2026 Rental Owner Report:
Market Trends, Challenges, and Growth Plans

See how rental owners and property managers are navigating the 2026 rental market. This report breaks down owner sentiment, rising expenses, tenant expectations, turnover challenges, rent pricing strategies, and growth plans for the year ahead.

Inside you'll learn:

• What rental owners are most concerned about over the next 12 to 24 months
• How tenant expectations have changed and why retention matters more in 2026
• How landlords are using market data to guide rent increases and pricing decisions
• Why many owners remain focused on long-term stability while still planning to grow

Key Takeaways:

• Rental owners remain cautiously optimistic: More than 80% of respondents described themselves as neutral to optimistic about today’s rental market.
• Rising expenses are the top concern: 55% of respondents said rising costs are their biggest concern over the next 12 to 24 months.
• Tenant turnover is the biggest operational challenge: 42% of owners said turnover is their top challenge right now, followed by maintenance costs.
• Market data drives rent decisions: Nearly 74% of respondents said they use market data to decide on rent increases.
• Many owners still plan to grow: 58% of owners said they plan to buy more rentals or complete a 1031 exchange in 2026.