I am on a winter cycle lease. It is true, the supply of available apartments is lower, but so is the demand for them. Overall, the winter leases are not significantly cheaper, but on average they are just a little bit.

I prefer the winter lease because I believe I have a little bit of leverage with negotiating. I use StreetEasy to track how often and how much real estate agents change listing prices, which gives me better insight to how hungry or desparate a landlord might be for rental income. Inventory moves slower in winter, to my advantage.

In the summer, it frustrates me that apartments are snapped up within days and my biggest threat is another applicant who is faster with paperwork.

Also, the U-Haul website sold out all trucks in a 30 mile radius around the city the last week of July. The other moving truck companies inflate their rental rates 500% on peak summer over a their winter rates.

I would rather layer up and move in the cold if it saves me $$$.