Daniel Ugarte moved to New York City in January. He's spending his final college semester in the Big Apple as part of a student exchange program. 　　Daniel Ugarte: "This is my room, and it's my home away from home in the city. It came with the bed, even the sheets, a table to do my homework, closet, it's really good lighting, I've got two windows. And, there's a fire exit, which is kind of cool." But Ugarte says finding his haven was really challenging. Until he heard about Speedroommating and got lucky at his first meeting. 　　Daniel Ugarte: "I took a tour of the apartment, two of my roommates were there, shook their hands, said hello and then I said I want it. Because I was tired, I was tired of looking all over the place for different apartments, different rooms." 　　First launched in London, Spareroom.com, Speedroommating is free. Attendees indicate via a badge whether they have a room, or need a room and what their price range is. Most find Speedroommating easier than looking online and not nearly as stressful as Speed Dating. Jeremy Swift: "If you don't, if you're not from New York and you don't know anybody from New York, trying to maneuver through the websites is like pulling your eyes out." 　　Kim Glazier: "Dating is more like, do I want to be with you. Roommate is, yes, I have to have someone I enjoy living with, but it doesn't have to be the best match ever." Spareroom.com's founder Rupert Hunt, says New Yorkers have really taken to Speedroommating. 　　Rupert Hunt: "I think in this on-line age I think more and more people are wanting to take things back off-line again and make it more real. And I think when you're trying to find someone to live with, I think there's only so much you can do on-line." 　　According to a Housing and Vacancy Survey, there were 2.14 million rental apartments in New York City in 2008. Plenty of opportunity for apartment hunters to at least Speedroommating a try. (Tara Cleary/ Reuters)