Lower-Priced Rentals See 19.9% Growth Since 2019, Reports Realtor.com
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 15 2026
0mins
Should l Buy NWS?
Source: PRnewswire
- Rent Growth Trend: From December 2019 to December 2025, the median asking rent for lower-priced rentals increased by 19.9%, compared to just 12.5% for higher-priced rentals, indicating heightened pressure on low-income renters and sustained demand for affordable housing options.
- Easing Rent Declines: The 0.7% year-over-year decline in December 2025 marks the smallest drop since 2021, reflecting a slowdown in price reductions at the high end of the market, which is gradually affecting the overall rental price structure.
- Market Disparity: The report highlights that lower-priced rentals have experienced faster rent growth relative to the median, creating significant challenges for low-income renters, particularly in cities like Boston and Nashville, where the share of lower-priced rents relative to the median has notably increased.
- Economist Insights: Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at Realtor.com, noted that while national rent declines have been persistent, the price pressures on lower-priced rentals mean that many renters seeking affordable options are not experiencing much relief, reflecting structural issues within the market.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy NWS?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on NWS
About NWS
News Corporation is a diversified media and information services company. Its Digital Real Estate Services segment consists of the Company’s interest in REA Group and Move. REA Group is a digital media business specializing in property and property-related services on its Websites and mobile apps. Move is a provider of digital real estate services in the United States and primarily operates a real estate information, advertising and services platform, as well as its referral-based services, online tools and services to do-it-yourself landlords and tenants. Its Dow Jones segment consists of Dow Jones, a global provider of news and business information, which distributes its content and data through a variety of media channels. Its Book Publishing segment consists of HarperCollins, a consumer book publisher with operations in 15 countries. Its News Media segment consists of News Corp Australia, News UK and the New York Post and includes The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, among others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Meta Signs AI Content Licensing Deal with News Corp
- Deal Value: Meta's artificial intelligence content licensing agreement with News Corp could pay up to $50 million annually, highlighting the fierce competition among Big Tech to secure journalism that supports chatbots and other AI tools.
- Agreement Duration: The deal spans at least three years, granting Meta access to News Corp content from the US and UK, enabling the company to provide fresh reporting for its AI product users and train systems on archival material, thereby enhancing content richness and accuracy.
- Competitive Landscape: News Corp's separate AI deal with OpenAI, valued at over $250 million in 2024, indicates escalating competition between Meta and OpenAI for quality news resources, as both aim to enhance their AI offerings through premium content acquisition.
- Stock Price Reaction: Following the announcement, Meta's shares rose 0.23% during regular trading but fell 0.14% in after-hours trading, reflecting market caution regarding the deal, while News Corp's Class A and B shares exhibited mixed performance in after-hours trading, indicating varying investor expectations for future earnings.
See More
U.S. Housing Supply Gap Widens to 4.03 Million Homes
- Widening Housing Supply Gap: According to Realtor.com's 2026 Housing Supply Gap Report, the U.S. housing supply gap expanded to 4.03 million homes in 2025, up from 3.8 million in 2024, indicating that new construction has failed to keep pace with household formation, particularly among younger households.
- Intensifying Young Household Shortage: In 2025, approximately 1.82 million Millennial and Gen Z households were 'missing', marking the highest count in four years, reflecting how high housing costs and limited supply have delayed independent living, resulting in a significant increase in the share of young adults living with parents.
- High Homeownership Barriers: Although the minimum recommended income to purchase a median-priced starter home was about $86,000 in 2025, which is $8,000 lower than the previous year, this threshold remains above the earnings of many younger households, highlighting ongoing affordability challenges.
- Regional Disparities: The South has the largest cumulative housing deficit at 1.62 million homes, while the Northeast faces a gap of 952,000 homes; despite the Northeast achieving its highest housing starts since 2015, it still experiences the most severe relative shortage, illustrating significant regional supply-demand imbalances.
See More
U.S. Housing Supply Gap Widens to 4.03 Million Homes
- Widening Supply Gap: The 2026 Housing Supply Gap Report indicates that the U.S. housing supply gap expanded to 4.03 million homes in 2025, up from 3.8 million in 2024, highlighting that new construction has failed to keep pace with household formation, leading to continued home price increases and greater pressure on young families.
- Intensifying Young Household Shortage: Approximately 1.82 million Millennial and Gen Z households were 'missing' in 2025, the highest count in four years, indicating that high housing costs and limited supply have delayed independent living for young adults, exacerbating the housing shortage.
- Regional Disparities: The South has the largest cumulative deficit at 1.62 million homes, while the Northeast faces the most acute shortage relative to construction, with a gap of 952,000 homes, despite achieving the highest housing starts since 2015, indicating persistent demand.
