Market Intelligence: Upper Midwest/Great Plains Update
The 2020s have delivered plenty of ups and downs but across the Upper Midwest/Great Plains, both the peaks and valleys have been far more measured. While much of the nation is navigating a prolonged period of elevated supply pressure, relative supply levels across this region remain modest. A steady stream of demand has helped keep local performance buoyed at or slightly above national benchmarks.
What demand drivers are shaping recent market performance across the Upper Midwest/Great Plains? Has the region’s relative resilience altered investors’ long-term outlook? And how are these markets positioned to perform through the rest of 2026?
Join RealPage experts Carl Whitaker, VP & Chief Economist, and Adam Couch, Market Research Analyst, for an in-depth look at supply, demand, and performance trends across the western half of the Upper Midwest/Great Plains.
This webcast will explore key dynamics across Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Key Topics Include:
- Supply & Demand Fundamentals: How will a period of suppressed apartment starts affect short- to mid-term supply/demand balance? And is the region’s recent migration-driven population growth a temporary boost—or the beginning of a longer-term structural shift?
- Performance Metrics: A deep dive into occupancy, rent growth, and renewal trends across major metros. Which markets are leading, which are lagging, and where are we seeing early signs of softening—or renewed strength?
Carl Whitaker is RealPage’s Chief Economist, leading the company's team of economists and market analysts. Carl and the Market Intelligence team specialize in analyzing and disseminating economic and market trends for the rental housing industry. He primarily focuses on presenting trends in the rental housing industry to a wide audience, including investors, asset managers, operations professionals and media, among other personas. Carl has been cited in the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg and GlobeSt and is a frequent keynote speaker for industry events. Carl holds degrees from the University of North Texas, including a Master of Science in Applied Geography.
Adam Couch
Research Analyst, RealPage, Inc.Adam Couch specializes in residential housing research and advanced analytics, with a focus on risk assessment, emerging trends, capital markets, and demographic shifts across the multifamily sector. He develops forward‑looking research into strategic recommendations that guide executive decision‑making across investment, portfolio strategy, and operations through market cycles and changing economic conditions. Adam has spoken at commercial real estate conferences, been cited in The Dallas Morning News, and previously advised Fannie Mae on multifamily asset management strategy.
