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Renting a house isn’t just a Plan B anymore—it’s starting to look more like a Plan A with benefits (like no HOA meetings). This week, we explore where renters are thriving, why insurance companies are ghosting homeowners, and why minor mortgage relief is here…Just enough to make you squint and wonder if it’s real.

NEST NUMBERS

RENTING: PLAN A

Story: Homeownership may still be part of the American Dream™, but renting a single-family home is having a serious moment—and Richmond, VA, and Raleigh, NC, are the royalty of this new renter reality. In a study of the 75 largest U.S. metros, Point2Homes ranked markets based on affordability, job growth, renter-friendly amenities, and livability. Richmond took the top spot thanks to a solid job market, good air quality, and a healthy dose of Southern charm. Raleigh was a close second, riding its Research Triangle reputation and a wave of new build-to-rent developments. Salt Lake City and Boise also made strong showings, proving that the best places to rent a house aren't always the biggest metros.

So What? This is a bat signal. As renting becomes a long-term lifestyle choice for younger generations, metros that combine economic opportunity with quality of life are where SFR investment dollars will work the hardest. These aren’t just places where people rent—these are places where people want to rent and stay. Long-term renters = fewer turnovers, fewer headaches, and better returns.

What’s Next? Watch for continued build-to-rent development in metros like Raleigh, where demand exceeds supply. Expect more capital to chase deals in under-the-radar markets like Omaha and St. Louis, which also scored high for affordability. And if Richmond isn’t already on your radar, it should be—its growing economy and Fortune 500 presence make it a sleeper hit. Keep an eye on rental duration trends too: the new norm is a 10-year stay, which has major implications for lease strategies, pricing, and tenant engagement.

Source: Point2Homes

NEST PICKS

Top Weekly Stories:

1️⃣ SFR/Multifamily Management: Millennials are nesting—just not buying. A new wave of family-forming millennials is boosting demand for rental housing, especially quality rentals that feel more like homes than crash pads. It turns out they want space, comfort, and maybe even a backyard, not a mortgage. 🪺 More

2️⃣ Insurance: 1 in 7 U.S. homes are uninsured, mostly due to skyrocketing premiums. 🪺 More

3️⃣ Mortgages: Mortgage rates dipped…Barely. The 30-year fixed slid to 6.65%, a 2-basis-point drop that feels less like a win and more like a participation trophy. Every point counts! 🪺 More

4️⃣ Interesting Trends: Peter Thiel says we’re heading for a real estate “catastrophe.” He says young Americans are getting priced out entirely while older homeowners rake in the equity. Zoning laws, wage stagnation, and NIMBYism are the usual suspects. 🪺 More

5️⃣ Policy Changes: New chief housing economist questions the entire idea of subsidized homeownership. Morris Davis is shaking things up in D.C., hinting at cuts to mortgage interest deductions and a possible push to privatize Fannie & Freddie. 🪺 More

INVESTOR HIGHLIGHTS:

👉 Video highlight: How The Rich Use 1031 Exchanges To Build Wealth in Real Estate!

👉 Article highlight: What Happens When a Section 8 Tenant Wants to Move?

👉 Off-market deal: Georgia Off-market Deal