How to Find an Apartment in Another City Before You Move

On this page

1. First decision: their place, or a new place together?
2. How to research neighborhoods from far away
3. How much rent can you afford, and what upfront cash do you need?
4. Where to search for apartments
5. How to do a virtual apartment tour properly
6. How to spot rental scams aimed at out-of-towners
7. How to win the application from another city
8. What to check in the lease before you sign
9. When to rent temporary housing first instead
10. Move-in day: protect your deposit
11. A simple timeline for renting from another city
12. FAQ

If you're closing the distance, you have an advantage most remote renters don't: someone you trust may already live in the city. That changes the whole process. Your partner can walk the neighborhood at night, stand in the apartment and listen for traffic, and meet the property manager face to face. Use that. If neither of you lives there yet, everything below still works; it just leans harder on verification.

First decision: their place, or a new place together?

Before you open a single listing, settle where you're going to live. This is a relationship decision as much as a housing one.

If you're moving into their place, make it genuinely shared: clear half the closets, rearrange a room together, and put both names on the lease or ask the landlord to add you as an occupant at minimum. Our guide to decorating together helps with the "it still feels like their apartment" problem.

How to research neighborhoods from far away

Choose areas before you choose apartments. A great unit on the wrong side of town will make you miserable for 12 months.

Tools that actually help

• Google Maps and Street View. "Walk" from the front door to the nearest grocery store, transit stop and park. Look at Street View from different years to see whether the block is changing.
• Commute check. Set a departure time of 8 a.m. on a weekday in Google Maps to see realistic drive or transit times to both of your workplaces.
• Walk Score. Quick read on walkability, transit and bike access by address.
• The city's subreddit and local Facebook groups. Search before posting; "moving to [city], which neighborhood" has usually been asked a hundred times.
• City or police crime maps. Many cities publish them. Look at trends and types of incidents, not just raw counts.
• FEMA flood maps (msc.fema.gov) if you're looking somewhere near water. Flooding is rarely mentioned in listings.

What to check for each area

• Commute for both of you, at rush hour
• Groceries, pharmacy, laundry within walking distance or a short drive
• Parking rules and permit costs if you have a car
• Noise sources: airports, highways, bar strips, universities, rail lines
• How it feels at night (ask your partner or a local to walk it)
• Typical rent for the size you want, so you can spot listings that are suspiciously cheap

Ask locals specific questions rather than "is X safe?":

We're moving to [city] in June, budget around $1,800 for a one-bed, one of us works downtown and one remotely. We're deciding between [area A] and [area B]. What would you pick and why? Anything you wish you'd known before living there?

How much rent can you afford, and what upfront cash do you need?

The common rule of thumb is to keep rent around 30% of gross monthly income. Landlords use their own rule: many want gross monthly income of about 2.5 to 3 times the rent, and they'll often combine both incomes if you both apply.

The upfront bill is what catches people out. Budget for:

So a $1,800 apartment can easily need $4,000–6,000 in cash before you get the keys, plus the move itself. Put all of it into your moving budget early.

Where to search for apartments

• National listing sites: Zillow, Apartments.com, Zumper, Rent.com and similar. Good filters, lots of large buildings, many with video or 3D tours.
• City-specific sites: some markets have their own dominant platform (StreetEasy in New York is the best-known example). Ask locals what people actually use.
• Property management websites: once you like a building, check the manager's own site for specials and the real application portal.
• Facebook groups and Craigslist: where smaller landlords and sublets live. Also where most scams live. Verify extra hard.
• Local apartment locators: in some cities (common in Texas, for example) locators are paid by buildings, so the service is free to renters. They're worth a call if you're overwhelmed.

Save a shared spreadsheet with your partner: address, rent, fees, size, laundry, parking, pet policy, commute times, contact, and a "gut feel" score from each of you.

How to do a virtual apartment tour properly

Pre-recorded videos and listing photos show a unit at its best. A live video call lets you control the camera. Ask for one every time.

During the tour, ask them to

• Start outside: show the building entrance, the street, and the view in both directions.
• Open every closet, cabinet and the space under the sinks (look for water damage and pest signs).
• Run the shower and kitchen tap for water pressure and hot water.
• Turn on the stove, the AC or heat, and show the appliances working.
• Point the camera out of every window, and stop talking for 30 seconds so you can hear the noise level.
• Show the laundry room, parking, mail area and trash.
• Show the actual unit, not "one just like it." If it's a model unit, ask for photos of yours.

Questions to ask

• What's included in rent (water, trash, internet, parking)? What do utilities usually run per month?
• How do maintenance requests work, and how fast are they usually handled?
• Any planned renovations, rent increases or construction nearby?
• Any history of pests, leaks or heating problems?
• What are the rules on guests, subletting, pets, and breaking the lease early?
• How much notice is required to move out, and how does renewal work?

How to spot rental scams aimed at out-of-towners

People moving from far away are prime targets, because they can't easily check that the apartment exists or that the "landlord" owns it. The Federal Trade Commission's guide to rental listing scams describes the patterns. The red flags:

• Rent well below everything comparable nearby.
• The landlord is "out of the country," "a missionary," or otherwise can't show the unit, and won't do a live video tour from inside it.
• They want a deposit or "holding fee" before you've seen the place or signed a lease.
• Payment by wire transfer, gift cards, crypto, or a payment app to a personal account they insist on.
• Pressure: "five other people want it, decide today."
• The same photos appear in another listing under a different name or price (do a reverse image search).
• The keys will be "mailed to you" after payment.

