Moving Guides

How do you find an apartment in another city?

By /

This article is part of our Moving Guides.

Last updated October 21, 2026

To find an apartment in another city, start looking 30 to 60 days before your move, narrow the search to a few buildings, and tour them by live video or through someone you trust. Never pay a deposit or fee by wire transfer, gift card or crypto, and confirm who owns the building before you send money. Learn the local fee and deposit rules first: New York caps background check fees at $20, and Colorado and Georgia cap security deposits at two months’ rent. Here is how timing works in big cities, how to spot scams, what each city allows landlords to charge, and how to sign a lease from far away.

Real estate and rental fraud losses reported$275M12,368 complaints, FBI IC3, 2025
New York cap on background check fees$20State law since 2019, NY Attorney General
Illinois cap on application fees$50Leases from Jan 1, 2027, Public Act 104-0479
Austin units offering concessions37%Average discount 15.2%, RealPage, July 2026

To see what kind of building you are likely to rent in each city, see our apartment buildings by city data page. For the cash you need to move in, see move-in costs by city.

When should you start looking for an apartment in another city?

Start browsing two to three months out to learn prices and neighborhoods, but plan to apply about 30 to 60 days before you move. In fast markets like New York, apartments are typically listed only 30 to 60 days before they open up, so searching too early means falling for places that will be gone. How fast you need to move depends on the city.

How fast does the New York rental market move?

Fast. Brick Underground, a New York real estate site, advises starting about 30 to 60 days before your move-in date, and notes there are many more listings 30 days out than 60 (Brick Underground, accessed October 2026). Good apartments in New York City often go to the first complete application. Have your documents ready before you tour, so you can apply the same day.

Do Chicago leases follow a calendar?

Partly. May 1 was Chicago’s traditional moving day as far back as the 1840s. In 1911, the Chicago and Cook County real estate boards began allowing leases to start any time of year, but May 1 and October are still popular moving dates (Encyclopedia of Chicago, accessed October 2026). So in Chicago, you’ll find more choice, and more competition, around those dates. If your move date is flexible, ask each landlord when its leases usually turn over.

Why do Sun Belt cities offer move-in deals?

In many Sun Belt and Mountain West cities, landlords are competing for renters with free weeks or months, called concessions. In July 2026, 37% of stabilized apartments in Austin offered a concession, with an average discount of 15.2%. In Denver it was 31.7% of units, with an average discount of 14.8%, and Nashville‘s average discount was 14.5% (RealPage, September 2026). Nationwide, 15.8% of stabilized units offered concessions, the highest July reading since 2011 (RealPage, August 2026).

A concession lowers what you pay over the lease, not the rent on paper. Ask how the deal is applied (one free month up front, or a lower bill each month), and what your rent will be at renewal, when the deal usually ends.

How do you research buildings and neighborhoods from far away?

Pick two or three neighborhoods first, then look building by building. Start with commute time to work, transit or highway access, grocery stores and parking. Our city guides cover neighborhoods, rent and renting rules for Chicago, New York, Miami, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Austin, Denver and Nashville.

To compare specific buildings, use our sister sites. Each is a free directory of apartment buildings in one city, with details on each building:

Check current prices and openings with each building directly. A building’s own website and leasing office phone number are also your best defense against fake listings, which copy real buildings’ photos.

How do you spot a rental scam when you can’t visit?

Assume any listing could be fake until you’ve checked it. Scammers like remote renters, because you can’t drop by. In 2025, people reported more than $275 million in losses from 12,368 real estate fraud complaints to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). The FBI counts fraud involving rental property in that category, so the figure isn’t rental scams alone (FBI IC3 2025 report, April 2026). That was up from more than $173 million in 2024 (National Association of Realtors, April 2026).

