The 2026 rental market is shaping up to look very different than the last few years—and property managers need to be ready to explain why.

In this special year-end episode, Marc Cunningham sits down with Jesse Lederman, Chief Financial Analyst at Zelman, to break down insights from Zelman's latest Single-Family Rental Survey. Together, they unpack what the data is really saying about rent growth, supply pressure, and the growing wave of accidental landlords entering the market.

You'll hear why new move-in rent growth has turned negative in many markets, how low mortgage rates are reshaping owner behavior, and what property managers should expect as they head into 2026. This episode gives you the language, context, and data you need to communicate confidently with owner clients—and to stop taking the blame for market forces outside your control.

This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation focused on helping property managers think strategically about the year ahead.

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