Want to know what has changed in the property management industry? Follow along with rental news for March 2026 and learn what it means for you and your business. This month sees studies to learn more about the housing crisis, as well as some potential changes that may offer solutions to the issue.
2026 has seen many changes regarding the affordability of housing, both on a legislative level and on the part of housing developers, and this pattern has continued into March’s industry news.
The U.S. rental market continues to cool, but the affordability of purchasing houses has not increased in relation to it. However, changes are underway in response to these issues, as some developers are building to rent to help ease the affordability crisis. Additionally, legal changes are coming to help the housing market, with the Senate recently passing a bill that will ban large investors from purchasing single-family homes.
These changes have the potential to make grand-scale changes to the career paths of landlords, property managers, and other housing providers. Learn more about these changes and what they might mean to housing providers.
Rental Markets are Cooling, but Affordability isn’t Increasing
In this Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) article, they discuss findings from Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. These findings indicate that, although the cost of renting has decreased slightly in comparison to its massive increase in recent years, housing has not become more affordable.
Fewer new homes are being built compared to 2023, and almost half of all renters spent upwards of 30% of their income on housing and bills. This creates a difficult situation where many renters are struggling to afford their homes. Due to these trends, landlords may find themselves with reduced profits, but an increase in their market, as more people enter the rental market, but fewer leave.
Learn more: 2026 Market Outlook: How to Dominate a Cooling Rental Market | Webinar Recap
Build-to-Rent Homes Might Ease Affordability Issues
In response to the challenge of affording housing, NPR reports that the number of build-to-rent households has increased tenfold since 2014. Due to the aforementioned difficult market and affordability challenges, this increase in the number of available rentals can be highly beneficial to people who cannot afford to purchase housing.
As the article states, an increase in the supply of houses reduces the cost for an individual location. As such, more rentals should decrease the cost of rent. For landlords, this may forecast a potential reduction in overall ROI. However, this increase in properties you can purchase and rent out may be beneficial, as property availability creates opportunities for portfolio growth.
Learn more: 5 Best Cities to Buy Your First House or Investment Property
Senate Passes Housing Act to Ban Large Investors from Buying Single-Family Homes
Making perhaps the most significant news for landlords, NPR reports that the Senate has passed a bill that will prevent large property investors from buying single-family houses. This act would reduce the reach of large-scale landlords, leaving more single-family homes for small-scale landlords and first-time property owners.
Depending on where you fall regarding your property ownership status, this act could be highly beneficial. If you are a large investor with a large portfolio, this may make your job more difficult, requiring you to limit your purchases to specific locations. However, if you are a small-scale landlord, you may benefit from this change. You will have less competition to buy single-family properties, which will enable you to grow as a landlord and run a small rental business with fewer difficulties from competing with corporate landlords.
Rentec Direct News
Rentec Direct has a few significant improvements on the horizon, including:
- Open API
- Centralized “What’s New” hub for updates
- Secure, password-free login
- Redesigned bank account management page
- A new form import tool
Additionally, Rentec Direct was recently named one of Oregon’s best workplaces for the third year in a row, owing to its high employee retention and positive employee reviews. Rentec Direct is also celebrating the tenth anniversary of our tech mastery scholarship program this month, with which we have awarded over $15,000 in scholarships to over 30 students.
Final Thoughts
With this year’s changing housing market, we are seeing many changes geared towards addressing housing affordability. These changes affect everyone in the property market, ranging from people purchasing a single home to large-scale investors with massive portfolios and property managers. Keep these in mind when moving forward as a housing provider, and keep an eye on your news outlets to continue to learn about the ever-changing landscape of property management.