# Apartments.com Rent & Availability Monitor (`benthepythondev/apartments-com-rent-monitor`) Actor

Apartments.com scraper for rent prices, availability and floor plans. Weekly monitor flags rent changes, new or removed units and specials.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/benthepythondev/apartments-com-rent-monitor.md
- **Developed by:** [Ben](https://apify.com/benthepythondev) (community)
- **Categories:** Real estate, Lead generation, Automation
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $3.20 / 1,000 properties

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

### Apartments.com Rent & Availability Monitor

Track Apartments.com rent prices, unit availability and move-in specials week over week. It's an Apartments.com scraper that returns one row per property with floor plans, individual units and fees. In monitor mode it compares each run with the last one and returns only what changed: rent up or down, units leased or listed, specials added or dropped, and properties taken off the market. Export JSON, CSV or Excel, run it on a schedule, call it via API, or connect it to Make, Zapier or n8n.

#### What you get

| Field | What it holds |
|---|---|
| `name`, `url`, `listingId` | Property name, Apartments.com page, stable listing ID |
| `address`, `city`, `state`, `zip`, `fullAddress`, `neighborhood` | Location as listed |
| `latitude`, `longitude` | Map coordinates |
| `rentMin`, `rentMax` | Lowest and highest listed monthly rent across the property |
| `bedsMin`/`bedsMax`, `bathsMin`/`bathsMax`, `sqftMin`/`sqftMax` | Ranges across all floor plans (0 beds = studio) |
| `unitsAvailable` | Number of listed units (or plan-level count when units aren't itemised) |
| `floorPlans[]` | Per plan: `name`, beds, baths, `rentMin`/`rentMax`, `sqftMin`/`sqftMax`, `unitsAvailable`, `availableDate` |
| `units[]` | Per unit: `unitNumber`, `floorPlan`, beds, baths, `rent`, `sqft`, `availableDate` |
| `moveInSpecials` | Current specials text, such as "Up to 10 weeks free!" |
| `amenities` | Community and apartment amenities |
| `petPolicy` | Per pet type: fees (deposit, one-time fee, pet rent) and notes such as weight limits |
| `fees` | Required and optional fees: parking, utilities, application, service fees |
| `phone`, `managementCompany`, `managementCompanyUrl` | Leasing phone and property manager |
| `photos` | Up to 5 photo URLs |
| `scrapedAt` | UTC time the page was read |

Monitor mode adds `changeType`, `previousRent`, `currentRent`, `rentDelta`, `rentDeltaPct`, `firstSeen` and `lastSeen` (explained below).

#### Who uses it

- **Appraisers and valuation teams** pulling current asking rents and unit mixes as rental comps.
- **Multifamily investors** watching rent cuts, concessions and lease-up speed in a submarket before buying.
- **Proptech and data teams** feeding a weekly rent index or pricing model.
- **Property managers** keeping an eye on what competing buildings charge and which specials they run.

##### Need this as a managed weekly feed?

We track rental listings in your markets for you: weekly rent and availability snapshots with price changes flagged, delivered as CSV or JSON (other formats on request). Useful for comps, market studies and portfolio monitoring. You get a free sample before paying. [Tell us what you need →](https://benthepythondev00.github.io/custom.html?utm_source=apify\&utm_medium=readme\&utm_campaign=apartments-feed)

#### Quick start

Open the Actor and press **Start**. The prefilled input searches Austin, TX and returns 20 properties:

```json
{
  "locations": ["Austin, TX"],
  "maxResults": 20
}
```

`locations` accepts city and state (`"Chicago, IL"`), 5-digit ZIP codes (`"78704"`) or a full Apartments.com search URL. Filters (`minRent`, `maxRent`, `minBeds`, `minBaths`, `pets`, `propertyType`) apply to city and ZIP entries. With several locations, `maxResults` is split evenly between them.

