COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE'S ECONOMIC ADVISORS

Renter households that work from home have seen lower median rent burdens since 2020. But the data suggest that this is less about remote workers moving into cheaper housing and more about higher-income renters being more likely to work from home.

The June 2026 Independent Landlord Rental Performance Report from Chandan Economics and RentRedi shows rent collections stabilizing, though the recovery has become more uneven. On-time payments were little changed from May, late-payment pressure turned higher again, and full-payment resolution remained relatively firm.

National multifamily rent growth rose to 1.2% in May 2026 as monthly momentum and market breadth improved. While rent growth remains subdued nationally, several Midwest, Northeast, and coastal markets continue to outperform, highlighting the increasingly localized nature of apartment market conditions.

National multifamily rent growth held near 1.0% in April, while short-term momentum improved modestly. Conditions remain soft, but the latest data suggest the market is no longer broadly worsening.