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One of the best ways to understand where the rental market is heading is to watch what renters do before the busy moving season starts.
RentCafe recently published a “cities to watch” list ahead of the 2026 rental season. The rankings are based on renter engagement—things like how many people are searching, saving apartments, and favoriting listings on RentCafe.com in recent months.
This matters because renters often “vote with their clicks” before they sign leases. When online interest rises early, it can be a leading signal for demand.
RentCafe found that the Midwest and the South are where renter interest is building fastest. The Midwest placed 11 of the top 30 cities, and the South placed 10.
That’s not random. Many renters are looking for:
In other words, renters are hunting for value.
Atlanta ranked #2 nationally in early 2026 demand signals.
For Faris Capital Partners, this is meaningful because Atlanta checks the boxes we care about:
When a city shows up consistently in these “renter attention” rankings, it usually means the market has a steady stream of people looking for rentals—not just a short-term spike.
RentCafe specifically notes that renter interest is rising months ahead of the traditional summer rush.
That’s a big deal. When renters start planning earlier, it often means:
Even though Dallas–Fort Worth and Houston aren’t highlighted at the very top of this specific ranking, Texas is clearly in the mix. RentCafe points out that El Paso jumped 115 spots into the top 30—one of the biggest moves on the list.
That’s important because it’s another sign that renters continue to look to Texas for affordability and opportunity.
And that’s one reason we’re launching Texas soon—starting with Dallas–Fort Worth and Houston, where we see:
The list doesn’t just tell us which cities are hot. It tells us what renters are seeking:
That is exactly why we focus on value-add apartments—properties where we can improve the resident experience (kitchens, flooring, lighting, access, pet-friendly features) while still staying priced below brand-new luxury buildings.
When renters are value-conscious, “attainable quality” wins.
When more people rent (or rent longer), apartments tend to benefit.
Even if some markets slow down, renters still need housing. The question becomes: which apartments do they choose?
They usually choose the ones that feel clean, safe, well-run, and fairly priced.
We don’t buy a market because it’s trendy. We use signals like this as one layer of confirmation—alongside jobs, supply levels, rents, and submarket conditions.
This is what we like to see:
That’s why our current and future focus includes markets like:
Renters are giving us clues months ahead of peak season. The Midwest and South are where interest is building fastest, and Atlanta remains one of the most watched markets in the country.
For investors, the opportunity is straightforward: own the kind of apartments renters actually want—clean, well-run, fairly priced, and upgraded in the ways that matter.
In Simple Terms: This report tracks what renters search and save online. When cities climb the rankings early, it can signal where rental demand is building—before everyone else notices.
👉 If you’d like to be added to our investor list to see future opportunities like this one, please schedule a call with our team.
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