Justin Bieber Apartment Hunting In New York, Getting Distance From Selena Gomez?

Justin Bieber may be New York bound on a full-time basis, after his recent split from on-off girlfriend Selena Gomez.

The 20-year-old singer was spotted by paparazzi apartment hunting in downtown SoHo in Manhattan on Wednesday, after attending the New York Knicks Vs. Chicago Bulls game at Madison Square Garden.

In pictures, the Biebs is seen emerging from a luxury building with security, wearing a gray jersey, black leather pants and white sneakers.

Before he was whisked away in a black SUV, video footage showed the Canadian icon taking time to help a fan set up her Twitter account on her phone, OK! magazine notes.

( Video: Justin Bieber apartment hunting in Soho, New York , Wednesday, October 29. )

As reported, over the last few days Justin has been staying at the New Jersey home of pal pastor Carl Lentz. The popular Hillsong NYC church preacher reportedly baptized the star back in May during his years-old, N-word videos debacle.

This time, it’s speculated that the “Boyfriend” singer has embarked on a “religious retreat” with Lentz because of his recent breakup with Selena.

The Latina starlet unfollowed her former beau on Instagram, one day after he took model Kendall Jenner to lunch in Paris while all three were in town for Fashion Week. Selena fell out with Kendall in April.

Earlier this month, Gomez was seen at LAX airport with Brit actor Orlando Bloom — who famously tried to punch Justin in Ibiza, Spain — reportedly over the heartthrob’s rumored past tryst with the actor’s ex-wife, supermodel Miranda Kerr.

Naturally, dating rumors were denied, and the pair were flying out to appear at the youth empowerment We Day event in Vancouver, Canada.

However, it’s also been noted by observers, that both Selena and Orlando share a mutual sore point in Justin and would have known the effect that pics of them together would have on the rumor mill.

( Photo: Jelena in happier times .)

For the last few months, Bieber has been renting two units in a Beverly Hills condo, and it’s possible he may be looking to leave Los Angeles — where Gomez also lives — to get some distance between them, and be nearer to Lentz.

It’s also speculated that the singer is “depressed” over his split with the “Come & Get It” songstress.

During press rounds for her latest film, Rudderless , Selena revealed her close pal Taylor Swift has been urging her to move to NYC. But, the starlet said she loved her first owned home in Los Angeles and is not interested in moving to NYC at this time.

( Photo: Justin Bieber , Lentz and Reverend Jesse Jackson at the Knicks Vs. Bulls game at Madison Square Garden .)

Justin and Carl have mixed up Bible study and church attendances with basketball trips.

Before the singer looked at the SoHo apartment block, he and the pastor joined thousands to watch the NY Knicks’ opening game against the Chicago Bulls. During the game, Bieber was seen chatting at length to civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson.

On Thursday, Lentz and Bieber traveled to Cleveland, Ohio, for the historic game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Knicks, which also saw the return of LeBron James at the Quickens Loan Arena. In the end, the Knicks beat the Cavs by 95-90.