Headline: U.S. apartment rent growth flattens in July—but the Midwest stands strong
Key Insights:
Nationwide rent growth is continuing to slow: national average monthly rent held steady at $1,717 with just a –0.03% change from June. Annual growth has tapered from 1.5% in January to 1.1% in July.
The Midwest leads the pack, seeing +0.06% month-over‑month and +2.6% year-over‑year rent growth. Kansas City benefits from this regional strength.
By contrast, the Sun Belt markets and the West are lagging due to oversupply.
What this means for Kansas City portfolios:
Rents remain resilient, providing stable cashflows even amid national saturation.
Higher demand and controlled supply in the Midwest support ongoing performance—an encouraging environment for landlords.
A cooling national trend suggests continued caution—but Kansas City appears better insulated.