Housing's Worst Summer Versus Unstoppable Demand

Join our experts for a deep dive into the contradictory forces currently shaping the rental housing market, exploring why Summer 2025 is likely to go down as the worst summer for apartment owners and operators, even as long-term housing demand remains robust.

We unpack the key signals defining the "worst summer," including:

• The Softest Season: Analysis of the period leading up to September 2025, which marked the "Farewell to the Softest Summer in 15+ Years" in the multifamily sector.

• The Leasing Slowdown: Discussion of an early end to the leasing season and a continuation of The Summer Rent Slump.

• Supply and Absorption Stress: Detailed insights into why lease-up challenges remain widespread in 2025, forcing apartment operators to navigate rising rent concessions and absorption that is stretched thin. This analysis confirms that leasing momentum has been slowing in the second half of the year.

But how does this softness align with persistent demand? This episode also examines the "Unstoppable Demand" factors, focusing on the underlying market health and required investment strategies:

• Sustaining Local Economies: We look beyond broad market trends to analyze which local economies sustain housing and how high-wage contractions impact for-sale demand.

• Renter Behavior and Class Performance: Discussion of fundamental shifts in the market, including cooling prices and why high-rise apartments are currently outpacing mid-rise and garden properties in rent growth.

• The Future of Rental Housing: Hear expert analyses on essential sectors like single-family rentals (SFR) and build-to-rent (BTR) housing