Wondering how the real estate industry is looking in January 2026? Explore these recent rental news stories and learn about the upcoming industry trends. Colorado laws, industry studies and surveys, and research by Virginia counties all forecast rental industry changes at the beginning of 2026.
January is a common time for changes in the rental industry. Landlords are often developing new practices for the new year, and it is common for new laws to take effect in the new year, which always shakes up the industry.
This January has brought with it new laws from Colorado regarding pricing practices, an update to a study from Princeton University, new rankings for the best locations for real estate investors, and the consideration of tiny homes as an affordable housing solution. As a landlord, property manager, or property investor, it is important to be aware of these changes.
So, explore January 2026’s rental news and stay on top of the changes coming to the rental industry.
Colorado Restricting “Deceptive Pricing Practices”
Following a trend set by numerous other states, Colorado has voted to ban deceptive pricing models. While this ruling is related to a wide variety of pricing models, it includes rental pricing, which is part of a notable trend of banning hidden fees, sometimes referred to as “junk fees” in the industry.
Attorneys at the National Consumer Law Center claim that these pricing practices can “push affordable housing further out of reach for tenants”. As such, restrictions on these practices may grow. Other states have implemented similar rulings, and more may follow. States with similar bans on deceptive pricing include California, Washington, and New York.
Learn more: Automated Fee Transparency for Rental Ad Compliance
Eviction Lab Reveals Top Ten States (and 36 Cities) for Eviction Rates
Eviction Lab, a part of Princeton University, frequently updates its studies about which states have the highest rates of evictions. As of the beginning of this year, they have updated these statistics again, revealing that Virginia is one of the top states, with a filing rate of 13% and a total eviction count of just under 140,000. Richmond specifically has a filing rate of 24%. Unsurprisingly, large cities typically had higher eviction rates, with New York City, Las Vegas, and Miami all making the list.
Learn more: What Is a Legal Eviction Process?
PWC Rates Dallas as the Best Place for Real Estate Investment
PWC, a large-scale financial advisory firm, along with the Urban Land Institute, conducts regular surveys of industry professionals to determine which areas are generally considered the best places for real estate prospects. They rank both overall real estate prospects and home building prospects, both of which place the Dallas-Fort Worth area in first place. The region hasn’t moved from last year’s ranking regarding overall real estate prospects, but it has risen three places specifically in homebuilding. One of the reasons for this popularity is the consistent, projected job growth opportunities in the region.
Runner-ups include Jersey City, Miami, and Brooklyn in overall real estate prospects, and Fort Lauderdale, Houston, and the Inland Empire region of southeastern California for homebuilding. It is worth noting that these are densely populated areas, making for a strong rental market, which likely factors into their rankings.
Tiny Homes Might Become Good Housing Options
Loudoun County, Virginia, is beginning to look into tiny homes as an alternative to standard houses. Though these solutions may not be ideal for families, they can make excellent, affordable homes for single adults. The report presented by a committee appointed by the county states that these houses could be priced far below the average home price. With the median home price in Loudoun County at $729,333, a tiny home, estimated at $155,000, is highly valuable.
Officials from counties in Ohio and Texas are also looking into the financial feasibility of tiny homes, creating an environment where affordable homes may soon become the norm for single adults. With this push towards affordable tiny housing, there may be significant shifts in the world of real estate on the horizon.
Final Thoughts
This month’s real estate outlook appears to be largely focused on the cost of housing, with much real estate and rental news referring to the subject. Some municipalities are concerned about reducing the overall cost of housing, while others are working towards more honest price points. Eviction, as always, is a significant area of concern for real estate developers and investors alike, and the viability of investing in specific areas, particularly cities, is a common conversation.
