International renters
Can I rent an apartment in the US before I arrive?
Updated By the Housing Rocket moderators
Short answer
Yes, many international students and workers sign a lease from abroad. It works best with an established building or property manager, a live video tour, a lease start date that matches your arrival, and a signed lease before any money changes hands. If you cannot verify the landlord, book temporary housing and search after you land.
If you can, wait until your visa is approved before signing. A lease is a binding contract, and a delayed or refused visa does not cancel it unless the lease says so. If you want to sign earlier, ask for a clause that lets you cancel if your visa is denied.
- Confirm your program or job start date and pick a lease start a few days before it.
- Shortlist places from your university's housing office, housing groups and management companies near campus or work.
- Book live video tours and ask the person to show the unit number, the building entrance and the street.
- Check who owns the property through the county's public property records, and compare that with the landlord or company you are dealing with.
- Read the full lease, sign electronically, and pay only through the company's official portal or another traceable method named in the lease.
Time zones slow everything down, so reply quickly and keep your documents in one shared folder you can send in minutes. For the general remote-search process, see moving to a new city, and read up on rental scams before paying anything from overseas.
Want the whole picture? Read Renting as an International Student.