(and of course 2-3 months of "free" rent is economically indistinguishable from a drop in rents). I hate the "free months" with a passion, because they carry a

(and of course 2-3 months of "free" rent is economically indistinguishable from a drop in rents). I hate the "free months" with a passion, because they carry an implicit rent-raise next year: even if rent stays the same, your effective rent rises because you're paying for 12 months instead of 11. I usually try to negotiate the "free months" into a lowered rent (e.g. $2250/month instead of $2400 with a one-month concession). It means that I pay a little more in the first year, but next year's rent will be anchored to this year's.