Rents Soar for Millions of Americans as Threat of Eviction Looms

Rents are soaring in many U.S. cities as the economy rebounds, squeezing the budgets of tenants who also face increased risk of eviction after courts overturned a pandemic-era ban.

There’s no single indicator that captures a complex national picture, as Covid-19 drove major shifts in where people live and work. Still, data point to tight markets in much of the country.

The median monthly charge on a vacant rental jumped by $185 in March from a year earlier, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. A national index compiled by Apartmentlist.com shows that rents rose 1.9% in April alone, the most in data going back to 2017.

The rising costs will pile pressure on poorer families who are more likely to rent -– and less likely to be earning money right now, in a recovery that’s seen better-paid jobs bounce back faster. For low-income Americans, shelter accounts for 40% of spending.

Adding another risk, a federal judge in Washington ruled on Wednesday that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had exceeded its authority by ordering a nationwide moratorium on tenant evictions last year.

The ban, due to last through June, had loopholes that allowed some evictions to proceed -– but it still offered protection for those who’d lost their jobs. About 24% of renters, roughly 8 million people, missed at least one housing payment since March 2020 according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Rapid Rebound

The early months of the pandemic saw a headline-grabbing decline in prices for some expensive urban markets, like Manhattan and San Francisco. Higher-income workers were able to move out of city-center apartments to work remotely from somewhere else.

One result was a lot of unoccupied high-end properties in such places. That may have exaggerated the jump in median costs for vacant rentals as measured by the Census Bureau, creating what’s called a “compositional effect” that skews the data, according to Chris Salvati, a housing economist at Apartmentlist.com.

The declines in some regions offset gains elsewhere and kept national measures fairly steady last year, Salvati said. But he now sees prices rising in all the places where they fell last year -– and pretty much everywhere else too.

“I’ve been surprised at how quickly things have rebounded over these past couple of months,” he said.

The latest monthly survey by Fannie Mae suggests Americans expect the median increase in rent to be 5.3% this year, close to the highest in the past decade.

Even in the exodus cities, rents in less central districts typically didn’t plunge last year. In many mid-sized markets, there was a steady increase. Cities like Richmond, Virginia; Fresno, California; and Dayton, Ohio, saw a plunge in rental vacancies, limiting supply and pushing prices up.

“Outside of the gateways and a select few other top 30 markets, most other metros had positive year-over-year rent growth,” research firm Yardi Matrix said in its latest monthly National Multifamily Report.

Areas where rents have risen more than 10% year-on-year include Boise City, Idaho, and Riverside, California, according to Zillow data.

Some of the pandemic rental trends are extensions of older ones. For example, rents rose about 5% in the past year in Tampa, Florida, and Atlanta, where there’s been strong migration and limited rental supply. Both cities have seen increases of around 30% over five years, according to Zillow data.

Over that period, only New York City among the 100 largest national markets has posted a drop in rental prices. But that could be a temporary effect of the pandemic, which may get wiped out as vaccines drive the city’s recovery.

Manhattan leases surged an annual 89% in March, the fastest pace on record, according to Miller Samuel Real Estate Appraisers & Consultants. It found that the net effective median rent has risen for four straight months — at “the highest rate in a decade.”

NOW TRENDING: Not Just Patriotic, U.S. Manufacturing May Be Smart

Not Just Patriotic, U.S. Manufacturing May Be Smart

http://www.npr.org/2012/12/08/166801322/not-just-patriotic-u-s-manufacturing-may-be-smart

The fiscal cliff and you

The fiscal cliff started to affect business decisions this fall. That’s why you saw small declines in manufacturing in Friday’s jobs report, for example.
It appears to be a worry for consumers now. The University of Michigan’s latest consumer sentiment survey shows confidence dropping to a four-month low. That suggests households are concerned about a potentially sharp fall in their after-tax incomes. The CBO data suggests they might want to be concerned.The CBO estimates suggest the 20% of households with the lowest incomes might see their taxes rise by $412. If you’re in the middle 20% of income levels — between $39,791 and $64,484 — the average increase would be $1,984. If you’re in the top 20% — $108,267 or above — the CBO is estimating an average increase of $14,173. If you’re in the top 1% — with income above $506,210 — the average increase might be about $120,500.