A real row from the prefilled Austin cloud run (`2LeUj2vIRLEMkaAbL`, September 30, 2026; floor plans, units, amenities and fees shortened):

```json
{
  "listingId": "s286zb6",
  "name": "The Watson",
  "url": "https://www.apartments.com/the-watson-austin-tx/s286zb6/",
  "propertyType": "Apartment",
  "fullAddress": "11901 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78758",
  "neighborhood": "North Burnet",
  "latitude": 30.40504,
  "longitude": -97.71511,
  "rentMin": 1615,
  "rentMax": 8154,
  "bedsMin": 0,
  "bedsMax": 3,
  "sqftMin": 425,
  "sqftMax": 2266,
  "unitsAvailable": 132,
  "floorPlans": [
    {"name": "S1WF", "beds": 0, "baths": 1, "rentMin": 1615, "rentMax": 1615, "sqftMin": 434, "sqftMax": 434, "unitsAvailable": 1, "availableDate": "2026-09-29", "availability": "Available Now"}
  ],
  "units": [
    {"unitNumber": "1-652", "floorPlan": "S1WF", "beds": 0, "baths": 1, "rent": 1615, "sqft": 434, "availableDate": "2026-09-29", "availability": "Available Now"}
  ],
  "moveInSpecials": ["Up to 10 weeks free! Contact leasing team for details."],
  "amenities": ["Pool", "Fitness Center", "Elevator", "Clubhouse", "Package Service"],
  "petPolicy": [
    {"pet": "Dogs", "fees": [{"category": "Dogs", "name": "Pet Rent", "value": "$20 / mo", "note": "Max of 2. Charged per pet."}], "notes": ["99 lbs. Weight Limit"]}
  ],
  "fees": [{"category": "Parking", "name": "Parking", "value": "$75 / mo", "note": "Charged per vehicle."}],
  "phone": "832-730-2535",
  "managementCompany": "MORGAN",
  "managementCompanyUrl": "https://www.apartments.com/pmc/morgan/bhgze89/",
  "photos": ["https://images1.apartments.com/i2/jbhJbOG6yYXCQeqdGNH7FvMtbjDuXG8-E9P_lPy_iDs/111/the-watson-austin-tx-primary-photo.jpg?p=1"],
  "scrapedAt": "2026-09-30T11:27:55+00:00"
}
```

#### Weekly monitoring

Turn on `monitorMode`, give the search a `stateKey`, save it as an Apify Task and schedule it weekly:

```json
{
  "locations": ["Austin, TX"],
  "maxRent": 2500,
  "minBeds": 2,
  "maxResults": 50,
  "monitorMode": true,
  "stateKey": "austin-2br-under-2500"
}
```

The first run saves a baseline and returns every property with `changeType: "new"`. Later runs re-check every tracked property and return **only the properties that changed**. If nothing changed, the dataset is empty. Snapshots live in a named key-value store in your own Apify account (`apartments-com-rent-monitor`), one record per `stateKey`.

| `changeType` | Meaning |
|---|---|
| `new` | Property wasn't in the snapshot before (see the note below) |
| `removed` | Listing is gone from Apartments.com or marked off-market |
| `rent_up` / `rent_down` | The property's lowest listed rent (`rentMin`) went up or down |
| `availability_change` | The set of listed units changed: units leased, added or relisted. `previousUnitsAvailable` shows the old count |
| `special_added` / `special_removed` | A move-in special appeared or ended |

Every change row carries the full property row plus:

- `previousRent` and `currentRent`: `rentMin` last time and now
- `rentDelta`: `currentRent - previousRent` in dollars (negative = cheaper)
- `rentDeltaPct`: the same change as a percentage of `previousRent`
- `firstSeen`: when this monitor first saw the property
- `lastSeen`: when this run saw it

One property can produce more than one row in a run, for example `rent_down` and `special_added`.

**About `new`:** Apartments.com rotates the order of search results, so a property entering the top 50 doesn't mean it was just listed. The Actor reports `new` only when the whole search fits inside `maxResults`. When the search is bigger, newcomers quietly fill free tracking slots. For real new-listing alerts, use a narrow search (ZIP code plus filters) and a `maxResults` above its total.

#### Pricing

Pay per event:

| Event | Price |
|---|---:|
| Property scraped (full detail page with floor plans and units) | **$0.004** |
| Change row returned in monitor mode | **$0.002** |
| Actor start (per GB of memory; default 4 GB = $0.0002) | $0.00005 |

Bronze, Silver and Gold plans get 10%, 15% and 20% off each event. A 20-property Austin run costs about $0.08. A weekly monitor of 50 properties costs $0.20 per run plus $0.002 per change. The baseline run's `new` rows aren't charged as changes. Set `maxResults` and a maximum run charge to cap spend.

