Last year, the rising expectations of renters was among the emerging themes in multifamily. In 2024, fee transparency had just risen to the forefront. In 2023, operators were keen on leveraging automation to handle daily tasks.
Now that we’re in the fourth quarter, it’s time to take inventory of the key trends that have shaped 2026. How will the year be remembered in the rental housing industry? It’s a continuation of the themes above along with a mix of additional topics.
We’ve pinpointed four primary macro-themes to define the year—practicality, moments, trust and loyalty, positioning—which we will delve into below. But before we do, let’s take a quick look at some notable industry stats culled from CoStar, National Apartment Association, National Multifamily Housing Council, GlobeSt., SatisFacts, and Entrata.
Read Virginia Love’s article in the Multifamily Executive.