How far in advance should I start looking for an apartment?

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Start looking about 30 to 60 days before your move-in date. That is when most landlords list units that are opening up, because current tenants usually give about a month or two of notice. Start earlier in college towns and cities where most leases turn over on the same date. Searching too early is a real problem. If you start three months out, most of what you see will be rented long before you need it, and landlords rarely hold a unit empty for a month to wait for you. Use the early weeks for research instead of applying. Eight to ten weeks out: set your budget, list your must-haves and pick two or three areas. Six to eight weeks out: join local housing groups, save searches on listing sites and watch what things actually rent for. Four to six weeks out: tour seriously and have your application documents ready. Two to four weeks out: apply, sign and book movers or a truck. Big apartment complexes often lease further ahead than private landlords, sometimes two or three months, because they know their move-out dates early. Student areas can run six months or more ahead, and some cities have one dominant lease start date. If that sounds like your situation, read the timing advice in college housing or moving to a new city before you plan around the 30-to-60-day rule.

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