What are the warning signs of a fake listing?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) lists these red flags (FTC, Rental Listing Scams, June 2026):

  • The rent is much lower than similar places nearby, or the amenities seem too good to be true.
  • The owner says they’re out of the country or can’t show the apartment.
  • You’re pushed to decide or pay right away.
  • The same home is listed for sale somewhere else, or the same address shows up under different names.
  • You’re asked for your Social Security number, a photo of your license or pay stubs before you’ve agreed to rent.
  • You’re asked for a screenshot of your credit score. This can be a push to sign up for a paid credit service.

Which payment methods should you avoid?

Don’t pay by wire transfer (such as Western Union or MoneyGram), gift card or cryptocurrency. The FTC says these work like cash: once the money is sent, you usually can’t get it back. Don’t send money before you or someone you trust has seen the apartment and you’ve confirmed it’s real and available. Pay application fees and deposits through the building’s own online portal or by a method that offers fraud protection, and get a receipt.

How do you check that a landlord is real?

  1. Search the address. Look it up with the owner or management company’s name. Several ads for one address under different names is a warning sign.
  2. Find the listing on the company’s own website. Then call the leasing office using a number you found yourself, not the one in the ad or email.
  3. Check ownership. For a private landlord, the FTC suggests checking city or county property tax records to confirm who owns the place, and matching that name to the landlord’s ID.
  4. Search for complaints. Try the owner’s or company’s name with “complaint,” “review” or “scam.”
  5. Compare the rent. If it’s far below similar apartments in the same area, be suspicious.

If you’re scammed, report it to local police, the site where the ad ran, the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and your state attorney general (FTC, June 2026). You can also file with the FBI at IC3.gov.

How do you tour an apartment remotely?

The FTC says you can view a place through someone you trust or by video, but even then you should confirm the apartment is real and available. A live video tour is better than a recorded one, because a recording can be copied from a real listing. Ask the leasing agent to start outside, show the building’s address and the unit number on the door, then walk you through the actual apartment you’d rent, not a model unit.

What should you check on a video tour?

  • Water and heat. Ask them to run the shower and kitchen tap, and to show the heating and air conditioning units and the water heater.
  • Signs of leaks or pests. Look under the sinks, around windows and on ceilings for stains.
  • Noise and light. Ask which way the windows face, and listen with the windows open. Ask about trains, bars or construction nearby.
  • Cell signal. Ask the agent to check the signal in the bedroom and bathroom.
  • Storage and appliances. Open closets, the fridge, the oven and the dishwasher. Ask whether there’s laundry in the unit or the building.
  • Size. Ask for room measurements, or a floor plan, so you know your furniture fits.
  • The building. Mailroom and package room, trash, elevator, parking, and the route from the street to the door at night.

Take screenshots during the call. They help later with a move-in inspection and with comparing places.

Should you send a friend or an agent instead?

If you know someone in the city, a friend walking through with you on a video call is the best remote tour. They can check the hallway smell, the street and the neighbors in a way a camera can’t. Many large buildings also offer self-guided tours, where you book a time and unlock the door with a code. Those are useful if you take a quick scouting trip. Some people do one weekend trip to tour five or six buildings in person, then apply from home.

What does it cost to apply, and what fees are allowed in each city?

Expect an application or screening fee for each adult, and a security deposit at signing. Some buildings also charge move-in, admin or amenity fees. The rules on what landlords can charge vary a lot among our nine cities.

