Rent prices drop for third straight month, even in cities like Austin and Phoenix—here's where they fell most (2024)

The rental market has seemingly flipped: After prices surged throughout 2021 and most of 2022, they've declined almost as quickly for five of the last six months, a new rent report reveals.

U.S. rent prices decreased by 0.25% from January to February 2023, according to the latest data from rental listings site Rent.com. While it's a smaller decrease than in previous months, it brings the U.S. monthly average rent price down to $1,937 — lower than its August 2022 peak of $2,053.

As of February, 12 of the 50 most populous U.S. cities have declining year-over-year rent prices, according to Rent.com data:

  1. Oklahoma City: -15.71%
  2. Austin, Texas: -6.51%
  3. New Orleans: -6.36%
  4. Phoenix: -4%
  5. Minneapolis-St. Paul: -3.5%
  6. Dallas-Fort Worth: -2.56%
  7. Baltimore: -2.21%
  8. Houston: -1.91%
  9. Birmingham, Alabama: -0.55%
  10. Chicago: -0.52%
  11. Denver: -0.34%
  12. Virginia Beach, Virginia: -0.17%

Oklahoma City had the most dramatic decline, with year-over-year rent prices dropping by 15.71% in February. Prices there fell 8% between January and February of this year.

Even with the recent dip in prices, year-over-year U.S. rent prices are still up 1.7% as of February. However, that's a remarkable climb down considering that year-over-year rent growth was double digits for most of 2022.

Raleigh, North Carolina, has seen the most growth, with a year-over-year rent price increase of 19% as of February, according to Rent.com.

Why rent prices are falling

The biggest factor in recent rent price declines is a glut of new rental units in 2023, "the largest in 50 years," says Thomas LaSalvia, director of economic research at Moody's Analytics. Rental unit vacancies have increased slightly as well, he says.

Demand for apartments has cooled off a bit too, which has eased prices. This is due to an "affordability crunch" caused by high rent prices and an uptick in unemployment, he says.

"This is very much a supply and demand story where demand is easing a little bit and supply growth is picking up," says LaSalvia.

With so much economic uncertainty, people are probably thinking twice about moving, especially those looking to move out on their own, he says.

"A newly graduated college student would be less likely to enter into an apartment market, or at least, go with a studio or one bedroom themselves," says LaSalvia. "In some of the higher cost areas, they might be thinking about finding roommates to lower costs."

Even with fewer renters seeking out new homes, demand is still strong enough for a slight overall increase in U.S. rent prices on the year. Moody Analytics expects rent price growth of 2.5% to 3% for 2023.

Barring a recession or unforeseen events, rent prices are expected to grow annually by a range of 3% to 4% in 2024 and 2025, says LaSalvia. That's roughly the same rate that prices grew in the years leading up to the pandemic.

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Rent prices drop for third straight month, even in cities like Austin and Phoenix—here's where they fell most (1)

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Rent prices drop for third straight month, even in cities like Austin and Phoenix—here's where they fell most (2024)

FAQs

Are rent prices going down in Phoenix AZ? ›

Phoenix Rent Report: June 2023. Welcome to the Apartment List June 2023 Rent Report for Phoenix, AZ. Currently, the overall median rent in the city stands at $1,464, roughly the same as last month. Prices remain down 3.9% year-over-year.

Are rent prices going down in Arizona? ›

PHOENIX — It's no secret that rents in the Valley have climbed over the past few years, but now new data shows a slight decrease in rent. Redfin's latest analysis found rents declined in Phoenix by about 2% from March 2022 to March 2023. That's the first annual drop since the pandemic started, according to Redfin.

Are rents going down in Austin? ›

Average rent across Central Texas was $1,683 in December, Heimsath's latest report found. That's up from $1,525 one year prior but down from $1,702 in June 2022, the outlet said. Heimsath believes average rent will drop an additional 5 percent by the end of the year.

What months are rent the cheapest? ›

The lowest rental rates are usually found between October and April, particularly right after the December holiday season. Fewer people are interested in moving—the weather's bad, schools are in session, etc. So individuals renting between the months of December and March typically find the best rental bargains.

Will rent go down in 2023 Arizona? ›

For example, the Phoenix metro area is projected to experience a 0.9% decline in housing prices by the end of February 2023, followed by a further 1.6% decline by the end of April 2023. However, the market is expected to rebound slightly by the end of January 2024 with a 0.2% increase in prices.

Does Phoenix have rent control? ›

Rent control is currently illegal under Arizona law. “The Arizona Chamber will oppose any attempts to impose a rent control scheme on property owners,” Seiden said.

