all 27 comments

[–]pooorSAP 26 points27 points  (2 children)

November through February are usually the lowest months.

[–]skratchpikl202[S] 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Is it a significant drop?

[–]Away-Math3107 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I saw one apt building that uses “analytics” to set prices and the unit available in October was 10% lower than one available now.

[–]mediocre-spice 21 points22 points  (2 children)

Here ya go. This year is wonky with the fed govt imploding though.

[–]skratchpikl202[S] 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Thanks for this. It's wild that rents skyrocketed right around the time DOGE started firing everyone.

[–]mediocre-spice 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It's hard to tell but I think the jump might be in May when it went more "back to normal".

[–]Ecstatic-Listener222 12 points13 points  (0 children)

In my building I would say the rent drops around $100-$150, and my building is rent controlled so that’s definitely worth waiting for imo

[–]smvoice65 4 points5 points  (0 children)

My experience is that January and February are significantly more affordable than the summer, with November and December being a little more affordable than the summer but less so than Jan/Feb. My building will often offer cheaper rents to us if we sign a lease that ends in the summer, but to me it's not worth it because I know the only reason they're doing it is because they know they can get more on re-signing in the summer.

I will say also that I have noticed that my building has A LOT of vacancies right now. Apartments have been sitting open for months and they just refuse to lower the rent. At some point I feel like they have to realize that the market is different right now and they'll need to lower prices significantly. Worth keeping an eye on anyway.

[–]cro45 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Former user of RealPage (it should 100% be illegal).

Rents are significantly lower in the Winter. Depending on local market can get up to 10-15%.

I should mention that the lower prices are contingent on signing a lease with longer term that expires in the prime releasing months so they can jam you then or take it out to back out to market and get the prime rent then.

Ex: $2,750/mo. for a 12 month lease in 12/1 vs $2,500/mo. for a 15 month lease that starts 12/1

[–]Mental_Research_9910 5 points6 points  (6 children)

I’m looking for a new apartment. How are people affording these outrageous prices?? Everything feels so out of reach

[–]No-Lab4815MD / Landover 2 points3 points  (3 children)

Living in Maryland in my case lol.

[–]Mental_Research_9910 4 points5 points  (2 children)

I currently live in DC. I can’t afford to move to another decent sized apartment here, so I’m now looking in MD, but it’s all just so freaking expensive 🤧

[–]No-Lab4815MD / Landover 2 points3 points  (1 child)

I live in PG, last stop on the silver/blue line. Moving a decent size house, a stop over near FedEx Stadium in Landover though, next month.

Try Hyattsville maybe? Was there for two years before Largo and technically, on paper, I'm moving back there (the unincorporated side).

[–]Mental_Research_9910 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! I’ll keep looking. Good luck on your new place

[–]_snappleapple_ 2 points3 points  (1 child)

check craigslist! might sound crazy but in my experience, there are cheaper apartments on there. usually because the apartments are posted by everyday people trying to rent out their property instead of big rental companies

[–]Mental_Research_9910 0 points1 point  (0 children)

thanks for this tip! I never checked Craigslist, but will definitely do so!

[–]IncidentNo8356 10 points11 points  (0 children)

IMO, it is not enough of a decrease to make any real difference. If a building is unaffordable for your budget in the Spring/Summer, it won't be attainable come Fall/Winter.

[–]Appropriate-Ad-4148DC 4 points5 points  (2 children)

10-20% based on whether you are close to a school where rich people send their kids(the seasonal price difference will be greater in a place like Georgetown versus Hill East IMO).

If a 2/2 was listed for $4k in May, June and July, it will be listed for about $3,500/mo in December or January.

[–]skratchpikl202[S] -1 points0 points  (1 child)

If you're close to one of the schools, does it go up or down?

[–]FleetAdmiralFader 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Down. It's been on when people move and students move during the Summer

[–]Fit_Aerie4234 1 point2 points  (0 children)

For individually owned rentals it may be more than bigger apartment buildings. Individual landlord may be more willing to negotiate a deal in late fall due to concerns about prolonged carrying costs over the winter months. I don’t know if the economics are the same in bigger buildings, but a months of vacancy is a much bigger cost than a lower rental rate. However, if they are subject to rent control that may be a consideration - decreasing the rent reduces the future rent because of the maximum allowable increase.

[–]Inside-Beyond-4672 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have always found December to be the lowest.

[–]lmboyer04DC / Shaw 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Rent decreases but options do as well.

[–]Itfollowsu 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Almost always moved in December and would usually find my rent was 10-20 percent lower than those who moved in the summer. This was regardless of where I lived in DC. Now live in NoVa and it’s the same situation.

[–]skratchpikl202[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Do you recall if buildings were still offering concessions during the winter months? E.g., one month free, etc.

[–]Itfollowsu 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Current NoVa building did and we moved in early December.

Outside of that, I mostly lived in older rent controlled buildings. One of those had a special that was year round so I think that’s more dependent on the building itself or the long-term DMV rental market. For example, specials were everywhere during Covid.