City (state)Application or screening feeSecurity depositOther rules worth knowing
Chicago (Illinois)$50 cap, background check included, for leases signed on or after January 1, 2027The city’s RLTO summary lists no maximum. The deposit must be kept in a federally insured account at an Illinois financial institution, and it’s due back within 45 days of move-out.From 2027, every required fee must be listed on the lease’s first page, and fees for things like lease renewals are banned.
New York City (New York)$20 maximum for a background and credit check. No fee if you provide your own check from the past 30 days.One month’s rent maximum. It’s due back within 14 days of move-out.FARE Act: since June 11, 2025, a broker hired by the landlord can’t charge you, and all fees must be disclosed in writing.
Miami (Florida)No state cap foundNo state limitThe deposit is due back within 15 days, or you get a written claim within 30 days. Landlords may offer a fee instead of a deposit.
Houston, Dallas (Texas)No state cap found. The landlord must show you its written selection criteria. If it doesn’t and then rejects you, it must refund the fee.No state limitAsk about “fee in lieu of deposit” programs and any non-refundable admin fee.
Austin (Texas)Same as TexasNo state limitSince October 1, 2026, landlords with 50 or more units must give you an itemized written list of all fees before you apply. Landlords with 5 to 49 units follow from January 1, 2027.
Atlanta (Georgia)No state cap foundTwo months’ rent maximum, for leases signed or renewed since July 1, 2024The same law (Safe at Home Act, O.C.G.A. 44-7-30.1 for the deposit cap) also requires landlords to keep units fit to live in.
Denver (Colorado)The fee must cover only the landlord’s cost of processing applications, be the same for every applicant, and come with a receipt. Unused money is refunded. No fee if you bring a portable screening report from the past 30 days.Two months’ rent maximum, since August 7, 2023Colorado also caps pet deposits at $300, since January 1, 2024 (HB23-1068; see our pets guide).
Nashville (Tennessee)No state cap foundNo state limitGet every fee in writing before you apply.

Sources: Illinois Public Act 104-0479 and KSN law firm (July 2026); City of Chicago RLTO summary (December 2023); New York Attorney General and NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (June 2026); Florida Bar (May 2025) and Landlord Studio (July 2025); Texas Property Code section 92.3515 and Nolo; City of Austin; WTVM (April 2024), NLIHC (May 2024) and Georgia Appleseed on Georgia HB 404; Colorado SB23-184, HB23-1099, HB23-1068 and C.R.S. 38-12-903; Nolo on Tennessee. “No state cap found” means we found no statewide limit; local rules and your lease still apply. Laws change, so confirm with the city or state before you sign.

What is a portable screening report?

It’s a background and credit report you buy once and give to several landlords. In Denver and the rest of Colorado, a landlord generally must accept one made in the past 30 days and sent straight from the screening company. A landlord that receives one can’t charge you an application fee. Landlords can opt out only if they accept one application fee at a time per unit and refund the full fee within 20 calendar days of turning you down (Colorado General Assembly, HB23-1099, in effect since August 7, 2023). New York has a similar rule for checks from the past 30 days. When you’re applying to several buildings from far away, this can save real money.

If you’re turned down because of a screening report, federal law gives you rights. The landlord must tell you, and name the screening company. You can get a free copy of the report within 60 days and dispute anything wrong (CFPB, reviewed May 2024).

Should you use a broker or an apartment locator?

It depends on the city. A local agent can tour for you, flag problem buildings and move fast on your behalf. Who pays that agent is the key question.

Do you still pay a broker fee in New York?

Usually not, if the broker works for the landlord. Under New York City’s FARE Act, in effect since June 11, 2025, a landlord’s agent or listing agent can’t charge you a fee, and a landlord can’t make you hire a particular broker. Every fee you must pay has to be listed in the ad and on an itemized form you sign before the lease. You can still hire your own broker to search for you, and then you pay that broker (NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, updated June 2026). On July 13, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld a lower court’s refusal to block the law, rejecting the Real Estate Board of New York’s free-speech and contract claims, and the law remains in effect (Second Circuit, REBNY v. City of New York, July 2026). If an agent asks you for a fee on a listing, ask in writing who hired them.

Are apartment locators really free?

In Texas, usually yes for you. Locators are common in Houston, Dallas and Austin. They match renters with large complexes at no cost to the renter, and the property pays them, often an amount near the first month’s rent (Bisnow, July 2026; University of Houston, accessed October 2026). Texas requires a locator paid by the apartment owner to hold a real estate license, unless the locator is the owner’s employee (Texas Real Estate Commission, accessed October 2026). You can look up a license on TREC’s website.

