RTO Mandates: Here’s How to Choose the Right Apartment Fast

Many workers around the U.S. are uprooting their lives to adhere to company policies requiring them to be in office. These policies are called return-to-office (RTO) mandates that require workers to return to working in the office after being remote or hybrid. The number of companies implementing RTO mandates is steadily increasing as they want to get employees back in the office to improve productivity, communication, and teamwork.

A JLL Survey reported that 54 percent of Fortune 100 companies require workers to be fully in-office five days a week in Q2 2025. Whereas two years ago in 2023, only five percent of Fortune 100 companies required fully in-office work. Just in the past year, the requirement has increased by 25 percent.

If you received an RTO mandate and are relocating for a job, then you might want to quickly find a new place to live. With a strict deadline looming over your head, it is a stressful time. Getting a new apartment can be quick and easy if you are prepared and know how to look. To help you do so, we’ll cover these topics in this article:

• How to find an apartment in a new city, quickly
• Impacts on your apartment search amid RTO mandates
• Additional tips for your move and RTO

How to Find an Apartment in a New City, Quickly

Even if you have a short time frame to find a new apartment because you are moving for a job, it is still possible to find a place you love. Go into your search knowing how to find an apartment in a new city fast:

• Create a budget
• Decide if you want a roommate
• Determine the home type you want, like apartment, condo, or townhome
• Make a list of your must-haves and nice-to-haves
• Consider what floor you want to live on
• Use handy tools and filters on Apartments.com to quickly narrow your search
• Utilize 3D tours
• Collect all the documents and information you need to apply, such as proof of income and social security number

Tip: Long-distance apartment hunting is easy on Apartments.com because 3D tours allow you to walk through an apartment as if you were there in person.

Impacts on Your Apartment Search Amid RTO Mandates

Due to RTO mandates, many renters are relocating. As you’re preparing to move and searching for an apartment, there are a couple of ways in which RTO mandates might impact your search and conveniences to consider.

Supply of available apartments

RTO mandates are changing where renters are relocating and rapidly accelerating the timeline of moves. As certain cities experience an influx of renters because of companies bringing employees back to the office, renters may see increased competition. This could drive up rent prices and make it tougher to find a place.

CoStar Group reports that in New York’s Financial District, the average rent grew from $4,751/month in Q2 2024 to $4,914/month in Q2 2025. That is a 3.4 percent increase YoY. Downtown Chicago experienced a similar growth as it leaped from $2,645/month in Q2 2024 to $2,789/month in Q2 2025.

However, new construction has been high in many cities over the past couple of years. As these units are now being completed, the availability of apartments is increasing as there is a higher supply.

Dallas-Fort Worth saw the highest number of net units delivered over the past 12 months in Q4 2024 with a record 41,047 units. New York City hit its net delivered units over the past 12 months peak recently in Q2 2025 with 35,083 units. That increased supply could help balance the market by easing the strain on available housing.

Where are people searching? By looking at the biggest increases in searches on Apartments.com Q1 2025 to Q2 2025, we can determine the cities attracting the most renters. The top five cities that saw the largest increase in searches quarter over quarter are:

• Austin, TX: 20%
• Los Angeles, CA: 19%
• San Diego, CA: 18%
• Indianapolis, IN: 17%
• Nashville, TN: 17%

Many of these are big cities, showing how renters are moving back to major metropolitans. For some it is because of work while for others it is a lifestyle choice.

Cost of living

Regardless of whether you are moving one city over or relocating across the country, each city has its own cost of living. Knowing this metric allows you to budget and plan your finances better so you aren’t taken by surprise.

To determine the income you’ll need to maintain a similar lifestyle in your new city and any budget adjustments you’ll need to make, use the Cost of Living Calculator on Apartments.com.

The Cost of Living Calculator will compare your current income with the income you need to earn in your destination city for a similar standard of living. You can see the difference in the overall cost of living, housing, groceries, utilities, and transportation. This information will help you be financially prepared for your move.

Changes in salary

Moving to a different city means your salary might change. Some companies have location-based pay so you may find your salary increasing or decreasing. Monetary relocation assistance is also offered by some employers to help with the move. Before looking at apartments, you need to figure out what your salary and financial situation will be once you relocate. So, talk to your employer about how RTO mandates affect your salary and any changes that will occur.

Even if your salary doesn’t change, it could feel different because of the shift in the cost of living in the new city. You may find your money goes further or that you have to cut back on spending.

Being informed about how much you need to make in your destination city can inform your discussion with your employer about salary. To find the yearly salary you need to make to live comfortably, the Cost of Living Calculator will tell you what salary you should ideally make and how much you should expect to pay for different items.

