{"id":12980,"date":"2010-10-22T09:16:38","date_gmt":"2010-10-22T16:16:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/seattlebubble.com\/blog\/?p=12980"},"modified":"2010-10-22T09:16:38","modified_gmt":"2010-10-22T16:16:38","slug":"reader-question-todays-best-rental-strategies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seattlebubble.com\/blog\/2010\/10\/22\/reader-question-todays-best-rental-strategies\/","title":{"rendered":"Reader Question: Today’s Best Rental Strategies"},"content":{"rendered":"

A reader asked this question<\/a> about strategies for today’s rental market:<\/p>\n

Alright experts, I was going to buy a house this fall\/winter but after following this blog for a few weeks have decided to wait it out.<\/p>\n

Here’s my question: Given the current situation, what is your prediction for the rental market, specifically houses, in city for the near future? I am looking at renting a 2-3 bedrooom house (not apartment) and havent seen alot of downward trend yet, but there also appears to be very little availiable at the moment in 98109 or 98119 (small search area but my kids are in the schools).<\/p>\n

Given the number of sellers that haven’t been able to sell, I thought I would have better offerings. Any ideas\/strategies here? I don’t need to move right away.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

With home prices still flat to down and foreclosures continuing to rise, it seems likely that we will see a steady increase of individual homes being added to the rental market over the short to medium term (at least).<\/p>\n

Many of the current crop of “accidental landlords” are rationalizing their decision to rent out their home (often at a loss) as “only temporary until the market recovers.” Of course, if your home is underwater by more than about ten or twenty thousand dollars, it’s very likely that “until the market recovers” could be at least five or ten years, but it may take these landlords a while to come to grips with that reality.<\/p>\n

As for finding a good rental, I recommend starting with these posts:<\/p>\n