In news that is bound to make the inflationists at the Fed as well as property owners happy, Landlords Will Hike Rents by 8% this Year.
Some 88% of property managers raised their rent in the last 12 months and 68% predict that rental rates will continue to rise in the next year by an average of 8%, according to a survey of more than 500 of Rent.com's property management customers, which the site says represents thousands of rental properties and hundreds of thousands of rental units. That's nearly three times the wage increase that most employees can expect this year.
What's more, 55% of property managers said that they are less likely to offer concessions or lower rents in order to fill vacancies. One reason why they're getting even tougher: They are in a stronger position than they were this time last year.
More than 46% of property managers surveyed reported a decrease in rental vacancies in Rent.com's survey and, in the second quarter of 2015, vacancy rates in the U.S. for rental housing was 6.8%, the lowest it has been in almost 20 years, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Despite this, many renters are spending more than 30% of their income on rent (the amount generally recommended) and need help qualifying for the lease.
Yardi Survey
Reader “BJ” is retired but works part-time a number of hours each week, surveying apartments for rent. He reports …
Hi Mish
I am retired but work part-time for Yardi from my home, surveying apartments for rents. Yardi runs a full survey 3 times a year, Jan, May and Sept. These generally run about 6 weeks.
Yardi has the country divided into 24 sectors and we normally work 6-7 sectors once a month for a week on a rotating basis. Toward the end of the survey, we can work any market and I've been keeping track of a few select places. From what I see, rents are up and up a lot. Some of the places I watch are up 7% or more than last year for the same apartments.
The absolute worst places to be looking for a rental unit are San Fran and North LA. If anyone does answer the phone in those areas, it's either a new building just opening, or they don't have anything. You can't even get on a waiting list. I've seen apartments in tight areas where they want you to make 3X net before they will talk to you.
Portland, Seattle, Washington DC, northern NJ, Miami and Boston are also difficult. I talked to a complex in Portland last week that had 3500 apartments under management with a total of 7 open apartments.
I am amazed by the amount of apartments that are either tax credit or subsidized in some manner. All of them have long waiting lists.
