Rental-hunting season hits fever pitch as June begins, Zillow data shows

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[{"type":"text","content":"Smart search tips to beat the competition and bag the perfect pad without overspending\nWebsite traffic, messages to landlords and applications on Zillow Rentals typically peak in the first week of June.Renter households are at a record high, and renters are far more likely to move than homeowners.2025 is shaping up to be even busier than recent years, with more activity to date on Zillow Rentals.SEATTLE, May 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The busiest week of the year for rental seekers is here. Data from Zillow Rentals® shows that the first week of June brings a spike in activity on the platform; listing views, rental applications and outreach to property managers have all peaked at this time over the past two years. \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \nWith rental households at a record high, the 2025 rental season is shaping up to be one of the busiest yet.\n\"Summer is always a busy time for rentals, but it's also when the most new listings hit the market,\" said Emily McDonald, Zillow rental trends expert. \"Knowing when demand spikes can help renters plan ahead, act quickly and use smart tools to find a place that checks all their boxes without blowing their budget. You'll still have options later if you miss the rush, but you might miss out on freebies available now.\"\nA record-setting year for renters\nRental activity on Zillow is already outpacing the past two years in terms of apartment views, lease creations and rental applications, a sign that this year's peak could be even higher. A record-high 46 million households rent, and renters are nearly four times more likely to move than homeowners, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. \nDemand is up, but options abound. Zillow has more than 2 million active listings including single-family rentals, apartment units and condos, an all-time high for the platform with more listings than any other rental network.1 \nA construction boom added more new rental units in 2024 than in any year since the 1970s, but the wave of lease concessions used to attract tenants is starting to ebb. According to Zillow's latest Rental Market Report, the share of listings offering incentives like a free month's rent dropped from nearly 40% in March to under 35% in April.\nTips to outsmart the rush and avoid affordability potholes:\nSearch smarter. Move-in-date filters, pet-friendly toggles, 3D tours and interact...

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