Market Intelligence: U.S. 1Q26 Recap
Early signs of momentum look to be building in the 1st quarter 2026 stats. Despite considerable background economic noise, apartment demand remains in solid shape. And the primary downwards force on the market the past few years (a multi-decade supply peak) continues to ease. But a closer examination below the headline stats shows there's a fragmented set of conditions split across various geographies and asset classes, furthering the long-standing wisdom that real estate is a highly localized sector.
As peak leasing season kicks off, what key metrics are RealPage economists focused on to help contextualize the 2026 outlook? Is the apparent 1Q momentum here to stay, or is it fleeting? And what do the deeper, more nuanced stats across different geographies and different asset classes tell us about the state of the national apartment market?
Join RealPage market experts Carl Whitaker, Chief Economist and Adam Couch, Market Research Analyst as they recap 1st quarter 2026 performance stats and provide their thoughts on what the rest of 2026 has in store, starting with national-level fundamentals before then taking a deeper dive into more localized trends.
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.
