How to Find an Apartment in a New City

Finding a rental is tough, but add a new city and hundreds – or thousands – of miles to the equation and the stresses multiply. Here are a few tips to make your long-distance rental home search more manageable:

Do your homework

Deciding where you want to live is a big question that can have many variables. If you’ve landed on a certain city, do your homework to figure out whether living there is even feasible. 

To start, learn about housing costs in your new area: median rents and home values, and how much they went up last year. Next, calculate if it makes sense to rent or buy, as well as how much rent you can comfortably afford. 

You’ll want to create a moving timeline, so you can determine how far in advance you need to begin your search. In Manhattan, for example, rentals often aren’t listed until a month before the move-in date while college towns have units on the market months before they’re available.

Then, research life in your new city by checking user-generated content on sites such as City-Data. You may also find local-specific resources like StreetEasy, which is New York City’s definitive guide to renting in one of the country’s most expensive – and complex – real estate markets. 

As you narrow down your neighborhood, a newspaper website or apartment guide can be great sources of local crime and school statistics while an online mapping website could be helpful to calculate commute times.

Use your network

Even if you know no one in your new city, chances are someone in your network does. Put the word out to friends, family and your social network or organizations like college alumni groups. New connections may know of an available rental, could be an ideal roommate, or become your first friend in your new city.

Work with a rental agent

Some real estate agents specialize in finding rentals. A rental agent will have local expertise and can help you determine which neighborhoods are good fit based on your wants and needs. When searching for a rental in a unfamiliar area, check to see if there are any rental agents available in the markets you're interested in. You can use Zillow's agent directory to begin your search for a rental agent. Once you've entered your ideal location, choose "Rentals" from the "Specailaty" filter to find agents who specialize in finding rentals.

Use the power of technology

Online tools and services can help you stay on top of new listings or guide you on what to look for in a rental. If you’ve decided to rent an apartment, search for a rental on Zillow that checks off all the boxes. Or research homes for rent. Zillow's search filters allow you to plug in your city, price range, desired number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and the type of rental you want. When you save your search, you can get instant or daily notifications about new listings via email or through the Zillow rental app. The mobile app also lets you contact landlords and property managers via phone or email.

The 'Neighborhood' section of many Zillow rental listings includes a helpful Transit Score and Walkability Score which measure how well the location is served by public transportation and how easy it is to walk to nearby amenities.

Visit your new city

It may sound obvious, but no amount of research can substitute for boots on the ground. See the neighborhoods you researched, ride mass transit to your workplace, and ask baristas or people walking their dogs which neighborhoods they love. If you have a community in mind, stay in a hotel or bed and breakfast there so you can experience noise levels, walkability, commute options and the vibe for yourself.

Go pro

If time is tight or you’re feeling overwhelmed, consider working with a rental broker or agent. A local real estate professional knows the ins and outs of the city and can guide you to places within your budget. Broker and agent rates can vary, so be sure to work out the financial details first.