#### FAQ and limits

**How does it get past Apartments.com's bot protection?** It runs a stealth Firefox that passes Apartments.com's bot check once, then reads search and property pages inside that session. When a session gets blocked it opens a fresh one, up to 4 per run. A page that still fails is logged and skipped, and the run keeps going.

**Why is `rentMin` below my `minRent` filter?** Apartments.com filters by matching units, while `rentMin`/`rentMax` cover the whole property. Use `units[]` or `floorPlans[]` to see which units fit.

**Are units always itemised?** No. Some properties only list floor plans. Then `units` is empty and `unitsAvailable` counts plan-level availability.

**Does `removed` mean the unit was rented?** It means the listing page is gone or off-market. That usually means fully leased or delisted, but the Actor can't tell which.

**Can several monitors run in parallel?** Yes, as long as each has its own `stateKey`. Don't run two overlapping runs on the same key.

**Can I use it without monitoring?** Yes. Leave `monitorMode` off and every run returns the full property rows.

**Is it legal?** It reads publicly visible listing pages. Check Apartments.com's terms and your local rules for your use case, keep collection bounded, and handle phone numbers under the privacy and marketing rules that apply to you (GDPR, CAN-SPAM, TCPA).

**Found a problem?** Open an issue on the Actor with the run link and input. An honest review after a useful run helps other users.

#### Related Actors

[Zumper rentals](https://apify.com/benthepythondev/zumper-rental-scraper), [HotPads rentals](https://apify.com/benthepythondev/hotpads-rental-scraper) and [Craigslist real estate](https://apify.com/benthepythondev/craigslist-real-estate-scraper) cover other US rental sources.

**Keywords:** apartments.com scraper, apartments.com API, rent prices, rent monitoring, rental availability, floor plans, unit availability, move-in specials, rental comps, multifamily data, apartment rent tracker, weekly rent changes, rent index, Austin apartments, Chicago apartments, Atlanta apartments.

# Actor input Schema

## `locations` (type: `array`):

City and state ("Austin, TX"), 5-digit ZIP codes ("78704"), or full Apartments.com search URLs. Filters below apply to city and ZIP entries; a pasted URL keeps its own filters.

## `minRent` (type: `integer`):

Only properties with a unit at or above this rent.

## `maxRent` (type: `integer`):

Only properties with a unit at or below this rent.

## `minBeds` (type: `integer`):

Only properties with units that have at least this many bedrooms. Leave empty for any, including studios.

## `minBaths` (type: `integer`):

Only properties with units that have at least this many bathrooms.

## `pets` (type: `string`):

Limit to pet-friendly properties.

## `propertyType` (type: `string`):

Apartments.com rental category.

## `maxResults` (type: `integer`):

Maximum number of properties to scrape across all locations. Each property is one charged result.

## `includeFloorPlans` (type: `boolean`):

Add floorPlans\[] with rent range, beds, baths, sqft and availability per plan.

## `includeUnits` (type: `boolean`):

Add units\[] with unit number, rent, sqft and available date for every listed unit.

## `monitorMode` (type: `boolean`):

Compare with the previous run for the same stateKey and output only changes: new, removed, rent\_up, rent\_down, availability\_change, special\_added, special\_removed. The first run stores the baseline and returns every property as new.

## `stateKey` (type: `string`):

Name for this monitor's saved snapshot (for example "austin-2br-under-2500"). Use the same key every week. Left empty, a key is derived from the locations and filters.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "locations": [
    "Austin, TX"
  ],
  "pets": "none",
  "propertyType": "any",
  "maxResults": 20,
  "includeFloorPlans": true,
  "includeUnits": true,
  "monitorMode": false
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `results` (type: `string`):

No description

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "locations": [
        "Austin, TX"
    ],
    "maxResults": 20
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("benthepythondev/apartments-com-rent-monitor").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "locations": ["Austin, TX"],
    "maxResults": 20,
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("benthepythondev/apartments-com-rent-monitor").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "locations": [
    "Austin, TX"
  ],
  "maxResults": 20
}' |
apify call benthepythondev/apartments-com-rent-monitor --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,benthepythondev/apartments-com-rent-monitor"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/pYM61C41UT504KvoC/builds/F0VbgYiYhWFU84ZZW/openapi.json