The threat of the cliff is the result of Congress’ inability in 2011 to come up with a package that would satisfy everyone. It came after threats of a government shutdown, a downgrade of U.S. debt by Standard & Poor’s and a short, intense panic in financial markets that sent the major stock market averages down. The provisions of the cliff were part of a deal made by Congress in an August 2011 budget bill. It set up a so-called Super Committee of members of Congress and the Senate who were supposed to hammer out $1.2 trillion in spending cuts over 10 years. If they couldn’t come up with a plan, then a mandatory combination of spending cuts and tax increases would kick
The Super Committee couldn’t agree on a plan, with Democrats and Republicans essentially deciding to wait until after the 2012 election to make decisions. The CBO sees the cliff cutting the federal deficit but also causing a recession, just as the economy is gaining some strength, that might not end until the end of 2013.

Today’s Newsheadlines 10.03.12

NATION
Interior approves first section of 146-mile power line
The Obama administration says the project will improve the grid; environmentalists say it will harm public lands.
( by Darryl Fears , The Washington Post)

Duncan reaches out to teachers
The education secretary said the Obama administration understands many educators feel besieged.
( by Lyndsey Layton , The Washington Post)

Md. liposuction investigation expands
The state is working with federal, Pa. and Del. officials to probe infections at a Baltimore Co. center.
( by Lena H. Sun , The Washington Post)

Border Patrol agent killed in Arizona
FBI is investigating shooting that killed one agent, wounded another; manhunt is underway in desert.
( by Sari Horwitz , The Washington Post)

‘Give me your tired’ but . . .
COLUMN | When it comes to entrepreneurial talent, America is experiencing a persistent immigrant brain drain.
( by Vivek Wadhwa , The Washington Post)

More National: Breaking National News & Headlines – Washington Post

LOCAL
Gray to unveil city playoff plans
D.C. will spend up to $76,000 per Nationals game for more police, traffic officers and inspectors.
( by Nikita Stewart , The Washington Post)

Md. governor to seek utility surcharge
Plan would add “a dollar or two” to bills, allow companies to charge in advance for serious maintenance.
( by Aaron C. Davis , The Washington Post)

Officer hurt by car
An off-duty Montgomery County police officer was trying to help motorists involved in two crashes on a slippery road when a third car crashed into him, authorities said.
( by Martin Weil , The Washington Post)

Congress financial reports up
Stock Act discloses lawmakers’ financial reports online.
( by Eric Yoder , The Washington Post)

Parents protesting policy that requires more students to walk to school
Some Arlington parents are getting signatures on a petition to let their children ride the bus again.
( by Susan Svrluga , The Washington Post)

More Post Local: Washington, DC Area News, Traffic, Weather, Sports & More – The Washington Post

POLITICS
Gray to unveil city playoff plans
D.C. will spend up to $76,000 per Nationals game for more police, traffic officers and inspectors.
( by Nikita Stewart , The Washington Post)

Md. governor to seek utility surcharge
Plan would add “a dollar or two” to bills, allow companies to charge in advance for serious maintenance.
( by Aaron C. Davis , The Washington Post)

Congress financial reports up
Stock Act discloses lawmakers’ financial reports online.
( by Eric Yoder , The Washington Post)

Republicans jump on Biden ‘buried’ remark
“We agree,” Ryan says after VP says those in middle class have been “buried the last four years.”
( by Rachel Weiner , The Washington Post)

Judge halts Pennsylvania voter ID rule
A judge orders the state not to enforce the controversial requirement in this year’s elections.
( by Robert Barnes , The Washington Post)

More Post Politics: Breaking Politics News, Political Analysis & More – The Washington Post

