The Property Pulse by LandlordDoc
Your weekly pulse of what's happening in the rental industry right now Issue #4 | July 18, 2025 | 3-minute read
📈 This Week's Headlines
3 key developments that matter to your rental business
- HUD updates income limits for Section 8 vouchers: New wage-based method boosts eligibility and potential rent ceilings for voucher holders source
- AI tenant screening slashes bad debt: Propertyware's platform cut delinquency by $39 per unit using AI-powered risk scores source
- Insurance premiums spike in high-risk areas: Landlords in Colorado and Nebraska face up to 76% rate increases for 2025 coverage source
🎯 Quick Wins
One actionable tip you can implement this week
This Week: AI-Powered Tenant Screening
- What: Use AI-based tenant screening to reduce bad debt and accelerate lease decisions
- Why: Propertyware reports a $39 per unit drop in bad debt using risk-based AI credit scoring
- How:
- Sign up for BoomScreen or Propertyware screening tools
- Set criteria for ability and willingness to pay
- Sync with your leasing platform for instant risk flags
Cost: $65/month for 10 units
Time: 1 hour setup
📊 By the Numbers
Market data that impacts your decisions (chart may not be visible in email – you can view it in the article on the LandlordDoc.com website).
| Metric | This Week | Last Month | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. Rent | $1,773 | $1,762 | Reflects plateau in rent growth despite seasonal demand |
| Vacancy Rate | 8.2% | 8.2% | Stabilized demand-supply balance, helps forecast lease-up time |
| Rent Growth (Annual) | 0.9% | 1.2% | Signals softening rent growth pressure |
🏗️ Market Pulse
Construction and supply updates
- New Supply Alert: 535,000 units delivered nationally in past 12 months (RealPage, July 2025)
- Permitting Surge: Midwest single-family permits rose 0.9% YTD through May 2025
- Watch This Space: Multifamily starts down 36.4% YoY in Q1 2025—supply dip expected in 2026
⚖️ Legal & Regulatory
Changes affecting your operations
- National: HUD raised Section 8 income limits by 6.2% in May 2025
- Impact: Broader voucher eligibility and potential for higher rent ceilings
- Action Required: Review updated income limits in your local area
💡 Tool Spotlight
Tech that can save you time or money
- Featured: BoomScreen
- Best For: Automating tenant risk analysis for small portfolios
- Pricing: $65/month per 10 units
- Bottom Line: Worth it—cuts fraud and saves time screening applicants
📋 Research Roundup
Recent studies worth knowing about
- Study: "What Really Drives SFR NOI Variance?" by NMHC, July 2025
- Key Finding: 40% of NOI variance tied to macroeconomics—only 1% to school quality
- Takeaway: Market affordability and amenities over school districts
🔮 Looking Ahead
What to watch for next week
- July 18: RentCafe regional vacancy data release
- Week of July 22: HUD to finalize rent cap proposal feedback
- Prepare renewal offers—engagement typically dips end of July
📌 Remember This
Quick reference for the week
- Average Days to Lease: 26 (unchanged)
- Peak Listing Day: Tuesday 7–10am
- Recommended Security Deposit: 1 month’s rent
