The rental market in 2025 is booming. With over 44 million renter households in the U.S., rentals now account for more than 35% of households, jumping to over 65% in cities such as Boston and Miami. And with home sales slipping (pending home sales dropped 6.3% in April), more consumers are turning to rentals as an immediate solution.
At the same time, Zillow reports a surge in rental demand as summer begins, calling it a “fever pitch” driven by affordability challenges and intense buyer competition. This puts real estate agents in the perfect position to step up and meet the needs of renters.
Rentals can create consistent income, fill gaps between home sales, and, most importantly, renters become long-term buyers with the right follow-up strategy. Here are three ways agents can close more rental deals this year while staying focused, productive, and ahead of the curve.
Time is the number one resource agents can’t afford to waste. The smartest agents are embracing automation to streamline repetitive tasks and free up hours each week. One of the biggest time savers? Digital rental applications and tenant screening. Instead of handling paper forms or juggling third-party sites, agents can use Rental Beast’s secure tool, Apply Now, to send applications and receive background, credit, and income verification reports, all in one place. Listings with Apply Now enabled are rented on average 24% faster! This reduces friction for both renters and landlords and shortens the time to lease.
Automation is no longer optional; it’s how top-performing agents stay competitive.
Today’s renter is tomorrow’s buyer, and the data proves it: 73% of renters say buying a home in the next three years is important to them. While mortgage rates remain elevated, there’s a positive shift in housing inventory: up 30.6% year-over-year and marking the 18th consecutive month of growth. This uptick in supply may lead to more opportunities ahead, but many renters are still holding off on purchases, giving agents more time to build relationships.
Agents should be encouraged to treat rental clients like VIPs. This means adding every client to their CRM, setting regular follow-ups, and providing occasional updates on the housing market, mortgage rates, and first-time buyer programs. When the time comes to buy, the agent who stayed in touch will be the one who gets the call.
In a crowded industry, specialization creates authority. Agents who focus on a specific neighborhood or zip code quickly become the go-to experts for both tenants and landlords. This local knowledge allows agents to price properties accurately, answer detailed questions with confidence, and win referrals.
Being hyper-local also opens the door to valuable landlord relationships. With more small landlords entering the market and relying on agents to quickly fill units, there is a growing need for reliable rental representation. Building these connections leads to repeat business and exclusive listings.
Rentals are a fast-moving, high-demand part of the market that can power consistent income and long-term success. With rental demand projected to climb by over 6% this year, agents who build relationships in this space now are positioning themselves to earn steady income today and cultivate future buyer clients tomorrow.
Encourage your agents to embrace rentals not as a detour, but as a core part of their growth strategy. With Rental Beast, they have the tools, data, and inventory to close more deals with less friction and more future value.
Ensure your team is fully equipped and activated on Rental Beast. Their next big commission might start with a rental today.