STYLE
Moving on
Her boyfriend isn’t making progress toward their planned move. What now?
(, The Washington Post)

Moderating presidential debates: harder than it looks
Moderators have to be part inquisitor, part referee, part timekeeper and part wallpaper.
( by Paul Farhi , The Washington Post)

Singing shows as ad ammo?
“The X Factor” and “The Voice” are down in the ratings, but networks rely on such DVR-resistant reality hits.
(, The Washington Post)

Rock climber, 11, hits new heights
For Annandale girl, rock climbing is like a roller coaster ride.
(, The Washington Post)

New York’s wheely big idea
City wants to build world’s biggest Ferris wheel on Staten Island.
(, The Washington Post)

More Style: Culture, Arts, Ideas & More – The Washington Post

BUSINESS
In fund industry, a ‘like’ can be trouble
Companies eager to use Facebook, Twitter and other social media shy away because of federal regulations.
( by Theresa Hamacher and Robert Pozen , The Washington Post)

After election, how will Wall St. react?
For investors with angst about Nov. 6, an idea: Don’t worry about it. (But good luck with that.)
( by Cezary Podkul Special to The Washington Post , The Washington Post)

Internet companies oppose update of child privacy law
Facebook, Twitter and Google are protesting an update of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998, written before a majority of U.S. youths owned smartphones, apps began tracking locations and Facebook’s “like” button was ubiquitous on the Web.
( by Cecilia Kang , The Washington Post)

Decline in immigrant entrepreneurs could harm economy, study warns
The proportion of new firms founded by the foreign-born is falling, and a bitter partisan divide over visa changes is blocking a remedy.
( by J.D. Harrison , The Washington Post)

The growing burden on caregivers
In the battle to contain health-care costs, more caregivers perform tasks usually left to medical staff.
(, The Washington Post)

More Business News, Financial News, Business Headlines & Analysis – The Washington Post

SPORTS
TV and radio listings, October 3

( , The Washington Post)

No letup for Nats
One night after clinching NL East crown, the Nationals moved a step closer to claiming the best record in the National League, relying on a patchwork lineup for a 4-2 win over the Phillies.
( by James Wagner , The Washington Post)

O’s keep title hopes alive
Chris Davis’s homer in the fourth provides the decisive run in Baltimore’s 1-0 victory, sending AL East race to the season’s final day.
( by Eduardo A. Encina , The Washington Post)

A manager’s winning ways
Davey Johnson, 69, has finished first six times in an impressive career. “It never gets old,” the skipper says.
( by Adam Kilgore , The Washington Post)

Harper comes of age when it counts
OPINION | During the stretch run, no Nat has been more valuable than the team’s 19-year-old wunderkind.
(, The Washington Post)

More Sports: Sports News, Scores, Analysis, Schedules & More – The Washington Post

TECHNOLOGY
Internet companies oppose update of child privacy law
Facebook, Twitter and Google are protesting an update of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998, written before a majority of U.S. youths owned smartphones, apps began tracking locations and Facebook’s “like” button was ubiquitous on the Web.
( by Cecilia Kang , The Washington Post)

Facebook launches new Help Center
The social network aims to clarify privacy settings and point out new features.
( by Hayley Tsukayama , The Washington Post)

Google, Microsoft in close race for second most valuable tech company
Google briefly passed Microsoft, but fell to third again in Monday trading.
( by Hayley Tsukayama , The Washington Post)

Samsung can sell Galaxy Tab 10.1 again
If you were looking to pick up a Galaxy Tab 10.1, then there’s some good news for you.
( by Hayley Tsukayama , The Washington Post)

Which ISPs are capping your broadband, and why?
Rise in caps has let ISPs influence the internet in subtle ways — most of which seem harmful to innovation.
( by Stacey Higginbotham | GigaOM.com , gigaom.com)

