Montana Rental Market 2025: What Agents Need to Know
By
Rental Beast
After several years of volatility, the Montana rental market has entered a more stable phase. For real estate agents, this means predictable patterns, consistent demand, and a prime opportunity to expand business through rentals.
According to recent data:
31% of Montana households rent their homes. That’s nearly one in three clients you can serve right now.
Vacancy rates sit around 4.2% (2024 figure; 2025 data pending), suggesting steady demand but not the frantic competition seen during the pandemic.
In our latest Rental Beast survey, we asked property managers in Montana two questions about the rental market landscape: "Do you expect rent prices to increase, remain the same or decrease over the next six months" and "do you believe you are currently getting more, about the same or fewer applicants for your available rentals?" 23% of property managers expect rents to rise, 65% expect stability, and 13% foresee decreases over the next six months. Meanwhile, 74% report steady applicant volume, with only a small share seeing fewer leads.
Together, these indicators point to a balanced, opportunity-rich market for agents who can position themselves as rental experts.
What This Means for Montana Agents
Even as sales markets cool or fluctuate, rentals continue to provide a steady pipeline of clients and income. In this environment, landlords value speed, stability, and tenant quality, and agents who can deliver on those fronts will win repeat business.
That’s where Rental Beast, a free member benefit for Montana Regional MLS members, becomes a competitive edge.
With Rental Beast Pro, you can:
Access thousands of rental listings, including inventory not typically found on the MLS.
Leverage rental comps and local market data to price listings accurately and advise landlords with confidence.
Use Apply Now for fast, secure tenant screening and reduce turnaround time.
Nurture renter and landlord leads with rental-focused CRM tools built into the platform.
Easily manage listings using the rental-centric Add/Edit tool.
Bypass manual entry via property management software integrations, a time-saver for busy agents.
In a market where most managers expect rents to hold steady, your ability to provide efficiency and insight can set you apart.
Check out where the latest active listings are on Rental Beast:
Reading the Local Market
Bozeman & Missoula: High-demand markets with strong student and amenity-driven demand. Use Rental Beast’s local comps to help landlords find the sweet spot between pricing and vacancy.
Billings & Helena: Balanced markets where tenant retention matters. Use Apply Now to screen tenants quickly and improve lease renewals.
Smaller towns & resort areas: Seasonal demand patterns and remote-worker migration trends continue. Tap into off-MLS rental inventory via Rental Beast to serve clients relocating or seeking short-term leases.
Quick Wins for Agents
Build a rental comps guide in Rental Beast for your key service areas (Bozeman, Missoula, Billings, Helena). Share it at listing appointments to demonstrate expertise.
Streamline tenant applications with Apply Now. Faster screening means happier landlords and more repeat clients.
Use rental leads to build future buyers. Nurture renter clients with Rental Beast’s built-in CRM tools; today’s tenant could be next year’s buyer.
Market your rental services to property owners sitting on vacant or underperforming units especially in areas where rents are plateauing.
Leverage data-driven insights. Combine your local knowledge with Rental Beast's real-time analytics to advise landlords on pricing, rent trends, and demand shifts.
The Bottom Line
Montana’s rental market is healthy and stabilizing. With about one-third of households renting and steady applicant flow, agents have every reason to make rentals a consistent part of their business.
Log into your free Rental Beast accountto expand your rental listings, serve clients faster, and strengthen your market presence, no additional subscription required.
The market’s steady. The tools are free. The opportunity is yours start leveraging Rental Beast today.
