U.S. Asking Rents Ended 2024 at the Lowest Level in Nearly Three Years

Written by Posted On Sunday, 12 January 2025 06:46

The median asking rent fell to $1,594 in December, down 0.3% year over year

The median U.S. asking rent fell 0.3% year over year in December to $1,594—the lowest level since March 2022. That’s according to a new report from Redfin (redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage.

The median asking rent was down 0.1% from a month earlier, and down 6.2% from its August 2022 record high of $1,700.

The median asking rent per square foot dropped 1.9% year over year in December to $1.78, and fell 0.1% month over month.

Asking rents have been inching down because an influx of supply has left apartment owners with rising vacancies. Apartment completions surged 58.1% year over year to the highest level since 1974 in the third quarter—the most recent period for which data is available. As a result, the vacancy rate for buildings with five or more units rose to 8%, the highest since early 2021.

“We’re kicking off 2025 in a renter’s market, with many renters finding that apartments cost less than a year ago—especially in the Sun Belt,” said Redfin Senior Economist Sheharyar Bokhari. “While asking rents declined in 2024, they may not have much further to fall this year given that apartment construction has begun to slow.”

Asking rents fell across all apartment types, with 3+ bedrooms seeing the largest decline

Asking rents fell across all bedroom counts for the sixth consecutive month in December.

The median asking rent for 0-1 bedroom apartments fell 1% year over year to $1,449. For 2 bedroom apartments, it declined 0.6% to $1,665, and for 3+ bedroom apartments, it dropped 2.5% to $1,950.

 

Median asking rent

YoY change in median asking rent

Median asking rent per square foot

YoY change in median asking rent per square foot

0-1 bedroom apartments

$1,449

-1%

$2.05

-2.3%

2 bedroom apartments

$1,665

-0.6%

$1.60

-1%

3+ bedroom apartments

$1,950

-2.5%

$1.49

-2.2%

Asking rents fell fastest in Austin, now 23% below their all-time high

In Austin, TX, the median asking rent dropped 16.3% year over year in December—the largest decline among the 44 major U.S. metropolitan areas Redfin analyzed. At $1,393, Austin’s median asking rent last month was 22.6% below its August 2023 record high.

Florida is home to the two metros that posted the next steepest declines: Tampa (-10.4%) and Jacksonville (-6.7%). Next came Nashville (-6.3%) and New York (-4.6%).

Asking rents are falling most in the Sun Belt because the region has been building a lot of housing, and because in some areas, rents are coming back down to earth after rising to unsustainable levels during the pandemic moving frenzy.

Rents rose most in Providence, RI (12.6% YoY), followed by Virginia Beach, VA (10.9%), Louisville, KY (10%), Baltimore (10%) and Buffalo, NY (9.4%).

To view the full report, including a chart, metro-level summary and methodology, please visit:
https://www.redfin.com/news/rental-tracker-december-2024

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Redfin

Redfin is a technology-driven real estate company with the country's most-visited real estate brokerage website. As part of Rocket Companies (NYSE: RKT), Redfin is creating an integrated homeownership platform from search to close to make the dream of homeownership more affordable and accessible for everyone. Redfin’s clients can see homes first with on-demand tours, easily apply for a home loan with Rocket Mortgage, and save thousands in fees while working with a top local agent. You can find more information about Redfin and get the latest housing market data and research at Redfin.com/news. For more information about Rocket Companies, visit RocketCompanies.com.

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