More Technology News – The Washington Post

WORLD
A central banker’s rebellion
Germany’s Jens Weidmann is using his influential pulpit to combat the European Central Bank’s bond-buying efforts to stem the debt crisis.
( by Michael Birnbaum , The Washington Post)

Libyans say few questions being asked about attack
The investigation into the attack that killed the U.S. ambassador has started slowly.
( by Michael Birnbaum and Anne Gearan , The Washington Post)

Border Patrol agent killed in Arizona
FBI is investigating shooting that killed one agent, wounded another; manhunt is underway in desert.
( by Sari Horwitz , The Washington Post)

Georgia votes opposition in
Mikheil Saakashvili’s ruling party loses election after years of reform and unchallenged authority.
( by Kathy Lally , The Washington Post)

Syria’s Kurds plan for post-Assad life
The minority group has been quietly laying foundations for what it hopes will be an autonomous region.
( by Loveday Morris | Financial Times , The Washington Post)

More World: World News, International News, Foreign Reporting – The Washington Post

EDITORIAL
The Zinger candidate
From Romney, it’s all sugary platitudes, no protein.
(, The Washington Post)

The ‘99 percent’ debate
Let’s ask questions that actually reflect Americans’ concerns.
(, The Washington Post)

The Nats take the East
And baseball delirium returns to D.C. after 88 years.
(, The Washington Post)

A Catholic in favor of Question 6

(, The Washington Post)

A McGovern poster whose time has come again

(, The Washington Post)

More Opinions: Washington Post Opinion, Editorial, Op Ed, Politics Editorials – The Washington Post

LIVE DISCUSSIONS
Free Range on Food: Apples, cider, poaching eggs and more
Have cooking questions? We have answers. Ask us now.
(, vForum)

Celebritology Live
Join Celebritology blogger Jen Chaney to gab about the latest celebrity gossip and pop culture news making waves across the Web.
(, vForum)

The Web Hostess: What you’re missing (or not) on the internet
Web Hostess Monica Hesse sifts the Internet so you don’t have to, searching for meaning, manners and the next great meme.
(, vForum)

The Reliable Source Live
Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts discuss your favorite gossip, celebrity sightings and their recent columns.
(, vForum)

Ask Boswell: All things Washington sports
Sports Columnist Tom Boswell answered reader questions about the Redskins, the Capitals, the Nationals, baseball, the NFL and more.
(, vForum)

Today’s News Headlines 06.21.12

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
Millions more shared homes in face of recession, Census Bureau reports
The downturn forced millions of Americans to share households, a Census Bureau report says.
(By Michael A. Fletcher)

Supporters plot to reinstate Sullivan as U-Va. president
Some board members seek support for a vote; incoming interim president Carl Zeithaml rules out becoming permanent president.
(By Anita Kumar and Daniel de Vise)

House panel recommends contempt vote on Eric Holder
A House committee urged Wednesday that Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. be held in contempt for failing to cooperate with a congressional inquiry into Operation “Fast and Furious.”
(By Ed O’Keefe, Peter Wallsten and Sari Horwitz)

Afghan refugees forced to return home
Just as many seek a way out of war-ravaged Afghanistan, others are returning to the land of their birth.
(By Kevin Sieff)

Lisa De Moraes: ‘Today’ ratings in; Curry out.
One day before ratings come out that will probably show ABC’s “Good Morning America” beat NBC’s “Today,” word got out that NBC News was replacing Ann Curry.
(By Lisa De Moraes)

NATION
A taxing question about paying for war
At last, after 11 years of war, we have a few minutes of public discussion about a tax to pay for the next war.
(, The Washington Post)

U.S. health insurers owe consumers, businesses $1.1 billion in rebates
Whether money is paid depends on how the Supreme Court rules on the new health-care law.
( by Sarah Kliff , The Washington Post)

HIV infection rate among some poor black women in D.C. nearly doubles
The disease remains at epidemic levels in Washington.
( by Lena H. Sun , The Washington Post)

