Just to get the conversation kicked off - it's rough out there. Stock is low, prices are high, and turnover is quick. Leaving Boston though, maybe it won't seem so bad.

Here are my uninformed thoughts: start researching now, every building and every neighborhood possible so you know exactly where you would want to live. Then you'll know enough to be able to immediately jump on what you can find come summer.

It also wouldn't hurt to brush up on any tenant rights stuff that is particular to RI; pushing or violating the idiosyncrasies of those boundaries can be a good red flag locator to save you form a bad landlord.

Start looking casually now just to get the idea of neighborhoods. In terms of seriously looking at and touring apartments, 4-6 weeks ahead is usually the sweet spot.

Providence has a lot of students, so June-August is a very competitive start time, and prices are pretty high. When it gets closer, you might want to check out individual realty websites rather than the big collection websites. I got lucky and found a nice apartment before it got posted to Zillow

Oh yeah don't you worry, I've read through very many reddit posts about neighborhoods, mapped how far different areas are from my various hobbies/priorities, gotten an idea of how expensive different areas are (a bit of an over planner when it comes to big life changes). I've been to Providence before but I'll probably go down soon for a day just to walkabout and whatnot.

And yeah of the different areas I'm considering locating to, everything is better compared to Boston. Good point about looking into tenant rights, though, after 7 years of renting in Boston I've developed a bit of learned helplessness, maybe I'll take this as an opportunity to vaguely pretend I'm a human person with rights!!!!!

Unfortunately renters rights aren’t super strong in RI, but it’s good to know the basics to identify landlords trying to pull illegal things (ie landlords can only ask for first and security, so if they want last month too when you sign that’s a red flag).

We got laughed at when we asked around 2 months ahead, then one month ahead we couldn’t find anything.

I found an apartment last year in April for a move-in date of June 1st. Started looking in March.

Yep 👆 OP, if Fox Point is on your wish list, I'd start looking in March for June 1 vacancies. The majority of the annual turnover is concentrated then. And most have incoming tenants well ahead.

Any chance you could point me in the direction of some info about different neighborhoods? I may be relocating there somewhat soon from across the country and know very little about it

Absolutely!

-there's an interactive map on this Reddit that's a good place to start

-filtering your price limit on Zillow (or whatever apartment site you use) will quickly tell you what is/isn't within your price range, I just follow that as a guideline because I'd something is "too good to be true" I usually fear it's a scam/something is fundamentally wrong with the apartment (maybe I'm missing out on deals, who knows)

-on Google maps I just search "bars," because I know I want to be within walking distance but don't want to hear drunk people all night, so I avoid things within the few immediate blocks of those bars

-also on Google maps, I look at the $$$ and general vibe of the bars/restaurants to get a sense of the neighborhood. Is there a cheap place where I can get a sausage egg and cheese, or is it only hip brunch places?

-think about what you access weekly where you currently live and find those things on maps as well- grocery stores, bike trails, dog parks

-explore in instagram to get a sense of where the touristy & college student places are

Hope this helps!!

Oh this is great advice, thank you!! I'll stay bookmarking some realty sites now

Thank you both so much, this is great insight!