February marked a return to positive rent growth – albeit by just 0.3 percent nationally – after five straight month-over-month declines, according to the March 2023 Rent Report from Apartment List.

Despite that minor milestone, for the near term, fundamentals are looking less-than-rosy for landlords.

This year could be the first time since the early stages of the pandemic that property owners are competing for renters, rather than the other way around, according to the report.