the ideal NYC condo

Once you've made up a list of places (or gotten them from an agent), time to narrow the choices. And the perfect way to do this is calling up the condo owners and making some inquiries. Now, when looking for the ideal NYC condo, these are some checkpoints you need to cross:

• How important is credit history? Some landlords will require that you pass a credit check. This would usually mean confirming your annual income and any previous history renting. This will confirm the need for a co-signer. The co-signer acts as your safety net, vouching to cover expenses in case something happens to you.
• What does the renting agreement cover? What good is an ideal NYC condo if you end up paying more for the bills than the rent. So ask about the costs of cable, electricity, gas, trash removal and Internet before making your decision.
• Is there a deposit and how much? A deposit is something most landlords will ask for as insurance. Usually it equals a months' worth of rent and you need to ensure that it does not exceed that amount. As long as the apartment is in the same condition you found it in, you can get back the deposit.
• Extra living arrangement when it comes to your personal life. This is simply a matter of ensuring absolute discretion and freedom when moving in. Whether you plan on relocating with pets, or perhaps have a child moving in with you, you have to ensure that you are able to do so. In case you have a car, you have to make sure that you have a garage or parking space. These are all questions that might seem like a drag now, but will make your life much easier afterwards.

Confirming the choice of ideal NYC condo you made

By now, your research and questionnaire should have bore fruit and you have two or three top choices. Time to close the deal. Take an extended weekend off, drive down to NYC and have yourself a condo-seeing tour. Just call up the owners, make appointments and have yourself a look around of the apartments left on your list. And while you're there, you might as well do some sight-seeing - it is the Big Apple after all. And once there, these are the factors you need to consider when looking at the apartments.

All it takes is a few easy steps and you get the keys to the kingdom.

1. Research the neighborhood. The ideal NYC condo should have certain perks to it. Check for nearby 24/7 stores and emergency rooms, just so you don't have to think twice. Check for any indications of a problematic and crime-oriented neighborhood. And in case you have a pet, ask whether there are any parks or open spaces nearby. If you have a child, you need to check for schools in the area.
2. Inspect your choice of the ideal NYC condo. People have a tendency to hide flaws, be they physical, mental or material. Make sure to check the condo for and functional issues. Bad installations, faulty windows, mold, damaged floors...all these are common occurrences in old apartments. Seeing as you are paying for the condo, you might as well make sure that you are getting your money's worth.
3. Meet the neighbors and establish a backstory on the condo. Understandably, most New Yorkers don't really inspire friendliness and warmth. But getting to know your neighbors from the very start will help establish a working relationship for any potential issues or disagreements. You don't have to make friends, just get a general feel of the entire area and any additional information about the landlord and previous tenants.