Faltering Iran talks stoke fears of new conflict
Stalled nuclear talks with Tehran raise fears about dangerous new maneuvers.
( by Joby Warrick , The Washington Post)

The enterprise social software market leader no one’s talking about
Pop quiz: this company competes in the enterprise social software market with the likes of Jive and Yammer.
( by VentureBeat.com , VentureBeat.com)

More National: Breaking National News & Headlines – Washington Post

LOCAL
Crime listings for Montgomery County
Among incidents May 25-June 11 reported by Montgomery County, Rockville and Takoma Park police
(, The Washington Post)

Va. board to bypass N.Va. Transportation Commission
The Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board voted to send money directly to cities and counties, bypassing the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission,
( by Patricia Sullivan , The Washington Post)

Verizon Center owner’s proposed digital billboards rile neighbors
As many as nine billboards could be built on the arena’s facade, if the D.C. Council approves.
( by Mike DeBonis , The Washington Post)

Pr. George’s council member gets probation before judgment
Council member Karen J. Toles gets probation before judgment on reckless driving charge.
( by Matt Zapotosky , The Washington Post)

More Post Local: Washington, DC Area News, Traffic, Weather, Sports & More – The Washington Post

POLITICS
GAO criticizes federal property management
The federal government knows very little about some of the properties it owns, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office.
( by Jonathan O’Connell , The Washington Post)

Hispanic vote looms larger in this and future battleground state contests
Democrats hope to capture rapid Latino growth in five swing states and three GOP-dominated states.
( by Aaron Blake , The Washington Post)

Agency can reconfigure budget
Congress will allow the National Weather Service to reallocate $36 million to stave off furloughs this summer for 5,000 employees, lawmakers said Wednesday.
( by Lisa Rein , The Washington Post)

Prince George’s casino bid collapses
Members of a work group launched by Gov. O’Malley couldn’t agree to expand gambling in Maryland.
( by John Wagner , The Washington Post)

More Post Politics: Breaking Politics News, Political Analysis & More – The Washington Post

STYLE
Lost in Translation 2.0
Style Invitational contest Week 977: Translate something using Google, then translate it back to English and see if it’s funny.
(, The Washington Post)

Carolyn Hax: Husband wants to skip first trimester
He took his wife’s miscarriage especially hard and didn’t want to know about the next pregnancy until the second trimester. Now, she’s pregnant again, and she wants to tell him.
(, The Washington Post)

Human trafficking victim tells his story through art
Vannak Anan Prum came to D.C. to receive an award from the State Department.
( by Michael Livingston , The Washington Post)

Nancy Pearl loses some luster
Local booksellers see little upside for them in author’s Amazon-published Book Lust Rediscoveries series.
( by Nora Krug , The Washington Post)

Students weather final days of school, eagerly awaiting summer
Fifth-graders at Shepherd Elementary in D.C. prepare to leave behind the school year and embark on their summer journeys and the prospect of sixth grade.
( by Monica Hesse , The Washington Post)

More Style: Culture, Arts, Ideas & More – The Washington Post

BUSINESS
Surface tablet can open doors for Microsoft
The second I walked in Microsoft’s campus, it was clear the work inside research and development was safely in the realm of mad science.
(, The Washington Post)

Federal Reserve renews program to spur growth amid economic concerns
The Fed said it would extend “Operation Twist,” a program that seeks to reduce long-term interest rates, through the end of the year.
( by Zachary A. Goldfarb and Peter Whoriskey , The Washington Post)

Data show top banks get most complaints
Major banks received the largest number of complaints to the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in 2011, according to data obtained through a public records request.
( by Carter Dougherty , The Washington Post)

Millions more shared homes in face of recession, Census Bureau reports
The downturn forced millions of Americans to share households, a Census Bureau report says.
( by Michael A. Fletcher , The Washington Post)

Microsoft Surface: How the tablet stacks up to its competitors
Microsoft announced the arrival of a tablet called the Surface, a device that aims to siphon market share from Apple and Google.
(, The Washington Post)

