05/12/2026
The national rental market softened further in Q1 2026, and the data tells a clear story for the real estate industry.
Key findings from the Rental Beast Q1 2026 National Market Report:
41.8% of listings now offer concessions, the highest rate on record and nearly triple the 2023 level. Free months, reduced deposits, and waived fees are no longer exceptions; they're the norm.
Buying still costs $686/mo more than renting a comparable 3-bedroom home (at 6.2% mortgage rates). That gap is keeping renters in the market and supporting long-term demand.
Days on market improved to 25 days nationally, down from 27 in Q4 2025, a sign the market is normalizing.
79.7% of property managers expect rents to hold flat over the next 6 months. The picture is steady-state, with pockets of softness in Charlotte, Raleigh, and Colorado Springs.
Download the full report and check out the data across different MSAs: https://blog.rentalbeast.com/post/rents-are-down-concessions-are-up-what-q1-2026