When is the best time to sign a lease in NYC? Sublet in the summer and sign in the winter.
One Murray Hill two-bedroom was $4,500 in November and $5,300 seven months later. That is $9,600 on a 12-month lease.
If you are moving to New York in the summer, it can feel like you need to find an apartment and sign a 12-month lease immediately.
There is another option on Ohana: sublet first, then search for a longer-term apartment later in the year. When you sign can affect what you pay.
How much more does a NYC apartment cost in the summer?
In Ohana's video, a two-bedroom in Murray Hill rented for $4,500 per month in November. Seven months later, the same apartment rented for $5,300 per month.
| When | Rent for that apartment |
|---|---|
| November | $4,500 per month |
| Seven months later | $5,300 per month |
| Difference on a 12-month lease | $9,600 |
That is an $800 monthly difference, or $9,600 over a 12-month lease. It is one apartment's rental history, not a promise about every Ohana listing. It is a reason to pay attention to when you search.
Should you sublet first if you move to NYC in the summer?
If your job, internship, or school schedule brings you to New York in the summer, you do not have to start a year-long lease then.
A sublet on Ohana can cover your first few months while you learn the city and prepare for a longer search. Use that time to see apartments in person, compare neighborhoods, and watch listings on Ohana instead of choosing under the pressure of an approaching move.
What is the best month to sign a lease in NYC?
In the Ohana video, we suggest looking for a lease that starts in November, December, January, or February.
That comes with a tradeoff. You may have fewer apartments to choose from on Ohana. A lower price only helps if the apartment also fits your needs.
If you find a summer apartment you love at a price you are comfortable paying, it can still make sense to take it. The point is to consider the timing before assuming you have to commit the week you arrive.
Is it cheaper to sublet first or sign a summer lease in NYC?
Subletting first on Ohana can mean an extra move. A furnished Ohana sublet may also have a different monthly price, or include expenses a longer lease does not.
Compare the total cost of signing a 12-month lease when you arrive against subletting for a few months, moving again, and starting a longer lease later. Include rent, utilities, furniture, moving expenses, and any overlap between apartments. Ohana search is where you price the sublet side of that comparison.
Do you have to sign a NYC lease as soon as you arrive?
Your arrival date and your long-term lease start date do not have to be the same day.
A sublet on Ohana gives you somewhere to land while you find out where, and how, you want to live in New York.
Questions people ask
Why wait to sign a 12-month lease?
The Murray Hill two-bedroom in the Ohana video was $4,500 a month in November and $5,300 seven months later. On a year-long lease, that gap is $9,600. Timing will not move every Ohana listing by that much, but it is worth checking.
What if I have to be in New York in the summer?
Sublet the first few months on Ohana, then look for a longer lease that starts in November, December, January, or February.
Are there fewer apartments on Ohana in the winter?
Often, yes. A lower price only helps if the apartment still fits. If a summer place on Ohana is right and the price is comfortable, taking it can still be the better choice. See what is listed now.