Hi renters,

Welcome to Rent Check PHX. In today’s issue, we’re talking about people like me who have moved around a lot.

It’s one of the things that’s both a pro and con of renting: You have the flexibility to move more often than if you owned, but you also have less stability. Join the conversation by letting me know how many times you’ve moved!

We also look at some aesthetically pleasing rentals on the market and go over some local housing news.

The next edition of this newsletter will be in your inbox on Nov. 19. Hope you enjoy!

P.S. If you know any renters in Phoenix who may be into this newsletter, please forward it their way!

Jessica Swarner

Newsletter Editor, Rent Check PHX

I’ve moved rentals nearly every 2 years. Turns out in Phoenix, that’s pretty common

sign that says for rent, one bedroom, and a phone number posted on a post

A “for rent” sign posted in downtown Phoenix. (Jessica Swarner/The Copper Courier)

This October marked the start of something unusual for me: a third consecutive year in one rental. Since I started college here in 2013, I haven’t lived anywhere for more than two years at a time.

There are many reasons I’ve moved. At ASU, I got placed in different dorms each year. After college, I left one spot after two years because I moved in with my partner. We left our first apartment/house/condo together after one year because it was awful—goodbye, cockroaches and terrible neighbors. We left the next place we called home after two years to move in with my partner’s parents due to financial reasons. Now, I love the downtown Phoenix condo we’re in, and I hope I get to stay here longer.

I always wondered if how often I moved was unusual, but according to a new RentCafe.com report, I’m one of many renters frequently finding a new place to call home. In the Phoenix metro area, 46% of renters were classified as “high mobility,” meaning they moved within two years of signing a lease. From 2018 to 2023, the latest data included in the report, that percentage of renters rose by about 2%.

Compared to other US metros, Phoenix came in at No. 25 for RentCafe’s “move-easy index,” which took all of those numbers into account.

Read the full story

✨ If you like a little grandeur: This 1,666-square-foot home off of 40th Street and Chandler Boulevard creates some charm with a big staircase and chandelier in its entryway. The two-bed, 2.5-bath is listed for $1,999 a month and accepts cats and dogs. The neighborhood it’s in offers pools, a playground, a lake, and tennis, basketball, and volleyball courts.

💚 If green’s your color: With this 1,500-square-foot apartment, you get green walls and a small yard with green grass. The industrial-style three-bed, 2.5-bath accepts cats and dogs, offers in-unit laundry, and is listed for $1,745 a month. It’s located off of 19th and Northern avenues.

🧑‍🍳 If you value kitchen aesthetics: You probably shouldn’t choose an apartment based on backsplash, but if I were, I’d choose this one. This two-bed, two-bath off of Camelback Road and 44th Street is fully furnished and listed for $2,950 a month. It’s 1,135 square feet and has a community pool and spa.

👹 If you want to be a basement gremlin: This $4,000-a-month, fully furnished, 1,700-square-foot house is probably not practical for most readers, but it has one of the coolest floors I’ve seen. Scroll through until you see what looks to be turquoise marbled concrete. And, get this—it’s part of a master suite in a basement, which is very unusual for Phoenix. The three-bed, two-bath house off of McDowell Road and Seventh Street accepts small dogs.

If you come across any interesting, weird, or surprisingly affordable listings that you think should be featured here, please send them my way!

Email here

Listings available as of Nov. 4. I’m not paid to share these listings, but that doesn’t mean I can personally vouch for them. Please do your research before applying and signing a lease!

This is The Tenant’s Voice, a place where we can share our renting frustrations, helpful tips, and pressing questions.

Given the story above, I’m curious how often you all have found yourselves moving—and if moving has even been a choice.

I know that for lots of people, landlords jacking up rent is a big reason they have to leave their homes, whether they want to or not. But people also choose to move for cheaper rent, better rentals, shorter commutes, and closeness to family and friends.

How many times have you moved, and what were your reasons for doing so? Do you wish you had moved more or less frequently?

Let me know, and I’ll share your story in the next edition!

💸 This Phoenix-area zip code is one of the top 100 most expensive in the US based on home sales. (Phoenix New Times)

🏠 Chicanos Por La Causa is opening affordable apartments in Phoenix that are for people making 40%, 50%, and 60% of Area Median Income. (Phoenix Business Journal)

🏡 Home permits issued in Arizona are at their lowest pace since 2019, while the median home price sits at $447,000. (Arizona Capitol Times)

🛋️ Here are 12 home items designers recommend looking for in thrift shops. (Apartment Therapy)

🛠️ One possibility for expanding housing in Phoenix? Converting offices to micro apartments. (The Copper Courier)