Once again, rental growth trends are favoring slower, non-gateway markets. Primary markets and west coast markets are seeing the largest impact from COVID-19. Unemployment benefits are falling short and retention rates have reached all-time highs.

Below are key takeaways from the following reports:

This Week in Multifamily: Rent Performance, Unemployment Impact Vary by Market – RealPage – Link

Matrix National Multifamily Report – July 2020 – Yardi Matrix – Link

Download the PDF version of this report here:

This Week in Multifamily: Rent Performance, Unemployment Impact Vary by Market

RealPage

• Effective asking rents are off 1.4% compared to August 2019 on a national basis
  • Markets in which rent growth are traditionally slow and steady are now leading the nation in rent growth
• Unemployment benefits will fall short in some markets
  • Renter’s surviving on unemployment benefits will have trouble making ends meet
  • In major markets, renters will be living on less than $500 per month after paying rent
• As of August 27, a little more than 92% of renters had paid rent according to NMHC
  • This is below the rate of 94% seen during the same time last year
  • Retention rates are at record highs, with a renewal rate of more than 53% of those renters with leases expiring in July

Matrix National Multifamily Report – June 2020

Yardi Matrix

• US. multifamily rents increased by $2 in July, falling to $1,460, ending the four-month trend of declines
  • Year-over-year growth remained negative at -0.3%, unchanged from June
  • Of the top 30 markets, year-over-year rent growth is negative in 17 markets
• West Coast and gateway markets continue to show the steepest declines in rents
  • San Jose and San Francisco are leading in this category with -5.0% and -4.1% respectively
  • Las Vegas and Phoenix have held up well, both positive in rent growth with 1.2% and 3.2% respectively
    • Las Vegas is the biggest surprise, as it was initially one market expected to drop significantly due to its dependence on tourism
• On a month-over-month basis, 25 of the top 30 markets performed better in July than in June
  • Rents increased 10 basis points in July on a month over month basis