More Business News, Financial News, Business Headlines & Analysis – The Washington Post

SPORTS
TV and radio listings: June 21

(, The Washington Post)

New York completes the sweep of O’s
The Orioles end their scoreless streak at 28 innings, but it isn’t enought to stop the Mets from completing the sweep at Citi Field.
( by Dan Connolly , The Washington Post)

Strasburg helps Nats snap skid
Stephen Strasburg strikes out 10 and allows five hits as the Nationals score all of the runs they need in the first inning.
( by Adam Kilgore , The Washington Post)

Pine tar sparring continues
The Nats’ Davey Johnson and the Rays’ Joe Maddon are still debating who was in the wrong regarding Joel Peralta’s excessive use of pine tar.
( by Adam Kilgore and James Wagner , The Washington Post)

Coach tasked with saving two track programs
Andrew Valmon tries to focus energy on Team USA’s upcoming Olympic effort in London, while not forgetting that his teams back home at Maryland need him for a massive fundraising effort to save the men’s program.
( by Rick Maese , The Washington Post)

More Sports: Sports News, Scores, Analysis, Schedules & More – The Washington Post

TECHNOLOGY
House need work? There’s help online
From DIY projects to linking with experts, there’s help for your home online
( by Hayley Tsukayama , The Washington Post)

Windows Phone 8: No support for current devices
Windows Phone 8 will not work on current Windows Phones, but current users are getting an update.
( by Hayley Tsukayama , The Washington Post)

Windows Phone 8: Speech, Wallet, and more games on the way
Microsoft unveiled a lot of details about their next smartphone platform
( by Hayley Tsukayama , The Washington Post)

Traffic app Waze now in business of saving drivers money too
Company is unveiling a discount fuel service that lets users receive five to 10 cents off each gallon they buy from more than 200,000 gas stations across the country.
( by Ryan Kim | GigaOM.com , gigaom.com)

Swype officially available to phone manufacturers
Swype may be the single most versatile soft keyboard released for Android yet.
( by Chris Ziegler | TheVerge.com , TheVerge.com)

More Technology News – The Washington Post

WORLD
Afghan refugees forced to return home
Just as many seek a way out of war-ravaged Afghanistan, others are returning to the land of their birth.
( by Kevin Sieff in Kabul , The Washington Post)

A taxing question about paying for war
At last, after 11 years of war, we have a few minutes of public discussion about a tax to pay for the next war.
(, The Washington Post)

Faltering Iran talks stoke fears of new conflict
Stalled nuclear talks with Tehran raise fears about dangerous new maneuvers.
( by Joby Warrick , The Washington Post)

Egypt election results to be delayed
Announcement that results will be given later than scheduled raised nation’s sense of uncertainty.
( by Karin Brulliard and Ingy Hassieb , The Washington Post)

WikiLeaks founder could be jailed
Assange broke curfew by spending the night at Ecuador’s embassy, a last-ditch attempt to avoid facing questioning in Sweden.
( by Anthony Faiola and Karla Adam , The Washington Post)

Career Boost: Jumpstart Your Career With A Resume Revamp

Nothing can hurt a job hunter more than a bad resume and when it comes to resume revamps everybody seems to have something that works for them personally. But as with most things there are general rules of thumb that most seasoned recruiters will say can help land your resume at the top of the pile. Check out these four simple resume revamp tips and breathe new life into your job search today! Go Into Detail About Your Accomplishments.

When it comes to resumes most of us simply list our daily tasks in bullet point fashion and that’s it. However your resume is the main place that you get to sell yourself to a potential employer. They don’t really want to see what you did on a daily basis – they want to see results and measurable outcomes indicating past performance. When you are describing the job that you performed, phrase it in terms of accomplishments. Instead of saying “Assisted director with various projects,” say “Organized and facilitated new social media marketing strategy which helped to increase corporate visibility by 40% in the first two months of implementation.” Get into details about the projects you assisted with and how they helped the department and/or company you worked for.