Multifamily Market Trends

Renting vs. Buying in 2026: Why Apartments and Single-Family Rentals Are Winning the Affordability Math

Renting vs. Buying in 2026: Why Apartments and Single-Family Rentals Are Winning the Affordability Math

Renting is now dramatically cheaper than buying in many U.S. metros — and the gap is not limited to high-cost coastal cities. From California to the Sun Belt, the rent-vs-buy math is reshaping apartment demand, single-family rental demand, resident renewals, and the future of multifamily operations.

Top Apartment Rent Growth Markets in 2026: What the May RealPage Leaders Reveal About Multifamily Demand

Top Apartment Rent Growth Markets in 2026: What the May RealPage Leaders Reveal About Multifamily Demand

Apartment rent growth is no longer spreading evenly across the country. RealPage’s May 2026 rent growth leaders show a sharply divided multifamily market where tech hubs, supply-constrained metros, and select Midwest markets are outperforming high-supply Sun Belt competitors. For apartment owners and property managers, the message is clear: when rents rise, resident expectations rise with them.

Gen Z Is Still Moving — Is Your Apartment Community Ready for the Next Renter Migration Wave?

Gen Z Is Still Moving — Is Your Apartment Community Ready for the Next Renter Migration Wave?

Moving has slowed across the U.S., but not equally. Gen Z renters are still relocating toward markets like Denver, Minneapolis, Austin, Raleigh, Richmond, Seattle, San Francisco, and Philadelphia. For apartment owners and property managers, that creates a powerful opportunity: communities that deliver convenience, cleanliness, compliance, and frictionless resident services will be better positioned to win the next wave of renters.

Here’s What the Data Really Reveals

Here’s What the Data Really Reveals

The NMHC Top 50 rankings are out—but the real story isn’t who’s biggest. It’s how fragmented the apartment industry has become—and why operational efficiency is now the only competitive edge.