Meet Sidewalk: A better way to find an apartment in NYC
Your step-by-step guide to finding an NYC apartment with Sidewalk. Search listings, compare commutes, and explore new neighborhoods with ease.
By Sidewalk
Published · Updated · 3 min read
Meet Sidewalk: A better way to find an apartment in NYC
Key takeaways:
- Sidewalk lets you search for NYC apartments in plain English, describing what you want the way you’d tell a friend.
- You can search on the web, by text, in a group chat with roommates, or through AI assistants like Claude and ChatGPT.
- Every listing comes from a broker or building management company, which helps keep scams out of your search.
- Nobody can pay to boost a listing, so your results reflect your search and nothing else.
- RenterCard, a free income and identity verification, shows you what you qualify for and helps you get viewings faster.
Whether you’re brand new to NYC or just ready for a change of scenery, you probably already know that apartment hunting here can be a tedious process that can drag on for months, and too often ends with renters settling or having to compromise. We built Sidewalk so you don’t have to settle. Here’s everything you need to know about finding the home you actually want.
What is Sidewalk?
Sidewalk is a natural-language listings platform built for New York City and the people who live here. We designed it with renters, brokers, and building management in mind, so that renting in New York works better for everyone involved.
Search wherever you are
Sidewalk meets you where you already search.
Here are a few ways to use it:
- On the web: Search listings directly at hellosidewalk.com.
- By text: Text Sidewalk your wish list and get matching listings back.
- In a group chat: Hunting with roommates? Add Sidewalk to the group chat so everyone sees the same options.
- Through AI assistants: Find listings through Claude and ChatGPT.
How to Search on Sidewalk
Search the way you talk
Most listing sites make you click through dozens of filters, and they still might not capture exactly what you’re looking for. On Sidewalk, you describe your ideal apartment in plain English. Bedrooms and budget are a given, but you can also search by commute time, distance to a train line, or how close you’ll be to a gym or grocery store.
Just type what you want. No filter maze required.
Expert tip: If commute is a priority, try map-based searches that filter by travel time. It’s a great way to uncover neighborhoods you hadn’t thought about.
More with search:
Look at specific neighborhoods, read description and you can see median rent over time, active listings, and median days on market
Exploring neighborhoods
Sidewalk highlights the restaurants, buildings, and local spots in each neighborhood, so you can get a feel for an area before you view an apartment.
Eyeing a specific building?
If you are interested in a building click the desired one and select text me, to be notified when a unit opens up. It will be placed under "watching" in account settings.
Only verified, professionally managed listings.
Limiting listings to professionals keeps your search safer.
Every listing on Sidewalk is backed by a broker or building management company. Owner-posted listings carry a higher risk of scams, which can waste your time or, worse, cost you money.
No paid placements
On Sidewalk, your results are based on your search and nothing else.
Sidewalk doesn’t let anyone pay to feature or boost a listing. On other platforms, promoted listings show up again and again whether or not they match what you want.
Get verified with RenterCard
RenterCard is a free way to verify your income and identity.
Here’s what it does for you:
- Shows what you qualify for: See which apartments you can realistically land before you fall in love with one.
- Signals you’re ready: When you request a viewing, brokers can see that you’re verified.
- Speeds things up: Verified renters get faster viewings and a smoother application.
A RenterCard lets brokers know you’re ready to move forward.
Ready to find your next home?
Our last bit of advice? Be specific about what matters to you. Instead of trimming your wish list to fit a set of filters, tell Sidewalk everything: your budget, your commute, the train you want to be near, and the gym you can’t live without. Then see what turns up. You might find your dream apartment somewhere you never thought to look.
Find your next place
Tell Sidewalk what you're looking for.
Describe it the way you'd tell a friend. You'll see real, active listings that fit.