Will rent go down in 2023 Texas? ›

While there's no consensus on what rents will do exactly in 2023 — go up a little, go down a little, or stay flat, according to three forecasts — what's clear is they are expected to return to more normal growth patterns, instead of the unsustainable, record rates seen in 2021 and 2022.

Is there a housing crisis in Arizona? ›

Arizona's housing supply is woefully inadequate for the population's needs, with a shortage of around 270,000 homes, according to the Arizona Department of Housing.

Will the az housing market go down? ›

Arizona's Family got the report which forecasted 2023 and 2024 housing prices to fall the most in the West, where many mortgage payments claim half or more of a monthly income. Cities like Chicago and Philadelphia should see increases instead, although they're expected to be nominal when comparing income.

How much will rent cost in Austin 2023? ›

The average rent for apartments in Austin, TX, is between $999 and $1,912 in 2023.

Why is rent in Austin so high? ›

Couple that with the supply chain issues, the influx of high earners moving to the city and increased mortgage rates forcing potential buyers to rent, you end up with rent prices spiking. "Some rental home prices are increasing due to the recent tax increases that we're going to see on investment homes," said Doggett.

Is Austin housing a bubble? ›

The Austin market is “arguably the largest housing bubble in America based on the fundamental data,” Reventure Consulting CEO Nicholas Gerli said in May. While it takes about five years for a market to crash, Gerli predicted a 30 percent to 40 percent decline in home prices in Austin over the next three years.

What month is rent most expensive? ›

In general, rents tended to be lower during the winter. The “best” months to rent are between December and March (during the winter). Conversely, the “worst” months are between May and October (during the summer).

What day of the week is rent cheapest? ›

The day of the week

If you want to rent from the hottest complex in town, be strategic about the day you apply. If you want the best deal, apply for your apartment on Monday or Friday. If you apply on Tuesday or Sunday, you might pay more.

Can you negotiate rent? ›

The short answer is, yes. You can negotiate your rent. When you're renting an apartment, the price you pay isn't set in stone. But before you even consider negotiating, you need to make sure you know why you're asking for a discount.

Is Phoenix no longer affordable? ›

In 2022, the Phoenix housing market was characterized by rising median home prices, low supply, and above-average demand. Still, Phoenix remained affordable when compared to larger cities. Home prices in Phoenix were $100,000 below the average home prices in LA, Seattle, and even Denver.

Will there be a housing crisis in 2023? ›

It's also worth noting that while foreclosure rates are up year-over-year, experts do not expect to see a wave of foreclosures in 2023, even where home values are depreciating, as many homeowners have substantial equity due to progressive home price appreciation in recent years.

Why is Arizona rent so high? ›

Credible analysis shows that rent in metro Phoenix increased about 6.5 percent between September 2021 and September 2022. That's below the national average of a 9.5 percent increase. The increase in rent is being driven by two major factors: The law of supply and demand and skyrocketing inflation.

Will Arizona have rent control? ›

No, there aren't any rent control laws in Arizona at the moment. Arizona laws prevent local governments to impose rent control laws, which gives landlords much more freedom when managing their week-to-week or month-to-month tenancy agreements.

Why has rent gone up so much in Phoenix? ›

Population growth is one reason why rent is increasing. However, she says that because the rents are rising that population growth could slow. Phoenix also saw a lot of job growth, which enticed more people to move here.

Can you negotiate rent in Arizona? ›

Yes. You can negotiate rent with your landlord or property manager under the right circ*mstances.

Will rents go down in a recession? ›

Just because there's a recession doesn't necessarily mean rent prices go down. In fact, during the 2008 recession, it was the exact opposite. In the current rental market, we have seen the rate of increase in rental prices come down, but this only translates to lower rent prices if you're in select markets.

What is the rent crisis in the US? ›

There is a shortage of 7.3 million affordable and available rental homes for renters with extremely low incomes in the US, up 8 percent from 6.8 million in 2019. The lack of housing options for renters with extremely low incomes are driving the overall affordable housing shortage across the country.

Will Texas rent relief get more funding in 2023? ›

At this time, the Texas Rent Relief program has committed all available funds and is now closed. During the recent re-opening of the application portal on March 14, 2023, requests for assistance far exceeded available funding within the first 24 hours.

What is the real estate forecast for Phoenix in 2023? ›

The ARMLS Pending Price Index is projecting the median sales price will rise ever so slightly to $420,000 in April 2023. If projections are correct, the median sales price will be 11.58% lower than May 2022's record high of $475,000. The year-over-year median sales price is expected to be 10.64% lower.

