Rental Housing Blog
Data-driven articles on Fair Market Rent, affordability, and rental housing trends across 3,000+ US counties.
March 28, 2026
The Future of Renting in America: Trends Shaping the Market
A data-driven look at where the rental market is headed based on Fair Market Rent trends, supply constraints, and demographic shifts.
March 22, 2026
Luxury Apartment Trends: Is the Premium Worth It?
How luxury apartment rents compare to Fair Market Rent benchmarks and whether the premium pencils out for renters.
March 15, 2026
Rural Rental Markets: What You'll Pay Outside Metro Areas
Fair Market Rent data reveals surprising rental costs in rural counties far from major metro areas.
March 8, 2026
States with Rent Increase Caps: Where Limits Exist
A state-by-state guide to rent increase caps, how they work, and what HUD data shows about their effect on rents.
March 1, 2026
Low-Income Housing Options: Every Program Available
A complete guide to low-income housing programs including Section 8, public housing, LIHTC, and emergency assistance.
February 22, 2026
First Apartment Budget Guide: True Costs Beyond Monthly Rent
What first-time renters actually pay beyond rent including deposits, utilities, insurance, and move-in fees by market.
February 14, 2026
Corporate Landlords: How Institutional Investors Affect Rent
Data on how institutional investor activity in rental markets correlates with Fair Market Rent changes.
February 11, 2026
Building Credit as a Renter: Rent Reporting Services Explained
How rent reporting services work, what they cost, and whether they actually help renters build credit scores.
February 6, 2026
Senior Housing Affordability: Rent Burden for Older Americans
HUD data shows seniors face disproportionate rent burden, here is how affordability varies by county for older renters.
January 29, 2026
Rent Stabilization Explained: How It Differs from Rent Control
The key differences between rent stabilization and rent control, where each exists, and how they affect Fair Market Rent.
January 20, 2026
Utility Costs by State: The Hidden Expense Beyond Rent
State-by-state utility cost data that shows what renters actually pay on top of Fair Market Rent.
January 12, 2026
Gentrification and Rising Rents: Data from Changing Neighborhoods
How Fair Market Rent data tracks with gentrification patterns in counties experiencing rapid demographic change.
January 7, 2026
Lease Agreement Guide: Key Terms Every Renter Should Understand
Plain-language explanations of common lease terms, clauses, and provisions that every renter should understand before signing.
January 3, 2026
Roommate Cost Savings: How Much You Save Sharing an Apartment
FMR data shows how much renters save by sharing, comparing studio, 1BR, and 2BR Fair Market Rents across counties.
December 18, 2025
Pet Rent and Fees: How Much Extra Pet Owners Pay by Market
A market-by-market analysis of pet deposits, monthly pet rent, and breed restrictions across US rental markets.
December 10, 2025
Rent Negotiation Tips: How to Lower Your Monthly Payment
Practical strategies for negotiating rent backed by Fair Market Rent data that shows when you have leverage.
December 5, 2025
Zoning Laws and Rent Prices: How Regulation Affects Housing Costs
How zoning restrictions limit housing supply and drive Fair Market Rents higher in regulated markets.
December 1, 2025
Seasonal Rent Fluctuations: The Best Month to Sign a Lease
Data-backed analysis of seasonal rental pricing patterns and the best time of year to sign a lease.
November 22, 2025
The Affordable Housing Shortage: How Big Is the Gap?
NLIHC and HUD data quantify the gap between affordable housing supply and demand across US counties.
November 14, 2025
Eviction Data in America: Rates and Causes by County
County-level eviction rates, primary causes, and how eviction correlates with rent burden and Fair Market Rent levels.
November 9, 2025
Housing Voucher Waitlists: How Long Families Wait by State
State-by-state data on Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waitlist lengths and what drives the delays.
November 5, 2025
Subletting Guide: Rules, Risks, and Rent Savings
How subletting works, legal considerations by state, and how much subletting can reduce housing costs.
October 28, 2025
Rent-to-Income Ratio: How Much Should You Spend on Housing?
The 30% rule and beyond, how rent-to-income ratios vary by county and what HUD data says about rent burden.
October 19, 2025
College Town Rent Data: The Most Expensive Campus Markets
Fair Market Rent data for college counties reveals which campus towns have the highest and lowest student housing costs.
