Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Austin, Texas, led the nation in dropping rent prices for the month of June, according to a new report from Realtor.com.
The South generally saw a surge in housing units as more builders target the area because of mass migration post-pandemic.
After Austin’s year-over-year rent drop of 9.5 percent, San Antonio, Texas, and Nashville, Tennessee, also saw significant rent price decreases of 8.2 percent and 8.1 percent, respectively.
More From Newsweek Vault: How to Invest in Real Estate
“It’s difficult to know just yet if this is simply a trend or a long-term slide, but markets that were white hot during the pandemic like Austin and Nashville are experiencing a deceleration in demand,” Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor at the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek.
More From Newsweek Vault: Learn How Real Estate ETFs Can Help Avoid the Hassle of Rental Properties
Beene said the boom in remote work has regressed, and many workers have had to relocate back to their home office, which for many is outside of the southern cities they migrated to during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Realtor.com also attributed the drops to substantial increases in the supply of new rental units.
“To meet that demand, suppliers needed to come into the market and have now oversupplied the market with housing,” Kevin Thompson, a Texas-based financial expert and founder of 9i Capital Group, told Newsweek. “What you are seeing now is the natural market forces finding an equilibrium price, which will naturally fall, especially when you compare them to year-over-year numbers.”
Nationwide, rents fell 0.4 percent year-over-year in June, marking the 11th consecutive month of rent drops nationwide. The median rent for a studio to two-bedroom unit in the top 50 metro areas was 21.2 percent, or $305 higher than the same month in 2019.
“Rents have been steadily falling for almost a year, though the pace of the decline has slowed,” Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com, said in a statement. “But rental costs have risen significantly since before the pandemic and inflation has further strained renters’ budgets, underscoring the need for more supply to meet demand and to keep renters from contributing an increasing percentage of their incomes to housing costs.”
The pandemic saw the housing market become severely disrupted, with some markets like Tampa and Miami in Florida seeing rents skyrocketing by up to 40 percent. Tampa and Miami still have some of the fattest rental-price growth versus their pre-pandemic levels, with Tampa up 39.5 percent and Miami 39.2 percent.
Beene said that in comparison, smaller metropolitan cities like Austin have smaller suburban areas that ultimately offer cheaper rents and even mortgages.
Austin also saw the number of homes for sale to climb by 26 percent to 13,227 active listings, according to the Austin Board of Realtors.
“As these markets continue to mature and have states that are seeing economic growth in all areas, it’s natural to see people reassess their living options,” Beene said. “If you can save a few hundred dollars in rent by driving to work 30 minutes each day, you usually do it.”
Thompson said that while the remote work age might be coming to a close, many workers will fight against it and could potentially come back to the city as housing prices become more affordable.
“Austin and other areas that have experienced substantial growth will likely see those growth rates decline to more sustainable levels,” he said.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
HOUSTON, Texas — The NHL is looking to start the expansion process in Texas, with Austin and Houston as potential targets, sources told ESPN on Tuesday.
The expansion news is being discussed at the NHL’s board of governors meeting, which is being held on Tuesday in New York.
The NHL went from 30 to 32 clubs when it added the Vegas Golden Knights (began play in 2017-18) and Seattle Kraken (debuted in 2021-22). The expansion fee for Vegas was $500 million and for Seattle was $650 million.
Earlier this month at the Stanley Cup Final, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman reiterated that the league has fielded calls from across North America from prospective cities and owners who are interested in bringing in an NHL franchise.
SEE HERE: It’s official: Aeros hockey team leaving Houston at end of season
Bettman has previously told the board of governors that any potential expansion team would likely come with at least a $2 billion fee for it to make sense.
The league has seen record revenues this season — projected to be between $7.5 billion and $8 billion. The NHL salary cap is set at $104 million for the 2026-27 season, a $8.5 million increase from this past season.
Copyright © 2026 ESPN Internet Ventures. All rights reserved.
AUSTIN, Texas – Barton Springs Pool will reopen to visitors this week.
What they’re saying:
The City of Austin said the pool will reopen on Tuesday, June 23, for the early morning regularly scheduled “swim at your own risk.”
The pool had closed on June 15 due to severe weather.
City staff removed large tree branches, aluminum cans, fishing hooks, and other debris from the water.
The team also cleaned off decks and reinstalled the diving board in preparation for the pool’s reopening.
The Source: Information from the City of Austin
Social media’s latest squeeze is flying off South Dakota shelves
Nate Ament becomes Tennessee basketball’s highest NBA Draft pick since 2002
NBA Draft 2026: Chicago Bulls draft Texas standout Dailyn Swain at No. 15
Utah mother charged with international kidnapping claims she was saving kids from ‘end of times’
Vermont trooper found justified in fatal Putney shooting
Virginia House honors ABC13’s Noreen Turyn as she retires after 36 years
Social media reacts to former BYU star AJ Dybantsa going No. 1 in 2026 NBA draft
Cult-classic filmed in central Wisconsin returns to big screen, with enhancements, this weekend