What's considered low income in AZ? ›

Median Income: $99,900
Classification5 person6 person
Extremely Low (30 %)$35,140$40,280
Very Low (50%)$50,500$54,250
Low (80%)$80,800$86,800

Is homelessness increasing in Arizona? ›

As of January 2022, the number of people experiencing homelessness in Arizona was 13,553, an increase of nearly 25% since 2020. The Homeless population has steadily risen in Arizona since 2017, with Unsheltered homelessness increasing by 62% since 2012.

Is Phoenix housing market cooling? ›

41 among hottest housing markets. After two years of stiff competition and fast-rising prices, the residential housing market in the U.S. began cooling quickly over the second half of 2022 and beginning of 2023.

What happens when the housing market crashes? ›

Homeowners owe more on their mortgages than their homes were worth and can no longer just flip their way out of their homes if they cannot make the new, higher payments. Instead, they will lose their homes to foreclosure and often file for bankruptcy in the process.

Will the Phoenix housing market ever go down? ›

Lower Home Prices. Some experts predict that due to low inventory, home prices won't drop in 2023. While others believe that due to the higher interest rates, sellers will lower their prices to current levels. Home values are expected to go down by 5% to 10% due to unaffordability.

What will happen to Austin housing market in 2023? ›

Austin-Round Rock Metro's home values are expected to drop by 1.4% between March 2023 and March 2024. According to their forecast, the supply and demand dynamics will likely push down prices over the next 12 months.

Is it cheaper to buy or rent in Austin? ›

Nationally, 81% of properties were cheaper to rent. In Austin, Texas, 95% of properties were cheaper to rent than own.

What is the max rent increase in Austin? ›

There is no statewide rent increase limit in Texas, which means landlords are legally allowed to raise the rent as much as they like. Tenants can renegotiate or find other housing, but no legislation limits how much landlords can charge in rent.

Why Millennials are moving to Austin? ›

AUSTIN, Texas — A new study has found that people in the millennial age group are moving to Austin the most out of any U.S. city. A study by the personal finance website SmartAsset found Austin has a strong economy and standard of living that together are acting like a magnet for those of working age.

Why do so many people want to move to Austin? ›

Austin is a popular place to move to due to its thriving job market and lower cost of living compared to other major tech hubs like San Francisco and New York City. Additionally, Austin is known for its world-renowned live music scene, festivals, outdoor activities, and unique local cuisine.

Why is Austin so expensive right now? ›

The rapid influx of tourists to Austin each year, magnetized by its vibrant nightlife, live music, and remarkable outdoor entertainment, has resulted in an exponential increase in living expenses, which are now beyond the means of those with smaller incomes.

Are housing prices in Austin dropping? ›

Median home prices in the Central Austin region also dipped about 10% year over year from $795,000 in March 2022 to $700,000 last month.

What is a good salary in Austin Texas? ›

As of April 2023, the median salary in Austin, TX is $58,000, with 80% of salaries falling between $31,200 and $144,000.

What salary do you need to live in Austin? ›

In Austin, the study found that a single adult would need to be making $55,186 after taxes. If you were in a couple and only 1 adult worked, you would need to make $87,314. The income increases per child and per partner situation.

What day do most people pay rent? ›

Most leases and rental agreements call for rent to be paid monthly, in advance, on the first day of the month. However, landlords are normally legally free to establish a different monthly payment date—or even to require that rent be paid weekly or bimonthly.

What day of the month is best to pay rent? ›

Customarily, the rent is due for the entire lease term, in equal payments, on the first day of each month. Defining the rent due date on the first day of each month creates a comfort zone to the landlord.

What is the best day of the week to rent an apartment? ›

Research shows that the best days of the week to rent an apartment are Mondays and Fridays. Additionally, the most expensive days to rent an apartment are Sundays and Tuesdays. We also recommend trying to rent at the beginning of the day between 9am and 10am for the best prices.

What is the best time to move into apartment? ›

Advantages. Typically, summer is the best time of year to move into an apartment. However, May through September usually have more options to choose from because current leases begin to end. Families also tend to move when their kids are on summer break and have more time off.

What month do most leases end? ›

Most leases expire at the end of the month and require notice 30 days before leaving. Start looking around that time, and you'll find apartments right as they're going on the market. If you want to move in December, start looking in the last couple of weeks of November.

Why is rent so high in Texas? ›

Renters are seeing their housing costs jump as population increases, strict zoning regulations and rising home sales push up rent prices.

What time of year is rent the cheapest? ›

The lowest rental rates are usually found between October and April, particularly right after the December holiday season. Fewer people are interested in moving—the weather's bad, schools are in session, etc. So individuals renting between the months of December and March typically find the best rental bargains.