The catch is that a locator may only show buildings that pay locators. Some locators work outside Texas too. Wherever you use one, ask who pays them, and check our directories for buildings they didn’t mention. Put the locator’s name on your application if they found the place, since that’s how they get paid.

How do you sign a lease without being there?

Most big landlords send leases for electronic signature. Under federal law, a contract or signature can’t be denied legal effect just because it’s electronic (15 U.S.C. 7001, via Cornell LII). In general, an e-signed lease binds you just like a paper one, so read it with the same care.

  • Read the whole lease. Check the rent, start date, length, unit number, concession terms, renewal terms, and the rules on breaking the lease early.
  • Check every fee. Compare the lease to the fees you were quoted. In New York, Austin and, from 2027, Illinois, the law requires fees to be disclosed in writing.
  • Get promises in writing. A fresh coat of paint, a parking spot or a pet approval should be in the lease or an addendum.
  • Pay through a traceable method. Use the building’s portal, a check or a card, and keep the receipt.
  • Get renters insurance. Many buildings require it before you get your keys. It covers your belongings and liability, not the building.
  • Set up utilities. Ask which utilities are in the rent and which you put in your name, and set up power and internet a week or two before you arrive.
  • Plan the move-in inspection. On your first day, take dated photos and video of every room and send the landlord a written list of existing damage. It protects your deposit.

Moving with a dog or cat? Get the pet policy and fees in writing before you apply, as our guide to moving to a big city with pets explains. Bringing a car? Ask about parking costs now, and see our guide to shipping a car across the country.

What is a checklist for renting an apartment in another city?

  1. Two to three months out: set your budget, pick two or three neighborhoods, and shortlist buildings in our directories.
  2. Gather documents: photo ID, recent pay stubs or an offer letter, bank statements and past landlord contacts. Scan them into one folder.
  3. Check your credit and fix errors before you apply. In Colorado, consider a portable screening report.
  4. Learn the local rules on application fees, deposits and broker fees using the table above.
  5. 30 to 60 days out: contact buildings through their own websites, and book live video tours of the actual units.
  6. Verify before you pay: confirm the owner, call the office on a number you found yourself, and never wire money or pay with gift cards or crypto.
  7. Apply to your top choice, and ask how long approval takes.
  8. Read and e-sign the lease, and check every fee and concession against what you were told.
  9. Buy renters insurance and set up utilities and internet.
  10. Move-in day: inspect, photograph and send a written damage list to the landlord.

Frequently asked questions about finding an apartment in another city

Is it safe to rent an apartment without seeing it?

It can be, if you verify the landlord and see the actual unit on a live video call or through someone you trust. Rent from a management company you can confirm, pay through its portal, and never pay by wire, gift card or crypto. The FTC says to confirm a place is real and available even after a video tour.

How far in advance should I look for an apartment in another city?

Research two to three months out, and apply about 30 to 60 days before your move. In New York, apartments are usually listed 30 to 60 days ahead, with many more at 30 days. In Texas cities, Denver and Nashville, large buildings often offer move-in deals, so compare several.

How much can a landlord charge for an application fee?

In New York, no more than $20 for a background and credit check. In Illinois, the cap will be $50 for leases signed on or after January 1, 2027. Colorado limits fees to the landlord’s cost of processing applications, and generally bars a fee if you bring a recent portable screening report. We found no statewide cap in Florida, Texas, Georgia or Tennessee.

Do I have to pay a broker fee in NYC?

Not to a broker the landlord hired. Since June 11, 2025, the FARE Act has barred landlords’ agents from charging tenants. You pay only if you hire your own broker. Report a broker who charges you anyway to the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection.

Sources

Go Big City Team
Author: Go Big City Team

Next step: pick your city guide for rent, costs, transit, weather, jobs and neighborhoods in one place.

Scroll to Top