October 11, 2025
Military BAH vs Local Rent: Where Housing Allowance Falls Short
Comparing Basic Allowance for Housing rates to Fair Market Rent data near major military installations.
October 6, 2025
Short-Term Rentals and Local Rent: The Airbnb Effect on Housing Costs
How short-term rental growth correlates with Fair Market Rent increases in tourist-heavy counties.
October 2, 2025
Remote Work and Rent Migration: How WFH Changed Rental Markets
Fair Market Rent data tracks the remote work migration, where rents rose as workers relocated.
September 24, 2025
Security Deposit Laws by State: What Landlords Can Charge
State-by-state security deposit limits, return timelines, and what renters need to know to protect their money.
September 16, 2025
Rent Increases: How Much Can Your Landlord Raise Rent?
Legal limits on rent increases by state and how actual year-over-year FMR changes compare.
September 10, 2025
Rent Assistance Programs: Emergency and Ongoing Help
A complete guide to federal, state, and local rent assistance programs for renters who need help paying housing costs.
September 7, 2025
Best Cities for Young Renters: Affordable Markets with Jobs
Counties with the best combination of low Fair Market Rent, job growth, and amenities for renters under 30.
August 30, 2025
HUD Income Limits Explained: How Eligibility Is Determined
How HUD calculates Area Median Income and income limits that determine eligibility for housing assistance.
August 22, 2025
Cost of Living and Rent: How Housing Drives Overall Expenses
Housing is the largest cost-of-living factor, see how Fair Market Rent drives total living costs by county.
August 14, 2025
Renter Rights: What Every Tenant Should Know
A state-by-state overview of key renter rights including habitability, privacy, discrimination protections, and lease terms.
August 8, 2025
Renters Insurance Guide: Coverage, Costs, and Why You Need It
What renters insurance covers, average costs by state, and why most renters should carry a policy.
August 5, 2025
Rent by State: A Complete Comparison of Average Costs
State-by-state Fair Market Rent comparison for studio through 4-bedroom units across all 50 states.
July 27, 2025
Studio vs One-Bedroom Rent: Price Differences by Market
FMR data shows the studio-to-1BR premium varies wildly by market, here is what you will pay in every county.
July 18, 2025
The Housing Affordability Crisis: A Data-Driven Look
HUD Fair Market Rent and Census income data paint a clear picture of the affordability crisis across 3,000+ counties.
July 10, 2025
Rental Market Forecast: What Data Predicts for Next Year
Year-over-year FMR trends and demographic data point to where rents are headed next.
July 4, 2025
ADUs and Rental Supply: How Accessory Dwelling Units Affect Rent
How ADU construction is adding rental supply and what the data shows about its impact on local Fair Market Rents.
July 1, 2025
The Cheapest Places to Rent in America by County
The 50 most affordable counties ranked by 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent, where you can rent for under $600/month.
June 22, 2025
Rent Trends in 2025: Where Prices Are Rising and Falling
Year-over-year Fair Market Rent changes reveal which counties saw the biggest rent increases and decreases.
June 14, 2025
Rent Control Cities: Where It Exists and How It Works
A complete guide to rent control policies in US cities and how they interact with HUD Fair Market Rent data.
June 9, 2025
Moving Costs for Renters: Budget Guide for Relocating
The true cost of moving as a renter including deposits, truck rental, first/last month, and how it varies by market.
June 6, 2025
Rent Burden in America: Counties Where Rent Exceeds 30% of Income
HUD and Census data identify the counties where renters are most burdened, spending 30%, 40%, even 50%+ of income on rent.
May 28, 2025
Section 8 Housing Vouchers: A Complete Guide
How Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers work, eligibility requirements, payment standards, and how FMR determines voucher amounts.
May 19, 2025
Fair Market Rent Explained: How HUD Sets Rental Benchmarks
How HUD calculates Fair Market Rent, what the 40th percentile methodology means, and why FMR matters for renters.
May 10, 2025
Rent vs Buy in 2025: A County-by-County Data Analysis
Using Fair Market Rent and home price data to calculate the rent-vs-buy breakeven in every US county.
May 5, 2025
Median Rent vs Fair Market Rent: Understanding the Difference
Why median rent and Fair Market Rent are different numbers and when each metric is most useful for renters.
May 1, 2025
The Most Expensive Cities to Rent in America
The 50 most expensive US counties ranked by Fair Market Rent, from San Francisco to New York to Honolulu.