How do you ask if rent is negotiable? ›

How to Negotiate Your Rent
  1. Ask the landlord if rent price is open to discussion. ...
  2. Highlight your strengths as a tenant. ...
  3. Inquire about extending the lease. ...
  4. Offer to end the lease in the summer. ...
  5. Research the property's value. ...
  6. Be open to compromise. ...
  7. Negotiate directly, follow up in writing. ...
  8. Have a backup plan.
Feb 27, 2020

How do you politely ask for rent? ›

Five Creative Ways To Ask For Your Rent Payment
  1. Offer An Alternative Payment Method. ...
  2. Set Up A New Collection Date (And Stick To It) ...
  3. Sit-Down Conversation. ...
  4. Set Up Rental Payment Reminders. ...
  5. Offer A Prompt Payment Discount.
Nov 26, 2019

Are apartment prices going down in Phoenix? ›

A new study from Rent.com shows the price for rent has dropped 4% in the last year, making it the 4th largest drop in the country. PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) -- Rent prices around the Valley are dropping currently.

Why is rent in Phoenix so high? ›

Credible analysis shows that rent in metro Phoenix increased about 6.5 percent between September 2021 and September 2022. That's below the national average of a 9.5 percent increase. The increase in rent is being driven by two major factors: The law of supply and demand and skyrocketing inflation.

Will Arizona apartment prices drop? ›

Arizona's Family got the report which forecasted 2023 and 2024 housing prices to fall the most in the West, where many mortgage payments claim half or more of a monthly income. Cities like Chicago and Philadelphia should see increases instead, although they're expected to be nominal when comparing income.

What is the rental vacancy rate in Phoenix? ›

Behind the recent dips in rents are an increase in apartment vacancies and the construction of new complexes. Metro Phoenix's rental vacancy rate climbed to 6% during this year's first quarter, according to ABI Multifamily. That's up from 4.5% a year ago.

Is housing going down in Arizona? ›

Median Home Price in Phoenix

For buyers, a growing timeline of homes for sale in the latter half of 2022 helped to lower prices, with the median sales price falling 4.5% year-over-year in January to $425,000.

How much will Phoenix home prices drop in 2023? ›

Zillow predicts that Phoenix metro home values may drop by 1.0% between March 2023 to March 2024.

Does Phoenix have a housing shortage? ›

MacEwan said research by the City of Phoenix found a shortage of around 100,000 affordable rental units back in 2020. "The challenge is affordable housing is not easy to build, and it also cannot be done overnight," MacEwan said. Regulations and costs make building affordable units can be difficult.

Why is Phoenix so overpriced? ›

The reason houses in Arizona are so expensive is that there's a high demand for housing. This is because Arizona is a rapidly growing state with more people moving there every year. Retirees especially love Arizona because of the warm weather and affordable living.

Why is inflation so high in Phoenix? ›

“The major reason why Phoenix's inflation rate is running so much faster than the national average, is what's going on in the housing market,” Hammond said. “Housing is by far the biggest single category in the price index, so it has a huge influence on what happens.”

What is the most expensive city in Phoenix? ›

1. Downtown Phoenix. With a median home price of $524,921 and a median rent of $1,098, Downtown Phoenix is the most expensive neighborhood on our list.

Are there rent caps in Arizona? ›

No, there aren't any rent control laws in Arizona at the moment. Arizona laws prevent local governments to impose rent control laws, which gives landlords much more freedom when managing their week-to-week or month-to-month tenancy agreements.

Why are apartments so expensive in Phoenix? ›

Rents are rising faster in metro Phoenix because the area is growing faster. Real estate firm Redfin's research shows Phoenix gained 85,000 new residents last year, more than any other U.S. city.

What is the rental vacancy rate in Austin? ›

Among Austin residents, there is a homeowner vacancy rate of 1.2% and a rental vacancy rate of 6.2% from a total of 393,616 units.

What cities have the lowest vacancy rates? ›

Cities with the lowest rental vacancy rates
MSAVacancy rate in Q4 2022
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, Florida2.3%
Omaha-Council Bluffs, Nebraska-Iowa2.3%
Fresno, California2.4%
Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade, California2.5%
1 more row
Mar 9, 2023

Is Phoenix a landlord friendly city? ›

Arizona is landlord-friendly because tenants cannot withhold rent for any reason. If a tenant in Arizona fails to pay rent, their landlord may deliver a five-day notice to pay or move out. If the tenant does not pay the landlord within five days, then the landlord can file an eviction lawsuit against the tenant.

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