- Construction Challenges: Approximately 1.5 million homes were completed in 2025, but structural challenges such as labor shortages and rising material costs have led to single-family starts dropping to the lowest level since 2019, underscoring the need for significant increases in construction to eliminate the current deficit within seven years.
See More
U.S. Housing Market Sees Shift to Cross-Market Shopping
- Cross-Market Dominance: According to Realtor.com's report, in Q4 2025, out-of-market buyers accounted for 61.9% of online views for homes in the 100 largest U.S. metros, a significant structural shift from 48.6% in 2019, indicating increased mobility and interconnectedness among home shoppers.
- Sun Belt Appeal: In Q4 2025, 87 of the largest metros saw out-of-market demand surpass local interest, particularly in affordable cities like Cape Coral and Lakeland, which attract many retirees and investors, further elevating the share of non-local shoppers.
- AI-Driven Market Shifts: A notable finding is that 39 metros, including San Francisco, have shifted from local dominance to out-of-market interest, with San Francisco experiencing a 25.4% increase in outside interest, driven by AI job opportunities and data center expansions, highlighting technology's profound impact on the housing market.
- Declining Local Buyer Share: While 13 metros still have local buyers in the majority, these markets have seen a declining share of local engagement since 2019, suggesting that out-of-market interest is becoming increasingly significant nationwide, potentially influencing future market dynamics.
See More
Surge in Out-of-Market Demand Reshapes U.S. Housing Market
- Increase in External Buyers: According to Realtor.com's report, out-of-market buyers accounted for 61.9% of home views in the 100 largest U.S. metros in Q4 2025, a significant rise from 48.6% in 2019, indicating enhanced mobility and interconnectedness among home shoppers.
- Sun Belt's Strong Appeal: In Q4 2025, cities like Cape Coral, Lakeland, and Durham saw over 75% of their demand from external buyers, attracting retirees and investors due to lower home prices and appealing lifestyles compared to coastal cities.
- Tech Hubs Attracting External Interest: A notable shift in 39 metros, including San Francisco, which experienced a 25.4% increase in out-of-market interest, is driven by AI job opportunities and data center expansions, highlighting the tech sector's influence on the housing market.
- Decline of Local Buyer Dominance: While 13 metros still have a majority of local buyers, their engagement has been declining since 2019, suggesting that out-of-market interest is becoming increasingly significant nationwide, particularly in high-cost areas like New York and Washington, D.C.
See More
New Dynamics in the U.S. Housing Market Amidst High Rates and Prices
- Market Dynamics Shift: Since January 2022, mortgage rates peaked at 7.79% and currently hover around 6.10%, while active inventory surged by 142.1%, yet the national median list price rose by 8.1%, indicating price resilience that burdens buyers.
- Lock-In Effect Impact: Over 50% of borrowers hold mortgage rates below 4%, creating a lock-in effect that restricts their mobility, resulting in insufficient market supply, and despite new listings, price pressures persist, affecting buyer choices.
- Significant Regional Differences: Active listings in the West and South increased by 211% and 178%, respectively, while the Northeast and Midwest saw only 23% and 68% growth, highlighting an uneven recovery with some areas still facing inventory shortages.
- Uncertain Market Outlook: While falling rates could ease the lock-in effect and attract more sellers, they may also reignite buyer demand, creating a supply-demand conflict, with future price trends dependent on sustainable growth in new listings and improved market liquidity.
See More
Meta Signs AI Content Licensing Deal with News Corp
- Deal Value: Meta's artificial intelligence content licensing agreement with News Corp could pay up to $50 million annually, highlighting the fierce competition among Big Tech to secure journalism that supports chatbots and other AI tools.
- Agreement Duration: The deal spans at least three years, granting Meta access to News Corp content from the US and UK, enabling the company to provide fresh reporting for its AI product users and train systems on archival material, thereby enhancing content richness and accuracy.
- Competitive Landscape: News Corp's separate AI deal with OpenAI, valued at over $250 million in 2024, indicates escalating competition between Meta and OpenAI for quality news resources, as both aim to enhance their AI offerings through premium content acquisition.
- Stock Price Reaction: Following the announcement, Meta's shares rose 0.23% during regular trading but fell 0.14% in after-hours trading, reflecting market caution regarding the deal, while News Corp's Class A and B shares exhibited mixed performance in after-hours trading, indicating varying investor expectations for future earnings.
See More
U.S. Housing Supply Gap Widens to 4.03 Million Homes
- Widening Housing Supply Gap: According to Realtor.com's 2026 Housing Supply Gap Report, the U.S. housing supply gap expanded to 4.03 million homes in 2025, up from 3.8 million in 2024, indicating that new construction has failed to keep pace with household formation, particularly among younger households.
- Intensifying Young Household Shortage: In 2025, approximately 1.82 million Millennial and Gen Z households were 'missing', marking the highest count in four years, reflecting how high housing costs and limited supply have delayed independent living, resulting in a significant increase in the share of young adults living with parents.