How to verify before you pay

1. Look up the owner. Most county assessor or recorder websites let you search property ownership by address. The name should match the landlord or the management company.
2. Check the company is real. Find the management company's own website and phone number independently (not from the listing), call, and confirm the unit and the agent.
3. Read reviews on Google and elsewhere for the building and the manager. Patterns matter: deposits not returned, repairs ignored, pests.
4. Pay traceably. Use the company's official portal, a check, or a credit card for application fees. Never send money before a signed lease.

If something feels off, walk away. There will be another apartment. For more on online fraud generally, see our guide to scams and online safety.

How to win the application from another city

In competitive markets, good units go within a day or two. Have a ready-to-send folder (PDFs, clearly named) for each of you:

• Photo ID
• Proof of income: recent pay stubs, an offer letter for a new job, or recent tax returns if self-employed
• Bank statements, especially if you're between jobs
• Current and previous landlord contact details
• A short cover note explaining the move

Hi, we're relocating to [city] in early June. I'm starting at [employer] (offer letter attached) and my partner works remotely for [company]. We're non-smokers, no pets, with strong rental history. Happy to do a video call and apply today.

If your situation doesn't fit the usual box

• No job there yet: offer proof of savings, a co-signer, or apply with your partner as a co-applicant.
• Moving from abroad with no US credit history or Social Security number: expect a larger deposit request, a guarantor requirement, or a building that works with institutional guarantor companies. Some landlords accept a foreign credit report or bank reference. Furnished short-term rentals are often easier for the first few months; see temporary housing options.
• Weak credit: pull your own report first (free at annualcreditreport.com) so there are no surprises, and be upfront with an explanation and a solution.

What to check in the lease before you sign

You'll probably sign electronically without having set foot in the building, so read the whole thing.

• Names: both partners listed as tenants if you'll both live there.
• Term and dates: start date matches your move; know what happens at renewal.
• Total monthly cost: rent plus every recurring fee (parking, pets, amenities, trash, "tech" fees).
• Deposit: amount, where it's held, conditions for return.
• Early termination and subletting: what it costs to leave early, in case a job or visa falls through.
• Repairs and entry: who fixes what, and how much notice the landlord gives before entering.
• Move-in condition report: how and by when you submit it.

Don't sign anything with blanks. Ask for changes to anything unclear; a reasonable landlord will at least explain. If you're moving in together for the first time, it's also worth agreeing between yourselves who pays what and what happens to the lease if you split up; our cohabitation agreement guide covers it.

When to rent temporary housing first instead

Signing a 12-month lease sight unseen isn't always the smart move. Book one to three months of furnished housing and hunt in person if:

• neither of you knows the city and you can't choose between neighborhoods
• your job location isn't settled yet
• you can't get a live tour or verify the landlord
• you're moving from abroad and need time to build credit or get documents

Options include furnished monthly rentals, sublets, extended-stay hotels and corporate housing. Our temporary housing guide compares them.

Move-in day: protect your deposit

• Video every room before you bring anything in: walls, floors, appliances, inside cabinets, windows.
• Test every light, outlet, tap, burner and the heating and cooling.
• Fill in the move-in condition form in detail and send it in writing; keep a copy.
• Find the water shutoff, breaker panel and smoke detectors.
• Set up utilities and internet in advance so they're on when you arrive.
• Update your address everywhere; our change-of-address checklist lists the usual suspects, and you'll need the lease to get a new driver's license.

A simple timeline for renting from another city

1. 10–12 weeks out: decide their place vs. new place; set budget; research neighborhoods.
2. 6–8 weeks out: shortlist two or three areas; start watching listings to learn prices; prepare your document folder.
3. 4–6 weeks out: live video tours; partner or local visits top picks; verify landlords; apply.
4. 3–4 weeks out: review and sign the lease; pay deposit through official channels; get renter's insurance.
5. 1–2 weeks out: schedule utilities and internet; confirm move-in time and key pickup.

Fit this into your wider moving timeline, and remember: your first apartment in a new city doesn't have to be forever. It has to be safe, affordable and good enough for a year while you learn where you really want to live.

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to rent an apartment without seeing it?

It can be, if you verify the place and the person. Get a live video tour (not just photos), confirm the landlord or management company owns or manages the property through county records or the company's own site, pay by a traceable method, and sign a written lease before sending any deposit. If you can, have someone local view it in person. Never wire money or pay with gift cards or crypto.

How far in advance should I look for an apartment in another city?

Start researching neighborhoods two to three months out and start applying about 30 to 60 days before your move date. Most listings are for units available within a month or two, so applying earlier than that often means there's nothing to apply for yet. In very competitive markets, be ready to apply the same day you see a place you like.

Can I rent an apartment in another state without a job there yet?

Often, yes. Landlords mainly want proof you can pay. If you're starting a new job, an offer letter usually works. If you're not, options include showing savings (some landlords accept a multiple of the year's rent in the bank), a co-signer or guarantor, paying extra months upfront where that's legal, or applying with your partner's income as a co-applicant.

Should we move into my partner's place or find a new one together?

A new place you choose together avoids the feeling that one person is a guest in the other's home, and both names on the lease gives you equal footing. Moving into your partner's place is cheaper and simpler. If you do that, make real room: clear closets, rearrange furniture together, and get added to the lease so you have legal rights as a tenant.