Mom-and-Pop Landlords Are Clawing Back

The independent landlord sector is stabilizing. New data from Chandan Economics shows on-time rent payments climbed to 83.7% in February 2026, up from 82.8% in January. That's the highest reading since the wheels started wobbling in mid-2025.

This episode breaks down what the numbers actually mean:

• On-time payments at 83.7%, up 135 basis points from the September 2025 low
• Full-payment rate at 95.8%, the highest since August 2025
• Late payments still above 10%, but the three-month moving average is trending down
• Year-over-year comparisons still negative (31 consecutive months), but the gap is narrowing
• Western and Mountain states leading: South Dakota (97.2%), New Hampshire (94%), Utah (94%), Alaska (93.5%)
• 2-4 family rentals outperforming single-family and larger multifamily
• Macro tailwinds: GDP at 2.2%, wages outpacing inflation, steady employment

The takeaway: This is stabilization, not a victory lap. The worst of the payment squeeze appears to be behind us, but we're not back to normal. It's a grind, not a snap back.

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Disclaimer: This podcast is AI-generated. Not financial advice. Do your own homework.