When to start looking for an apartment in Chicago:
When to start looking for an apartment in Chicago:
When looking for an apartment in a big city, you should start looking about a month before your desired move-in date. This gives you access to the largest selection of apartments, as most landlords post listings with 30 days’ notice.
Here are some other things to consider when looking for an apartment:
- Move-out date
Most landlords require at least 60 days’ notice if you aren’t renewing your lease. You can plan to give yourself 60–90 days to find a new apartment.
- Rental market
If you’re moving to a city with high competition for apartments, you should start looking early.
- Time of year
The busiest rental period is between May and September, and the worst time to rent is during the summer months of June, July, and August. Winter is the off-peak season with lower rental prices and less competition.
- Budget
You should generally have at least three times your rent saved before moving into a new apartment.
