OK, looks like it will be a while before we buy. The listings on StreetEasy for sales are great but broker listings for rentals are pretty skimpy. What's the best way to weed out shoe boxes if there is no square footage listed? Do you have to go through each floorplan?

Avoid the brokers. You didn't specify a desired neighborhood, so here's a fair sampling, plus checkout www.GlenwoodNYC.com

I tried to include other owners of multiple buildings, but Streeteasy blocked my response as SPAM so I had to remove many. Sorry.

http://www.rosenyc.com/
http://ogdencapproperties.com/EN/index.html

Since Sreeteasy irked me, I'm trying to overcome their idea of spam by listing two at a time.
Avoid the brokers. You didn't specify a desired neighborhood, so here's a fair sampling, plus checkout www.GlenwoodNYC.com

Other owners of multiple buildings:

http://www.manhattan-skyline.com/index.asp
http://brodskyorg.com/index.htm

http://www.olnick.com/residential/rent.phtml
http://230west55.com/bt/230west55thStreet/index.asp

abingtonproperties.com,
rockrose.com
macklowe.com
nybits.com
bettinaequities.com
rosenyc.com

Thanks. Are these no fee?

Neighbourhood - UES, Carnegie Hill, Lenox Hill, midtown, etc.

finding a good rental apartment in a nice building in a nice area is nearly impossible in NYC. but i agree that you should not go through brokers. the two best companies are related and rose, but their units are extremely pricy. you can also look at archstone, but their units are horrendously overpriced, even those in mediocre areas.

(ignore button).

I'm a fan of the management companies if it is a middle to high end you are looking for. Now a whole lot of cheapies in the book. And I think that is particularly true in midtown/Upper east... they have a lot of volume.

Also, might be worth a look at 63rd between 2nd and 3rd. That is a block of all white brick buildings, nothing amazing, but its always been a better value relative to the rest of the neighborhood. There is just so much volume there... 4-5 large buildings with ok apartments.

yes, all no fee.

yeah, the blake is on 63rd and second, i believe. it's an ugly white building. it's a shame that NYC doesn't have better looking rentals.