Nationally, rent prices increased slightly in April, with the median one-bedroom rent rising to $1,012 per month. That’s the highest it’s been since January’s figure of $1,016, and represents an overall decline since the beginning of the year of .39%.
When it came to the steepest rent drops, two familiar faces led the way: Lincoln, Neb., and Fort Wayne, Ind. Each city’s rent dropped 8.2%, to continue a months-long slide. Lincoln’s median rent of $627 represents a 21% decrease from its January rent of $801, and Fort Wayne’s $493 is a 26.4% decline from its year-opening rent of $671 per month.
Those declines might seem steep. One explanation: In order to better approximate what an apartment-seeker would experience when looking for a place to rent, ABODO collects data only on active listings currently on the market, which can vary widely month-to-month, depending on supply.
The rest of the biggest decreases were more minor, between 3% and 5%. A number of cities — Lubbock, Texas (-4.6%); Nashville, Tenn. (-4.3%); Cleveland, Ohio (-3.4%); and Riverside, Calif. (-3.2%) — reprised their places on the list of greatest decreases for the second month in a row. In fact, this marks the third straight month that Nashville, Cleveland, and Riverside appeared on the list of greatest rental falls.
The nation’s largest rental hike came in Glendale, AZ, where one-bedroom median rents rose 11.5% to $861. That marks the continuation of a months-long trend: Glendale rents have increased every month since January, and currently they’re 26% higher than they were at the beginning of the year. New Orleans (8.1%), Seattle (6.7%), and Phoenix (4.9%) also reprise their places on the list of biggest rent increases.
The list of cities with the nation’s highest rents in April is largely unchanged from our last report. San Francisco’s $3,415 price tag still leads the way, followed by New York City, N.Y. ($2,705), San Jose, Calif. ($2,459); and Boston, Mass. ($2,398). The only newcomer is Seattle, whose 6.7% rental jump to $1,680 puts it at the tenth-highest in the country.
For the full report and to view associated infographics and charts, click here.
Related Stories
| May 5, 2014
Toronto residential tower to feature drawer-like facade scheme
Some of the apartments in the new River City development will protrude from the building at different lengths, creating a drawer-like "push-pull" effect.
| May 2, 2014
Norwegian modular project set to be world's tallest timber-frame apartment building [slideshow]
A 14-story luxury apartment block in central Bergen, Norway, will be the world's tallest timber-framed multifamily project, at 49 meters (160 feet).
| May 1, 2014
Tight on space for multifamily? Check out this modular kitchen tower
The Clei Ecooking kitchen, recently rolled out at Milan's Salone de Mobile furniture fair, squeezes multiple appliances into a tiny footprint.
| Apr 30, 2014
Visiting Beijing's massive Chaoyang Park Plaza will be like 'moving through a urban forest'
Construction work has begun on the 120,000-sm mixed-use development, which was envisioned by MAD architects as a modern, urban forest.
| Apr 29, 2014
Best of Canada: 12 projects nab nation's top architectural prize [slideshow]
The conversion of a Mies van der Rohe-designed gas station and North Vancouver City Hall are among the recently completed projects to win the 2014 Governor General's Medal in Architecture.
| Apr 29, 2014
USGBC launches real-time green building data dashboard
The online data visualization resource highlights green building data for each state and Washington, D.C.
| Apr 23, 2014
Developers change gears at Atlantic Yards after high-rise modular proves difficult
At 32 stories, the B2 residential tower at Atlantic Yards has been widely lauded as a bellwether for modular construction. But only five floors have been completed in 18 months.
| Apr 17, 2014
Online mapping tool helps teams determine multifamily project tax credit eligibility
Accounting and advisory firm Baker Tilly has launched a new, interactive online mapping tool that helps users determine if a business or development project may qualify for the New Markets Tax Credit or Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
| Apr 11, 2014
ULI report documents business case for building healthy projects
Sustainable and wellness-related design strategies embody a strong return on investment, according to a report by the Urban Land Institute.
| Apr 9, 2014
Steel decks: 11 tips for their proper use | BD+C
Building Teams have been using steel decks with proven success for 75 years. Building Design+Construction consulted with technical experts from the Steel Deck Institute and the deck manufacturing industry for their advice on how best to use steel decking.