Rental Market News
Permits to Build U.S. Apartments Drop Below Pre-Pandemic Levels
Developers obtained permits to build 12.4 multifamily housing units for every 10,000 people in the U.S. over the past year—down 27.1% from the pandemic building
U.S. Asking Rents Fell Slightly in March, But Tariffs Could Drive Up Costs for Renters
The median asking rent dropped 0.6% year over year to $1,610, the 13th-straight month in which rents have been fairly stable. New tariffs could increase
Homebuyers Need to Earn Over $50,000 More Than Renters to Afford Monthly Payments—And the Gap Is Widening
Americans need an annual income of $117,000 to afford the typical home for sale. That’s 82% more than they need for the typical rental, up
America’s Renter Population Grew 1% in the Fourth Quarter
New York and Los Angeles are the only metro areas where the majority of households rent. Renting is least common in Cape Coral, FL and
The Rise of the Rich Renter
Affluent renters have become more common in 35 of the 50 most populous U.S. metros since 2019, with Raleigh and Orlando seeing the biggest upticks.
New Apartments Are Filling Up at Nearly the Slowest Pace on Record, But That May Change as Builders Pull Back
Just 47% of newly-built apartments completed in Q3 were rented within three months as a record number of new apartments hit the market. But construction
U.S. Apartment Asking Rents Post Biggest Increase in 2.5 Years
The median asking rent rose 1.7% ($30) year over year to $1,790 in July. Shrinking supply may be tilting the balance of power toward landlords.

Redfin Rental Data Methodology
Asking-rent data cover newly listed units in apartment buildings with 25 or more units. The median is calculated based on rolling three-month periods, i.e., the
U.S. Asking Rents Have Declined for 4 Months in a Row, But Are Still Only $63 Below Their Record High
Asking rents fell in over half the major U.S. metros Redfin analyzed in June. In Austin, rents dropped 6% year over year to the lowest
Asking Rents Are Falling in 28 Major U.S. Metros—the Most Since 2023
The median U.S. asking rent dropped 1% year over year to $1,633 in May as elevated apartment supply gave renters room to negotiate. Asking rents
New Apartments Are Sitting Vacant for Months, Giving Renters Power to Negotiate Concessions
49% of newly built apartments completed in the fourth quarter of 2024 were rented within three months—the fifth consecutive quarter with an absorption rate below
U.S. Asking Rents Fell 1% Year Over Year in April—Biggest Drop in 14 Months
The median asking rent was $1,625, down $80 from the record high, as elevated apartment supply pushed rents lower. Asking rents fell fastest in Austin,