Apartments.com Guide: Search, Tour and Apply for a Rental Online

Apartments.com is a large rental listing site operated by CoStar Group. Despite the name, it covers more than apartment buildings: you can also find houses, condos and townhomes for rent. This guide explains how to search efficiently, which costs to budget for, and how to stay safe.

What Apartments.com offers

The site's search tools let you filter by price, rental type, amenities and move-in date. Many listings show floor plans, photos and amenity details down to the individual unit. Some properties offer 3D virtual tours, which can help you judge layout and finishes before visiting in person.

Apartments.com also bundles tools for later stages of renting. You can schedule tours, message landlords, submit applications that include credit and background reports, review and sign a lease digitally, and pay rent online where the landlord uses the service. A built-in cost calculator helps estimate both one-time fees and ongoing monthly costs.

How to search step by step

1. Enter the city, neighborhood or ZIP code you are considering.
2. Set a rent range you can comfortably afford, including utilities.
3. Choose a rental type such as apartment, house, condo or townhome.
4. Add amenity filters that are truly important to you, like in-unit laundry, parking or pet-friendly policies.
5. Compare floor plans and, where available, take a virtual tour before booking an in-person visit.
6. Use the cost calculator to add up deposits, fees and monthly costs for your top choices.
7. Schedule a tour, ask questions in writing, and apply once you are confident the home fits your needs.

Costs and fees to expect

Browsing listings is free. When you are ready to move forward, expect some combination of these costs, which vary by property and by state:

• Application fees: Apartments.com sells a package of applications with screening reports included; landlords who use their own system may charge separately.
• Security deposit: commonly tied to the monthly rent amount, and sometimes limited by state law.
• Administrative or move-in fees: some managed communities charge these at lease signing.
• Recurring extras: utilities, parking, storage, pet rent and renters insurance.
• Online payment fees: paying rent by card may carry a processing fee, while bank transfers are often cheaper. Check the current terms before you choose a method.

Ask the property for a written list of all fees so there are no surprises on move-in day.

Houses and townhomes, not just apartments

Despite its name, Apartments.com lists many single-family houses and townhomes as well as apartment buildings. If you want a house, set the property type filter early so the results are not dominated by large complexes. Townhomes can be a useful middle ground, often with more space than an apartment and less maintenance than a detached house.

Large buildings and single-home landlords work quite differently. A managed community may have fixed application steps, on-site staff and amenities, while a private owner usually decides personally and may be more flexible on pets or move-in dates.

Using tours and floor plans wisely

Virtual tours and floor plans can save a lot of time, especially if you are moving from another city. Use them to rule homes out, not just to fall in love with them. Check whether the plan matches your furniture, whether bedrooms are on the same floor and how much storage there is.

Remember that a tour can show a model unit rather than the exact home you would rent. Ask which unit the tour shows, and try to see the actual home in person or on a live video call before you sign anything.

Budgeting beyond the rent

Many listings include fees that are easy to miss: parking, pet rent, amenity fees, utilities that are billed separately and renter's insurance requirements. Add these up for every home on your shortlist, because two homes with the same rent can differ by a meaningful amount each month once everything is included.

Ask whether any move-in specials apply and what conditions come with them, such as a longer lease. A discounted first month is helpful, but the ongoing monthly cost matters far more over a full year.

Applying and signing online

Online applications and leases are convenient, but take time to read everything before you submit. Check the lease length, renewal terms, early-termination rules and who handles repairs. Keep a copy of the signed lease and every receipt. If something in the lease differs from what you were told, ask for it to be corrected before you sign rather than relying on a spoken promise.

Tips and rental-scam warnings

Apartments.com publishes guidance on avoiding scams and fraud, and the same rules apply on any listing site:

• Be wary of a "landlord" who will not meet you or show the home.
• Never pay a deposit before you have seen the unit and signed a lease.
• Refuse requests to pay by wire transfer, gift card or cryptocurrency.
• Watch for the same home advertised under different names or prices on other sites.
• Do not hand over your Social Security number until you know who is screening you and why.

• Take dated photos of the unit's condition at move-in and keep a copy of your signed lease.

If a deal feels rushed or too good to be true, slow down and verify before you pay. A legitimate landlord will understand if you want time to check the details, read the lease and ask questions before committing.

Frequently asked questions

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