Midwest emerging as the top region for renters

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reAlpha is a real estate technology company that uses AI and data analytics to identify, acquire, and manage short-term rental properties, helping investors make smarter, more profitable decisions in the vacation rental market.

Midwest emerging as the top region for renters link

• The Midwest now has half of the top 20 rental markets and six of the top small rental markets in the US. Suburban Chicago is closing in on Miami as the most competitive rental market.

• National apartment occupancy remains high at 93.3%, with lease renewal rates increasing to 63.1% from 61.5% last year. It now takes 43 days to rent a vacant unit on average.

• Miami remains the top market, with 14 renters competing for each unit and an average of 36 days to rent. Suburban Chicago follows with 10 applicants per unit and a 95.4% occupancy rate.

Older adults less lonely after moving into senior living, new survey shows link

• More than two-thirds of older adults felt lonely before moving into a senior living community, but that number dropped to 42% after moving in. Around 61% reported improved feelings of loneliness or isolation.

• 85% of residents said they had made friends since moving in, and 65% said it was easy to meet other residents. Participation in enjoyable activities increased by 19%, physical activity by 20%, and finding meaning or purpose by 21%.

• Over one-third of respondents said their health improved after moving into senior living, with better care coordination, medication management, and therapy. Around 65% felt their health had declined due to loneliness and isolation before the move.

Investor home purchases plummet to lowest level in nearly a decade link

• Investor home purchases dropped to 47,004 in Q4, a 3.9% year-over-year decline and the lowest in nearly 10 years. Investor market share fell to 17%, down from 19% a year earlier.

• Florida saw the biggest decline, with investor purchases down 28% in Orlando, 21% in Miami, and 14.5% in West Palm Beach. High insurance costs, soaring HOA fees, and increased natural disasters are driving investors away.

• Condo purchases fell 13% year-over-year to the lowest Q4 level since 2012, with single-family homes down 1.6% and townhomes down 6.1%. Multifamily purchases rose 2.9%, bucking the overall trend.

Best Beach Towns in Florida If You Don’t Like Crowds link

• Florida led the country in migration with 372,670 people moving there last year despite rising insurance costs and HOA fees. The absence of state income tax remains a big draw, especially for high earners.

• West Palm Beach, Naples, and Tampa are attracting wealthy buyers, while Miami, Tampa, and Ft. Myers rank among the top 10 cities for starter homes. Florida had a record 142.9 million tourists in 2024, up 1.6% from 2023.

• Less crowded beaches include South Walton's coastal dune lakes, Ponte Vedra Beach, Cape Coral, Pine Island, and Key Biscayne. Some require private club memberships or local connections for access.

North and South Carolina Set to Gain Nearly 60,000 New Apartment Units link

• Charlotte is expected to deliver 18,863 new units in 2025, expanding its inventory by 7.8%. Charlotte's total inventory has grown nearly 29% in the past five years, much higher than the national average of 11%.

• Raleigh/Durham is set to complete 10,353 units in 2025, growing its base by 5.0%. The 20- to 34-year-old population in Raleigh/Durham increased 8.4% from 2018 to 2023, compared to just 0.3% nationally.

• Asheville's inventory is set to grow by 13.1% in 2025 with 3,509 new units. Over the past five years, Asheville’s inventory has expanded 19.7%, supported by a 5.2% population increase from 2018 to 2023.

• 100, a MF screening platform, raised a $7.7M pre-seed round from Camber Creek.

• ReshapeEnergy, a CRE energy mgmt co, raised a €5M Seed round from Vireo.

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