Extended-stay hotels, short-term rentals, corporate housing and staying with family while you search for a lease.
Signing a 12 month lease before you see the area is risky. Many newcomers stay somewhere short-term for 2 to 6 weeks, then rent.
Options
Extended-stay hotels: hotel rooms with a small kitchen, made for stays of a week or more. Weekly rates are usually lower than nightly ones. You can often move in the same day. Ask for the weekly and monthly price.
Short-term rentals like Airbnb and Vrbo: a room or a whole apartment by the night or month. Stays of 28 days or more often get a monthly discount. Some cities limit short-term rentals.
Corporate housing: furnished apartments for one to several months, often paid by employers. Ask HR whether your relocation package includes temporary housing.
University temporary housing: some universities offer rooms for new students and scholars before their housing starts.
Staying with family or friends: the cheapest choice. Help with costs and set an end date.
Hostels in big cities: cheapest, shared rooms, good for a few nights.
Things to think about
Address: you need an address for your bank, SSN, school and employer. Ask whether you can receive mail there. A hotel may accept packages but not be a good address for official mail. If you use a temporary address, update it when you move.
Laundry and kitchen: cooking saves a lot in a long stay.
Location: stay near where you want to rent, so you can tour places in person.
Parking fees and whether the area is walkable.
Cancellation rules: short-term rental fees can be high if you leave early.
Staying safe with short-term rentals
1
Book and pay only through the platform. If a host asks you to pay outside, by wire, Zelle or a link, it is a common scam.
2
Read recent reviews and check the photos match the map location.
3
Keep messages inside the app.
A simple plan
1
Book 2 to 4 weeks near your work or school.
2
In week one, get your phone number, bank account and documents ready for applications.
3
Tour apartments in person in weeks two and three.
4
Move when the lease starts. Ask complexes about move-in specials and flexible start dates.
Common mistakes
Booking a cheap place far from everything, then spending the savings on rides.
Using the short-term place's address for your green card, SSN card or bank card when you will leave in two weeks, then the card goes to the old address.