Moving Between November and February? What to Know About Houston New Builds This Winter (2026-27)

Your lease ends in December, or your new job starts in January, and you’re wondering if winter is a good time to move. For new Houston buildings, winter is usually a slower leasing season. That can work in your favor, as long as you see the whole bill and plan for the renewal that comes after.

Here’s what to know if you’re moving between November 2026 and February 2027. Live specials change daily on our Houston apartment specials page, so treat the numbers below as a dated snapshot.

Where specials stand going into winter

On Oct 25, 2026, the board median special was 8.0 weeks across 128 market-rate communities, and 52% were at 8 weeks or more. The live median updates each morning, with base rent always shown beside it. We never post a fixed price for a property here; prices come from the feed.

The bigger picture: 55% of Houston-area units had a concession in Q2 2026 (Transwestern). Deliveries fall from about 13,000 in 2026 to about 5,600 in 2027, the lowest in nearly 15 years (Northmarq). Many buildings opening this year are still in lease-up through the winter.

Why lease terms matter more in winter

Buildings don’t love renewals that land in December or January, when fewer people move. So in winter, you’ll often see longer terms tied to the deepest specials, like 13, 14 or 15 months. A 15-month lease signed in December ends in March, which moves your next decision into spring.

That can be good for you too. But a longer term spreads the same free weeks over more months. Here’s our Prose Riviana illustration in Katy, values as of Oct 25, 2026:

Term	Weeks free	Net effective
12 months	10	about $1,018
15 months	10	about $1,066

At $1,260 base, a 15-month term would need about 12.5 weeks free to match 10 weeks on 12 months. Our guide on 12 vs. 15 months walks through the choice step by step, and the lease term calculator on our tools page runs it for any base.

Pick the renewal month on purpose

If the monthly numbers are close, choose the term whose renewal lands in a month that suits you. A spring renewal usually comes with more nearby options to compare.

Plan for year two before you sign

The winter special ends with your first lease. Renewal is priced from base, so year two can jump. At the board’s median special, it was about 18% (board math, Oct 25, 2026). In the Prose Riviana illustration, the true monthly went from $1,095 on 12 months to $1,337.62 in year two at 0% change, a $242 jump.

That’s not a reason to skip a winter special. It’s a reason to compare buildings on two years. Our guide on the year-two jump shows the formula, and around month 10, our Renewal Check compares your offer with nearby new builds.

Weather and phased buildings

Houston winters are mild, but rain and the occasional freeze can slow outdoor work. At buildings still finishing phases, that can push amenity dates or the next phase.

If you’re moving into a building that’s still being finished:

• Get your move-in date confirmed in writing
• Ask which amenities are open and when the rest will be
• Read the move-in delay clause, especially if your current lease ends close to your move date
• Keep a backup building in mind until you have keys

Fees don’t change with the season

Required fees stay the same in winter. At 11 board buildings, they ran $77.62 to $158.06 a month, median $98 (Oct 25, 2026). A winter special lowers rent, not fees, so add them before you compare.

A winter move checklist

1. Write down your lease end and your latest workable move-in date.
2. Compare net effective on 12 months and on any longer term offered.
3. Add required fees, then electric, water and parking.
4. Check year two for each term.
5. Confirm move-in dates and amenity dates in writing.
6. Line up a backup building if your dates are tight.

Send us your lease-end date and we’ll line up terms and a backup building. Get my shortlist