Standard broker fees range from 12 percent to 15 percent of your first year’s annual rent. For example: If your monthly rent is $2,500, at a rate of 15%, you would have to pay a broker fee of …$4,500!
In some areas, your broker might ‘only’ charge you the equivalent of one month’s rent. And if you’re searching for an apartment in a less competitive market (stay clear of NYC and Boston!), you might choose to tackle the apartment hunt yourself, without any broker.