How Long Does It Take to Find an Apartment?

Most renters will find an apartment two to three months before their preferred move-in date. Moving to a new apartment is stressful, and the timeline may vary depending on your goals or situation.

When finding a new place, it’s important to give yourself adequate time to find an apartment. You’ll need to research neighborhoods, tour apartments, and submit an application before you are approved, so you can’t rush things too much.

In this article, we’ll cover what you should do to find an apartment and the best steps to follow.

Apartment Hunting Timeline

How Long Does It Take to Find an Apartment?

Finding an apartment can take anywhere from a few days to a few months. When you should start looking for an apartment depends on your situation and your ideal move-in date.

Most renters start looking at least two months before their planned move-in date. In some particularly competitive cities, you should start four months or more before your scheduled date. If you have your eye on a particularly popular apartment building or complex, you may also face a waitlist of several months or more.

How Fast Can You Find and Move Into an Apartment?

In typical cases, you sign a lease and then can move in one month later. However, it’s possible to find a short-term lease that allows you to move in much more quickly (a matter of weeks or even days). You may even be able to find move-in specials tied to these accelerated move-in dates.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, many renters find themselves on a waitlist for as long as six months or even a year or more to secure their dream apartment.

What’s the Standard Timeline for Apartment Hunting?

While every apartment search is unique, here's what a typical one might look like.

1. Two to Three Months Before Move-Date: Browsing

Start browsing for apartments about two or three months before your target move-in day. If you are moving to a nearby apartment or relocating to a familiar place, you likely have a good idea of where you want to live already. If you are moving to a new place, it’s time to do some research.

Research information on various neighborhoods in your target city. Communities will often have forums like City-Data, where you can find information about a city. In the early stages of browsing, consider the price you are willing to pay for an apartment and its proximity to your workplace.

You may find the dream apartment with a roofdeck pool and all the amenities you’ve ever wanted, but if it’s going to be a rough commute, it might not be worth it. If you’re moving to a new city, make sure to visit first to get a feel for it.

2. One to Two Months Before Move-Date: Touring

After doing your research, narrow down a few suitable neighborhoods that you’d enjoy living in. Ensure you can afford the average rental prices for the neighborhood. If you need a bit of help figuring out how much rent you can afford, use a rent calculator to give you an estimate. After narrowing down your location, make a list of a few options that you like.

Schedule viewings of your top picks and ensure you have time to visit the properties. You may be able to schedule visits on the weekends or after work. Try to set up multiple tours in a day to knock them out at once. Ideally, your tours should be around one to two months before you want to move in.

3. One Month Before Move-Date: Applying

After weighing your options, you should settle on an apartment that you love and that checks all your boxes. Fill out your apartment application about a month before your targeted move-in date. When filling in the application, there is some additional paperwork you will need, so make sure to have that prepared. Also, don’t forget that most applications have fees that you’ll need to cover.

4. Moving Day

The stressful part is finally over, right? Well, sort of. Moving day can bring its own challenges, so make sure you’re prepared. Budget the costs of moving beforehand, as they can add up quickly. If you’re bringing pets along with you on the move, check out these tips to make it a smooth process.

All in all, the apartment search process from beginning to end should take around three months. However, if you are in a rush, you may need to expedite this process and take care of these steps in a short time period.

Need Help Finding an Apartment?

If you're still browsing for your next home, then consider our apartment search tools that match you to your ideal location, price point, and amenities. You can also save time by taking our personalized quiz to receive your matches.

FAQs about Finding an Apartment

Is one month enough time to find an apartment?

Most renters will be at or close to the signing stage of their lease a month from their move date. Ideally, you would want to start apartment hunting at least two months before your planned move. However, plenty of short-term leases provide incentives for fast move dates, so it's definitely possible to find an apartment in a pinch.

How long do most apartment applications take?

In most cases, apartment applications are processed in 24-72 hours, though if it takes longer, you shouldn't worry. Let your prospective landlord have 3-4 business days to process before you check on your application.

How quickly can I get an apartment?

You may be able to get an apartment within a day if you’re renting a short-term or month-to-month rental.

What’s the lowest credit score needed to rent an apartment?

Most rental agencies require a credit score of 600 to 650 to rent an apartment. This rate will vary, though, and you should ask the landlord or rental agency what their minimum credit score is.

Do apartments tell you if your application is denied?

Yes, the landlord should notify you if your application is denied, but if they don’t inform you, there are other signs you didn’t get the apartment.

Is it possible to get an apartment the same day?

Yes, you can potentially rent an apartment and move in on the same day with a month-to-month lease agreement. Most rental companies will require a longer timeline, and many renters are allowed to move in one month after signing the lease.