- High Homeownership Barriers: Although the minimum recommended income to purchase a median-priced starter home was about $86,000 in 2025, which is $8,000 lower than the previous year, this threshold remains above the earnings of many younger households, highlighting ongoing affordability challenges.
- Regional Disparities: The South has the largest cumulative housing deficit at 1.62 million homes, while the Northeast faces a gap of 952,000 homes; despite the Northeast achieving its highest housing starts since 2015, it still experiences the most severe relative shortage, illustrating significant regional supply-demand imbalances.
See More
U.S. Housing Supply Gap Widens to 4.03 Million Homes
- Widening Supply Gap: The 2026 Housing Supply Gap Report indicates that the U.S. housing supply gap expanded to 4.03 million homes in 2025, up from 3.8 million in 2024, highlighting that new construction has failed to keep pace with household formation, leading to continued home price increases and greater pressure on young families.
- Intensifying Young Household Shortage: Approximately 1.82 million Millennial and Gen Z households were 'missing' in 2025, the highest count in four years, indicating that high housing costs and limited supply have delayed independent living for young adults, exacerbating the housing shortage.
- Regional Disparities: The South has the largest cumulative deficit at 1.62 million homes, while the Northeast faces the most acute shortage relative to construction, with a gap of 952,000 homes, despite achieving the highest housing starts since 2015, indicating persistent demand.
- Construction Challenges: Approximately 1.5 million homes were completed in 2025, but structural challenges such as labor shortages and rising material costs have led to single-family starts dropping to the lowest level since 2019, underscoring the need for significant increases in construction to eliminate the current deficit within seven years.
See More
U.S. Housing Market Sees Shift to Cross-Market Shopping
- Cross-Market Dominance: According to Realtor.com's report, in Q4 2025, out-of-market buyers accounted for 61.9% of online views for homes in the 100 largest U.S. metros, a significant structural shift from 48.6% in 2019, indicating increased mobility and interconnectedness among home shoppers.
- Sun Belt Appeal: In Q4 2025, 87 of the largest metros saw out-of-market demand surpass local interest, particularly in affordable cities like Cape Coral and Lakeland, which attract many retirees and investors, further elevating the share of non-local shoppers.
- AI-Driven Market Shifts: A notable finding is that 39 metros, including San Francisco, have shifted from local dominance to out-of-market interest, with San Francisco experiencing a 25.4% increase in outside interest, driven by AI job opportunities and data center expansions, highlighting technology's profound impact on the housing market.
- Declining Local Buyer Share: While 13 metros still have local buyers in the majority, these markets have seen a declining share of local engagement since 2019, suggesting that out-of-market interest is becoming increasingly significant nationwide, potentially influencing future market dynamics.
See More
Surge in Out-of-Market Demand Reshapes U.S. Housing Market
- Increase in External Buyers: According to Realtor.com's report, out-of-market buyers accounted for 61.9% of home views in the 100 largest U.S. metros in Q4 2025, a significant rise from 48.6% in 2019, indicating enhanced mobility and interconnectedness among home shoppers.
- Sun Belt's Strong Appeal: In Q4 2025, cities like Cape Coral, Lakeland, and Durham saw over 75% of their demand from external buyers, attracting retirees and investors due to lower home prices and appealing lifestyles compared to coastal cities.
- Tech Hubs Attracting External Interest: A notable shift in 39 metros, including San Francisco, which experienced a 25.4% increase in out-of-market interest, is driven by AI job opportunities and data center expansions, highlighting the tech sector's influence on the housing market.
- Decline of Local Buyer Dominance: While 13 metros still have a majority of local buyers, their engagement has been declining since 2019, suggesting that out-of-market interest is becoming increasingly significant nationwide, particularly in high-cost areas like New York and Washington, D.C.
See More
New Dynamics in the U.S. Housing Market Amidst High Rates and Prices
- Market Dynamics Shift: Since January 2022, mortgage rates peaked at 7.79% and currently hover around 6.10%, while active inventory surged by 142.1%, yet the national median list price rose by 8.1%, indicating price resilience that burdens buyers.
- Lock-In Effect Impact: Over 50% of borrowers hold mortgage rates below 4%, creating a lock-in effect that restricts their mobility, resulting in insufficient market supply, and despite new listings, price pressures persist, affecting buyer choices.
- Significant Regional Differences: Active listings in the West and South increased by 211% and 178%, respectively, while the Northeast and Midwest saw only 23% and 68% growth, highlighting an uneven recovery with some areas still facing inventory shortages.
- Uncertain Market Outlook: While falling rates could ease the lock-in effect and attract more sellers, they may also reignite buyer demand, creating a supply-demand conflict, with future price trends dependent on sustainable growth in new listings and improved market liquidity.
See More
