January 1, Falling Rents Signal Shift Thanks to Tougher Border

Wyatt’s Take

• Rents are dropping to their lowest in years, giving young folks and families a break.
• Tighter border enforcement is easing pressure on the housing market.
• This shift is shaking up both renters and longtime homeowners.

Rents across the country are now at a four-year low, giving some hope to Americans feeling squeezed by high costs in recent years.

White House spokespeople point to stronger immigration controls as one reason rents are falling, with President Trump’s efforts taking credit before the upcoming election.

“Apartment rents just dropped to the lowest level in 4 years,” said Karoline Leavitt.

The national median rent in January was $1,353, down 1.4 percent from a year before, putting more money back in people’s pockets.

Reports from states like California, Texas, Tennessee, Virginia, and Idaho show the trend is nationwide, not just in big cities.

This drop in rent is good news for young people, making it easier to leave home, build relationships, and save up for a place of their own.

Half of all renters are under 40 — a number that matters for anyone thinking about the next generation getting ahead.

TurboTenant.com reported, “Sellers now outnumber buyers by more than 500,000 nationwide… easing rent growth in markets where supply is no longer scarce.”

The Biden years saw rents soar as millions of migrants entered the country, driving up demand and crowding out locals who needed homes.

Under the new approach, landlords have fewer incentives to keep prices high as more apartments become available and fewer migrants flood the market.

Even media outlets now admit prices are dropping. Sandra Gomez in L.A. said, “I thought it was a mistake… Since when does rent get cheaper in L.A.?”

“If prices drop even a little, it goes a long way toward my quality of life,” she said.

Landlords in Florida and Texas report higher vacancies and smaller rent checks, blaming stricter immigration rules.

Eric Finnigan explained, “Immigration is going to be very low for the foreseeable future… that removes a big segment of rental demand.”

Trump promises to make housing even more affordable, vowing to push mortgage rates lower and help young Americans achieve the American Dream.

“We will make housing much more affordable… [and] we will get [mortgage rates] back down to 3 percent… [so] young people will be able to buy a home again and be part of the American dream,” Trump said.

As America works to fix its housing mess, families in the heartland may finally see a break.

Read more here

Wyatt Matters

Lower rents give working families a fighting chance to save and build a future close to home. Border policies and housing costs go hand in hand, and policies affecting small towns matter as much as those in big cities.