"As 2025 ends, the U.S. housing market is revealing a new reality. Homeownership is slipping farther out of reach for many, while the pool of renters and small landlord investors expands. For agents, that shift transforms rentals from a fallback option into a primary business opportunity. 2026 will not be another patch year. It will be the year agents fully embrace rentals as a central pillar of their business strategy, client relationships, and long-term growth."
"A key signal is the median age of first-time homebuyers reaching 40, the oldest on record, according to data by the National Association of REALTORS. First-time buyers now account for just 21 percent of all home purchases, a historic low. What this means is clear. Households who once might have bought a starter home are now renting longer, whether by choice or necessity. That creates an increasingly larger renter base."
"At the same time, small landlords are becoming the most influential owners in the rental market. Historically, these smaller owners have often lacked the infrastructure and tools to manage their properties efficiently. That makes them prime clients for agents who offer guidance, services, and a full rental offering. Despite media focus on large institutional investors, the reality is that many single family rental houses remain in the hands of everyday landlords."
Homeownership is becoming less attainable, pushing more households into longer-term renting and expanding the renter population. The median age of first-time homebuyers has reached 40, the oldest on record, and first-time buyers comprise only 21 percent of purchases. That shift increases demand for rental services, tenant placements, and lease renewals, creating recurring opportunities for agents. Small, mom-and-pop landlords now own a large share of single-family rentals and often lack systems, capital, and bandwidth to manage tenants, finances, and compliance. Agents that offer tenant screening, renter placement, payment and banking solutions, and financial clarity can fill that gap and build durable client relationships.
Read at www.housingwire.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]