Rental Market News

Newly Built Apartments Are Starting to Fill Up Faster, But At a Slower Pace Than Last Year
54% of U.S. apartments that were completed in the first quarter rented within three months, up from 47% a quarter earlier. Newly-built studio apartments rented out faster than other bedroom types. One-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments rented out slower as completions climbed by more than 20%. More than half (54%) of newly constructed apartments completed in

Asking Rents for New Apartments Drop 6% to Lowest Level Since 2022, as Finished Buildings Soar
The asking rent for a new apartment fell to $1,746 in the second quarter, down 6.2% from a year ago. One-bedroom apartments fell the most, dropping 9% to $1,566. Asking rents dropped at the same time new apartment completions rose to the highest level in at least 12 years. Asking rents for newly constructed apartments

Typical Swing State Renter Earns 17% Less Than Needed to Afford Typical Apartment—But That’s an Improvement From the Last Presidential Election
During the last election cycle, the typical swing state renter household earned 21% less than they needed to afford the median priced apartment. Still, many renters feel the rent is “too damn high,” meaning the housing affordability crisis is a key issue for swing state voters deciding this year’s presidential race. Arizona has seen a

Asking Rents Rose the Most in Over a Year in August, But Remain Below Record Highs Hit Two Years Earlier
The median asking rent climbed for the fifth consecutive month, up 0.9% year over year to $1,645. Rents dropped 17.9% in Austin—more than any other metro Redfin analyzed. East Coast and Midwest metros saw the steepest increases. Asking rents for 0-1 and 2 bedroom apartments remained flat, while 3+ bedroom apartments fell 1.7%. The median

The Typical College Grad in the Bay Area Can Afford Rent If They Have a Roommate. A Year Ago, They Couldn’t.
In San Jose, the typical recent grad would need to spend 28% of their income to rent the median priced 2 bedroom apartment with a roommate. That’s down from 31% in 2023, which was considered unaffordable because it was above the 30% affordability threshold. The story is similar in San Francisco and Sacramento. Nationwide, the

The Typical Teacher Can Afford 48% of Apartments Near Their School—Up From 41% Last Year. But They Can Afford Just 14% of Homes for Sale
Rental affordability has improved thanks to flattening rents and a modest increase in teacher pay. In Portland, OR, the typical teacher can afford 91% of apartments near their school—the highest share among the metros Redfin analyzed. The share is lowest in Miami, at 0.2%. Cleveland ranks most affordable when it comes to homebuying; the typical

Newly Built Apartments Are Starting to Fill Up Faster, But At a Slower Pace Than Last Year
54% of U.S. apartments that were completed in the first quarter rented within three months, up from 47% a quarter earlier. Newly-built studio apartments rented out faster than other bedroom types. One-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments rented out slower as completions climbed by more than 20%. More than half (54%) of newly constructed apartments completed in

Asking Rents for New Apartments Drop 6% to Lowest Level Since 2022, as Finished Buildings Soar
The asking rent for a new apartment fell to $1,746 in the second quarter, down 6.2% from a year ago. One-bedroom apartments fell the most, dropping 9% to $1,566. Asking rents dropped at the same time new apartment completions rose to the highest level in at least 12 years. Asking rents for newly constructed apartments

Typical Swing State Renter Earns 17% Less Than Needed to Afford Typical Apartment—But That’s an Improvement From the Last Presidential Election
During the last election cycle, the typical swing state renter household earned 21% less than they needed to afford the median priced apartment. Still, many renters feel the rent is “too damn high,” meaning the housing affordability crisis is a key issue for swing state voters deciding this year’s presidential race. Arizona has seen a

Asking Rents Rose the Most in Over a Year in August, But Remain Below Record Highs Hit Two Years Earlier
The median asking rent climbed for the fifth consecutive month, up 0.9% year over year to $1,645. Rents dropped 17.9% in Austin—more than any other metro Redfin analyzed. East Coast and Midwest metros saw the steepest increases. Asking rents for 0-1 and 2 bedroom apartments remained flat, while 3+ bedroom apartments fell 1.7%. The median

The Typical College Grad in the Bay Area Can Afford Rent If They Have a Roommate. A Year Ago, They Couldn’t.
In San Jose, the typical recent grad would need to spend 28% of their income to rent the median priced 2 bedroom apartment with a roommate. That’s down from 31% in 2023, which was considered unaffordable because it was above the 30% affordability threshold. The story is similar in San Francisco and Sacramento. Nationwide, the

The Typical Teacher Can Afford 48% of Apartments Near Their School—Up From 41% Last Year. But They Can Afford Just 14% of Homes for Sale
Rental affordability has improved thanks to flattening rents and a modest increase in teacher pay. In Portland, OR, the typical teacher can afford 91% of apartments near their school—the highest share among the metros Redfin analyzed. The share is lowest in Miami, at 0.2%. Cleveland ranks most affordable when it comes to homebuying; the typical