Why Single-Family Rentals Continue to Lead the Market in 2026
According to the latest data, now is a great time to own a single-family rental. RentEngine recently released its Q2 2026 Leasing Data & Trends Report, analyzing hundreds of thousands of leasing transactions across the country. While every market is different, many of the trends line up with what we’re seeing every day here in North Texas.
The biggest takeaway is that single-family homes continue to outperform nearly every other rental asset class.
Single-Family Homes Are Winning the Race
The report found that single-family rentals generated the most prospective tenant leads of any property type.
Median leads by property type:
Single-family homes: 28
Townhomes: 23
Small multifamily communities: 21
Condos: 16
Large multifamily communities: 10
That means owners of detached homes are attracting substantially more interest than apartment communities and other property types.
Here in Denton County and across North Texas, we’ve seen many renters continue to prioritize more living space, private yards, attached garages, and family-friendly neighborhoods
Homes Are Renting Faster
We know that every day a property sits vacant costs money. With the increased demand in the market, combined with accurate pricing, we’re seeing encouraging news. According to the report:
Average days on market dropped from 32 days to 28 days this quarter.
Properly priced homes are leasing in around 20 days.
Single-family homes averaged just 25 days on market, compared to 31 days for multifamily properties.
Pricing Still Matters
We found one statistic that really stood out to us. Nearly 37% of rented properties required at least one price reduction before finding a tenant. The median total reduction? $100.
That small pricing mistake often translated into weeks of additional vacancy.
The report found that:
Correctly priced homes lease in about 20 days
Overpriced homes often spend 40+ days on the market after multiple price reductions
We tell owners this regularly. Pricing isn’t about getting the highest possible rent- it’s about maximizing total return.
What This Means for North Texas Owners
While national trends don’t guarantee local results, they’re encouraging—and they closely mirror what we’re seeing throughout Denton, Frisco, Little Elm, Lewisville, McKinney, and the surrounding North Texas communities.
For owners, the biggest opportunity isn’t simply owning a rental. It’s having experts that understand the right pricing strategy, marketing plan, and leasing process from day one.
If you’re wondering what your home could rent for in today’s market or how to position it for the strongest results, the Pros PM team is always happy to help.