Commuting

If you have been remote or hybrid, having to travel to the office every day is a big change because of the additional time needed to get to work. So, one of the aspects you need to contemplate is your commute when searching for an apartment.

It can be helpful to ask yourself these questions:

• How long are you willing to commute?
• What method are you going to commute by? Car? Public transportation? Bike? Walking?
• How much will your transportation cost you? How much will gas cost you a month? How much would public transportation cost you a month?
• What kind of weather is common in your city? If it rains a lot, then biking or walking may not be the best travel method.
• Are there any schedule logistics that you need to work around, like childcare drop-off or carpooling with other family members?

Once you’ve figured out your ideal commute, you can search for rentals within those parameters with the commute search filter on Apartments.com. The tool allows you to set your destination, pick a transportation method, and then select your idea commute time. A boundary that follows your criteria will be created, so you can find an apartment with a great commute in no time.

Additional Tips for Your Move and RTO

Finding a new apartment is not the only challenge you have to worry about when relocating because of RTO mandates. You have to deal with ending your current lease, choosing where to live, and adjusting to the in-office life. Here are some additional tips to make those difficulties and your RTO move simple and easy.

How to end your current lease

Hopefully you can finish out and end your lease, which means you just won’t renew when you reach the end of your current lease period. This is the ideal situation as it doesn’t introduce any complications. Before your time is up, check your lease to see if you are required to submit a notice to vacate 30–60 days before the end of your lease if you are moving out.

Tip: Talk to your landlord before taking any action as they may be willing to negotiate a comprise like letting you sublease your apartment for the remainder of your lease.

However, if you have to move quickly, you might need to break your lease. While this is not ideal, if you must break your lease, review your lease agreement. Many leases have a clause that outlines what will happen if you break your lease. You may have to give written notice ahead of time and be responsible for a certain amount, like one or two months rent.

Choose between cities and suburbs

Though you may not have a choice of what city you’re moving to, you can still choose your lifestyle by picking whether to live in the city or the suburbs. Generally, the city is fast-paced and lively while the suburbs are quieter and more relaxed. Both are great options; it all depends on your personal preference.

Tip: Make a list of all the pros and cons of city life and suburb life that you can think of. See which list has more pros than cons as that can signify your lifestyle preference.

Find your new work-life balance

Returning to the office can be a drastic change that can take some time to adjust to. The key is finding a nice balance between work and life to support your health, satisfaction, and productivity.

To find your new work-life balance after an RTO mandate, try these tips:

• Eat balanced and healthy food by meal prepping dishes to bring to work.
• Get some exercise, whether it’s going to the gym during lunch or biking to work.
• Set boundaries between your work and personal life. Avoid bringing your work home or checking emails after hours, if possible.
• Enjoy your hobbies, set aside time to relax in the evenings and during the weekends where you do what you love.
• Maintain a good sleep routine by factoring in the extra time you need for commuting. This means you might have to shift your bedtime up.
• Bask in the sun by finding time in your day to get outside, whether that means eating lunch outside or taking a walk.
• Get together with friends and family. Create plans well in advance to make sure everyone’s schedule aligns.
• Budget your time wisely as commuting reduces your free time. Creating a schedule ensures you get chores done while still having free time.

How RTO will impact metropolitan areas

With RTO mandates, renting forever could become even more common than it already is. While not being house poor and having less stress and responsibility are the main reasons that people choose to rent, for those facing RTO mandates, the reasons could differ a bit.

They might want to be close to work in a big city where the primary option for housing is renting. So, cities may see a revitalization as workers come back to business hubs and spend money nearby at restaurants, shops, and on transportation. RTO mandates have reshaped the renter landscape and continue to do so as more companies implement them.

According to a recent KPMG survey, 83 percent of CEOs expect a complete return to office five days a week over the next three years. That shot up compared to 2023, when only 64 percent of CEOs expected that outcome. There’s no telling what will happen in the future but it’s likely that RTO mandates will keep shaking things up over the next couple of years.

Make the RTO Apartment Search a Breeze with Apartments.com 

Now that you are prepared for how RTO mandates may impact you, it’s time to find the perfect apartment on Apartments.com. With rent trends, a commute tool, and more, you can find all the important information about your destination city and choose a rental that meets all your needs. Have one less thing to fret over when it comes to RTO by searching for your next home on Apartments.com.

Methodology

All data was gathered from Apartments.com in July. Search results are from Apartments.com Q1 to Q2 2025.