Rent growth had smallest gain in two years: Redfin

Renters might just be getting some relief as February marked the ninth consecutive month in which rent growth slowed. 

Last month, the median U.S. asking rent rose to a mere 1.7% year over year to $1,937, according to the latest data from Redfin. This marked the "smallest increase in nearly two years and the lowest level in a year," the technology-powered real estate agency reported. 

Rising rents haven't slowed as much as expected "in part because the labor market has held up better than anticipated, which has helped prop up demand," Redfin Deputy Chief Economist Taylor Marr said in a statement. 

Rents are up 16.5% from a year ago, the data showed. That's nearly a ten-fold jump from last month's rise. 

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Rents fell 0.3% month-over-month from January, but they are still elevated compared to pre-pandemic levels. The median asking rent last month was 21.4% higher compared to February 2020 – one month before the coronavirus was declared a pandemic.    

Redfin noted rent growth has slowed given the "persisting high housing costs, inflation, recession fears and a slowdown in household formation have made people less likely to move." This put a "damper on demand for new leases," Redfin added. 

That coupled with a surge in apartment construction helped slow rent growth.

The number of apartments under construction hit its highest level since 1974, according to a January report from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). 

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As of January, there were 943,000 apartments under construction, an uptick of 24.9% compared to a year ago, according to the NAHB.   

Now, landlords are "grappling with a rise in vacancies as an influx of new apartments hits the market and demand slows from its peak," Marr said. 

Still, inflation hasn't allowed for prices to drop. 

"Stubbornly high inflation is boosting expenses for landlords, so instead of dropping rents they may seek to lure renters with other concessions, like free parking or a discounted security deposit," Marr said. 

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