Nationally, rent prices increased slightly in April, with the median one-bedroom rent rising to $1,012 per month. That’s the highest it’s been since January’s figure of $1,016, and represents an overall decline since the beginning of the year of .39%.
When it came to the steepest rent drops, two familiar faces led the way: Lincoln, Neb., and Fort Wayne, Ind. Each city’s rent dropped 8.2%, to continue a months-long slide. Lincoln’s median rent of $627 represents a 21% decrease from its January rent of $801, and Fort Wayne’s $493 is a 26.4% decline from its year-opening rent of $671 per month.
Those declines might seem steep. One explanation: In order to better approximate what an apartment-seeker would experience when looking for a place to rent, ABODO collects data only on active listings currently on the market, which can vary widely month-to-month, depending on supply.
The rest of the biggest decreases were more minor, between 3% and 5%. A number of cities — Lubbock, Texas (-4.6%); Nashville, Tenn. (-4.3%); Cleveland, Ohio (-3.4%); and Riverside, Calif. (-3.2%) — reprised their places on the list of greatest decreases for the second month in a row. In fact, this marks the third straight month that Nashville, Cleveland, and Riverside appeared on the list of greatest rental falls.
The nation’s largest rental hike came in Glendale, AZ, where one-bedroom median rents rose 11.5% to $861. That marks the continuation of a months-long trend: Glendale rents have increased every month since January, and currently they’re 26% higher than they were at the beginning of the year. New Orleans (8.1%), Seattle (6.7%), and Phoenix (4.9%) also reprise their places on the list of biggest rent increases.
The list of cities with the nation’s highest rents in April is largely unchanged from our last report. San Francisco’s $3,415 price tag still leads the way, followed by New York City, N.Y. ($2,705), San Jose, Calif. ($2,459); and Boston, Mass. ($2,398). The only newcomer is Seattle, whose 6.7% rental jump to $1,680 puts it at the tenth-highest in the country.
For the full report and to view associated infographics and charts, click here.
Related Stories
Affordable Housing | Mar 12, 2024
An all-electric affordable housing project in Southern California offers 48 apartments plus community spaces
In Santa Monica, Calif., Brunson Terrace is an all-electric, 100% affordable housing project that’s over eight times more energy efficient than similar buildings, according to architect Brooks + Scarpa. Located across the street from Santa Monica College, the net zero building has been certified LEED Platinum.
MFPRO+ News | Mar 12, 2024
Multifamily housing starts and permitting activity drop 10% year-over-year
The past year saw over 1.4 million new homes added to the national housing inventory. Despite the 4% growth in units, both the number of new homes under construction and the number of permits dropped year-over-year.
Affordable Housing | Mar 11, 2024
Los Angeles’s streamlined approval policies leading to boom in affordable housing plans
Since December 2022, Los Angeles’s planning department has received plans for more than 13,770 affordable units. The number of units put in the approval pipeline in roughly one year is just below the total number of affordable units approved in Los Angeles in 2020, 2021, and 2022 combined.
MFPRO+ Research | Mar 6, 2024
Top 10 trends in senior living facilities for 2024
The 65-and-over population is growing faster than any other age group. Architects, engineers, and contractors are coming up with creative senior housing solutions to better serve this burgeoning cohort.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 4, 2024
Single-family rentals continue to grow in BTR communities
Single-family rentals are continuing to grow in built-to-rent communities. Both rent and occupancy growth have been strong in recent months while remaining a financially viable option for renters.
MFPRO+ News | Mar 2, 2024
Job gains boost Yardi Matrix National Rent Forecast for 2024
Multifamily asking rents broke the five-month streak of sequential average declines in January, rising 0.07 percent, shows a new special report from Yardi Matrix.
MFPRO+ News | Mar 1, 2024
Housing affordability, speed of construction are top of mind for multifamily architecture and construction firms
The 2023 Multifamily Giants get creative to solve the affordability crisis, while helping their developer clients build faster and more economically.
Multifamily Housing | Feb 29, 2024
Manny Gonzalez, FAIA, inducted into Best in American Living Awards Hall of Fame
Manny Gonzalez, FAIA, has been inducted into the BALA Hall of Fame.
MFPRO+ Research | Feb 28, 2024
New download: BD+C's 2023 Multifamily Amenities report
New research from Building Design+Construction and Multifamily Pro+ highlights the 127 top amenities that developers, property owners, architects, contractors, and builders are providing in today’s apartment, condominium, student housing, and senior living communities.
MFPRO+ Research | Feb 27, 2024
Most competitive rental markets of early 2024
The U.S. rental market in early 2024 is moderately competitive, with apartments taking an average of 41 days to find tenants, according to the latest RentCafe Market Competitivity Report.