How real estate agents can win big this summer

Are you a real estate agent gearing up for your busy season? Don't overlook rentals as your path to success. With the share of renter households in the U.S. growing three times faster than homeowner households, rentals represent a powerful opportunity for agents to thrive and create a client pipeline that will pay off in both the long and short term.

At RentSpree, we’ve analyzed our extensive rental data to pinpoint exactly when, where, and how seasonality impacts rental markets across the U.S. In this comprehensive guide, you’ll discover current rental market trends, strategic insights, and actionable tips that will position you to capitalize fully on the busiest rental period of the year.

Let’s explore how to make this summer your most successful yet!

Summer rental market trends for real estate agents

The "Summer Surge" isn't just anecdotal — it's supported by solid data. Our data analysis clearly demonstrates a significant increase in rental activity during the warmer months. Here’s exactly what you need to know:

Peak months for rentals

• July is king: Tenant screenings in July jump by a staggering 53.5% compared to December and are 22% higher than average, making it the busiest rental month of the entire year.
• May through July: Together, these months experience 27% more rental screenings than any other time of the year.
• The need for speed: There aren’t just more rentals, they’re also getting snapped up faster. In April, May, and June, the average time from listing to first tenant report was below 16 days — the fastest period of the year.

Why does rental demand spike in summer?

The annual summer rental surge is driven by a combination of factors. Many families choose this time of year to relocate to minimize disruptions for their children, often timing moves to coincide with summer break. Additionally, students transitioning into off-campus housing actively search for rentals in late spring and early summer, before their school year begins. Job transitions also play a significant role; employers frequently schedule relocations or onboard new hires during warmer months, generating additional demand for rental housing. Finally, many standard rental leases naturally expire during summer, causing tenants to either renew or seek new residences, further fueling competition and market activity.

The increased competition for available units also tends to push rental prices higher. For agents whose income relies even partly on percentage-based commissions, this price increase can represent a significant opportunity. Higher rental rates during peak season could directly translate into larger commissions per rental deal.

Top U.S. states for the summer surge

Is your market a summer hotspot? Not all regions experience this summer relocation trend equally. According to RentSpree's data, here are the top 10 states (and, yes, one district) seeing the highest summer rental activity increases compared to the rest of the year:

1. Washington, D.C. – 68% increase in tenant screenings in the summer vs the rest of the year, according to RentSpree data.
2. Virginia – 46% increase in tenant screenings
3. Illinois – 42% increase in tenant screenings
4. North Carolina – 40% increase in tenant screenings
5. Mississippi – 40% increase in tenant screenings
6. Texas – 38% increase in tenant screenings
7. Missouri – 37% increase in tenant screenings
8. New Hampshire – 34% increase in tenant screenings
9. West Virginia – 33% increase in tenant screenings
10. Arizona – 30% increase in tenant screenings

There’s no doubt about it: When we crunch the numbers Washington, D.C. is the capital of the summer surge! In the District of Columbia, one quarter (25%) of the rental reports for the entire year come in during June and July. 

It makes sense: Historically in the summer, thousands of interns, recent grads, and young professionals flock to the nation's capital to pursue opportunities in government agencies, non-profits, and private companies. Plus, with so many universities nearby, there's also a wave of students and academic staff looking for short-term housing during these warmer months.

Top U.S. cities for the summer surge

On a city level, certain locations become particularly competitive during summer months. These markets could present exceptional opportunities if you're prepared:

• Katy, TX – 87% increase in tenant screenings in the summer vs the rest of the year, according to RentSpree data.
  
• Falls Church, VA – 85% increase in tenant screenings
  
• Aliso Viejo, CA – 83% increase in tenant screenings
  
• Herndon, VA – 73% increase in tenant screenings
  
• Austin, TX – 70% increase in tenant screenings
  
• Ashburn, VA – 68% increase in tenant screenings
  
• Fairfax, VA – 67% increase in tenant screenings
  
• Costa Mesa, CA – 59% increase in tenant screenings
  
• San Francisco, CA – 57% increase in tenant screenings
  
• Silver Spring, MD – 56% increase in tenant screenings

Many of the top-ranked cities (Katy, Falls Church, Ashburn, Fairfax, Herndon, Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa) are suburban areas near major metro job hubs. It’s possible that families with school-age children are driving the trend of summer moves, timing relocations before the new school year.

4 ways agents can get ready for their peak season

Preparation is key to thriving during the busy summer rental season. Follow this practical list to ensure you're fully equipped to capitalize on increased rental demand and stay ahead of your competition:

1. Streamline your workflow

For agents, efficiency is critical when rental demand peaks. Streamline your administrative tasks to spend more time securing tenants and less time managing paperwork:

• Ensure you have adequate resources like templates for tenant communications and checklists for onboarding new tenants. You need to minimize delays as much as possible during busy months.
• Establish clear systems for application management, follow-ups, and documentation. RentSpree’s integrated tools can help automate these processes.

2. Sharpen your tenant screening strategy

With so many folks looking for rentals, you’ll want to make sure you’re matching landlords with the best tenant candidates — especially with rental fraud on the rise. Protect your clients and streamline your workload by being proactive.

• Implement efficient and accurate tenant screening solutions, including credit, criminal background, eviction, and income verification checks.
• Educate yourself (and your landlord clients) about potential fraud and red flags now. That way you’ll know what to be on the lookout for when you’re at your busiest.

3. Amplify your marketing

Although demand increases significantly during summer months, competition among agents does as well. Effective, strategic marketing ensures your listings rise above the noise, attracting quality tenants quickly and helping you stand out as a trusted local expert. By amplifying your visibility through targeted marketing now, you set the stage for sustained success throughout the peak season.

• Check out our guide to summer real estate marketing ideas designed specifically to attract renters during the busiest months. Implement these actionable tips immediately.
• Leverage tools like RentSpree’s free listing and syndication tools to ensure your properties reach a wider audience of eager summer tenants faster.

4. Prepare your network

Building relationships now sets the stage for ongoing success. Strengthen your network proactively, so when peak season hits, your connections become powerful sources of leads and referrals.

• Reach out proactively to current and previous clients. Let them know about increased market activity and opportunities available.

• Connect with local MLSs, brokerages, and referral partners, sharing key insights from RentSpree’s summer surge data to strengthen relationships and expand your network.

Start now for your best summer yet

With record-breaking tenant demand imminent, proactive preparation positions you for maximum success.

• Sign up for RentSpree for powerful rental tools to streamline your summer process.
• Subscribe to our newsletters for trends, insights, and exclusive educational resources.
• Explore additional free RentSpree resources, including helpful rental calculators, to fine-tune your strategy for this peak season.

Taking these steps now will ensure that when summer demand peaks, you're ready — not reactive. It's your roadmap to a seamless, successful, and profitable rental season.