Updated September 2026 by the Apartment List renter editorial team.
Look-and-lease specials are rental incentives offered to potential tenants who view an apartment and are willing to sign a lease quickly. Some properties advertise a gift card, often around $100, for applying right after a tour.
According to Apartment List's July 2026 rental market recap, 35% of properties on Apartment List were offering a month of free rent or more, up from 25% a year earlier. Ask what a property is offering before you tour, and ask again before you sign.
In this article, we cover everything you need to know about look-and-lease specials and how to find them.
A look-and-lease special is an incentive offered by landlords to encourage potential renters to sign a lease agreement on the same day they tour the available apartment. This means you visit the apartment, like it, and immediately commit to renting it by signing the lease and potentially paying fees or deposits, all during your initial visit.
They’re similar to move-in specials, but are typically offered on the spot as you’re visiting a unit. Landlords or property managers usually provide move-in specials to find new tenants for their rental units.
Look-and-lease specials vary depending on your location, current trends, season, and how eager the landlord is to attract new renters. Here are a few lease special deals you’ll likely find in your search.
A typical look-and-lease deal is some amount off the first month's rent. However, that doesn't necessarily mean you'll skip paying for the first month. Your landlord may apply the savings across your entire lease, which could result in a minimal decrease every month instead of a one-time cost savings. Before signing, thoroughly review the lease and its terms.
Apartment hunting can become expensive quickly due to numerous additional fees. If you're not a fan of paying extra, browse for look-and-lease deals that refund your application fee upon a successful credit check and other approvals to rent the apartment. If you're an animal lover, look for look-and-lease deals with waived pet fees.
Make sure you're ready to move! Moving can get expensive quickly, so it's also incentivizing to receive cash back just for signing a lease. It's common to find look-and-lease deals with a Visa Gift Card incentive when you apply immediately after your apartment tour and move in within 48 hours of receiving your credit screening results.
One of the most desirable look-and-lease deals is an entire month's free rent, plus a $100 Amex or Visa gift card. Extra gift card money can be helpful if there are application fees or pet deposits. However, just like the reduced rent deal, the savings may be applied evenly throughout your lease. Ask in advance and study your lease to ensure you're getting the terms you want.
Not all apartment buildings offer free parking, especially in densely populated cities like Boston, and some charge an additional fee for off-street, covered parking options. If you don’t want to look for parking and spend more on the expense, ask about look-and-lease specials for a free parking spot at an apartment building or complex.
If you know you want to live in the same city and neighborhood for a few years, research look-and-lease deals with better rental terms. Some landlords will lease apartments for two years at a discounted rate or lock in the same rental price for an extended time. It may not save you a lot upfront, but it could prevent a rent hike when the first year is up. Then, when your lease is ready for renewal, you may have enough rental history and good graces with your landlord to negotiate your rent rather than someone just moving into the complex.
Use apartment rental platforms like Apartment List to find look-and-lease specials with our app or website. While you’re browsing rental units, keep an eye out for badges and banners with sale titles like “Specials applied” and “Rent Special.”
Certain times of year make it easier to find look-and-lease deals than others. Timing shifts the odds. Apartment List's February 2026 recap put the share of properties offering a month of free rent or more at 36% in December 2025, the high point in that series, and the share has eased since January 2026.
No matter the time of year, new apartment complexes sometimes offer deals to fill their units quickly. Look-and-lease specials aren't uncommon, but they take some research and work to narrow down.
The main benefit of look-and-lease specials is saving money on rent or fees. Whether it's a gift card or waived fees, you end up with more money in your pocket. Look-and-lease specials are also ideal if you're eager to move in right away and want to secure some perks for your quick decision to sign.
Look-and-lease specials can dramatically reduce the analysis paralysis of viewing dozens of apartments for weeks and trying to decide on the best one for you. If too many options overwhelm you, move-in specials help keep you incentivized to make a decision quickly and stick to it.
There aren't many downsides to look-and-lease or move-in specials. However, some landlords may advertise a look-and-lease deal that isn't much of a bargain. For example, they may always rent out units with washers and dryers but advertise it as a move-in special when it's not. Or you may discover the appliances are old and outdated and may not be worth it.
Some look-and-lease deals are broadly advertised, though other apartment buildings may offer the same thing subtly. For example, the less expensive apartment complex in the next neighborhood may always offer a waived application fee or free parking to all tenants. Ensure the deal you're getting is worthwhile and competitive in your local rental market.
Look-and-lease deals could also motivate you to sign a lease before you're ready or have looked around to see if it's the best option for you.
Alternatively, you could lock into a longer lease without thoroughly considering your long-term goals. Despite the sense of urgency around look-and-lease deals, renters can do some advance prep work to offer more peace of mind.
Look for online reviews of virtual apartment tours, and visit the neighborhood of the apartment complex before considering signing a look-and-lease deal.
You should only sign a lease after careful consideration and there are a few questions you should ask yourself first:
If you have any concerns, you should likely wait before signing a lease.
A look-and-lease deal offers cost-saving incentives to sign your lease and move in right away. So do a little research before heading out for your apartment tour, and come prepared with all your documentation and ready to sign.
Remember, if you take our easy quiz to flex your location, budget, and amenity choices and explore different listings, be sure to keep an eye out for "apartment specials" as you browse.
Move-in specials are discounts offered by landlords or property managers to new tenants. This ensures their rental units are occupied.
No, look-and-lease specials are typically offered during a viewing, while move-in specials are offered to new tenants, and there is no timeline for the discounts. Move-in specials are still available even after a viewing.
Yes, many look-and-lease specials are worth it for renters who know where they want to move and can take advantage of these discounts or incentives, especially when there are no move-in specials.
According to Apartment List's July 2026 rental market recap, 35% of properties on Apartment List were offering a month of free rent or more, up from 25% a year earlier. The share varies by market.
A look-and-lease special is offered on the spot, usually while you are touring, and it rewards signing quickly. A move-in special is offered to new renters at any point in the process, with no same-day condition attached.
Either one, depending on the property. Some take the discount off your first month's rent, and others spread the same total savings across every month of the lease, which lowers each payment by a smaller amount. Ask which version you are getting, and confirm it in writing in the lease.
In unit laundry, Patio / balcony, Pet friendly, Stainless steel, Walk in closets, Gym + more
In unit laundry, Patio / balcony, Pet friendly, 24hr maintenance, Garage, Stainless steel + more
