The latest rent data is in and it's showing a market that's stabilizing, but still full of opportunity for investors.

I'm Kathy Fedke, and this is Real Estate News for Investors.

This is Real Estate News with Kathy Fedke.

According to a new report from Apartments.com, with data provided by aStar Group, the average rent in the U.S. is now $1.41 per month.

That's up just 0.3% from a year ago, so rents are rising, but very slowly.

For landlords, that signals a more normalized market after the sharp increases we saw in recent years.

Now here's where it gets interesting.

Some states are still seeing strong rent growth.

West Virginia led the way, with rents up 4.4%.

Illinois and Rhode Island also posted solid gains.

That tells us there are still pockets of strength,

especially in the more affordable secondary markets. On the flip side, the lowest rents in the

country are in places like Oklahoma, Arkansas, and North Dakota, where average rents are still

under $1,000 a month. These markets may offer low entry prices,

but also tighter margins if rent growth stays modest. Nationally, a one-bedroom apartment now

averages about $1,41 a month, while two bedrooms are closer to $1,900. And three-bedroom units?

Those are pushing nearly $2,400. So larger units are still commanding a

premium, which could be an opportunity for investors targeting families or shared housing. When we

zoom in on cities, the gap gets even wider. In places like New York and Boston, rents are well

above $3,000 a month. But in cities like

Toledo, Wichita and Tulsa, rents are still under $900 a month. That spread is exactly why

so many investors are shifting towards more affordable markets. Rent growth is cooled,

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