Hi renters,

Welcome to Rent Check PHX. I’m coming to you this week already kind of gassed, thanks to my AC going out last Friday. I have no energy to pull a prank on you today (although I did an early, housing-related April Fools’ on Instagram this weekend).

Luckily, my landlord has been on top of the issue, and someone came out on Monday to evaluate it. The bad news was that they had to order parts that won’t come in until later this week.

In the meantime, I drove to my property manager’s office in Mesa to pick up a mobile unit that they loaned to me for free. But that involved loading a cumbersome 75-pound device into my car by myself, my partner lugging it up two flights of stairs, and us figuring out how to install it with no instructions. Even then, that unit is cooling only one room, and the rest of our apartment has been 85-90 degrees.

I’m telling you all of this because (1) I needed to vent and (2) I imagine many of you have been here before—although probably not in March. I really hope we have a cooler April in store for us.

Back to the newsletter: In today’s issue, we’re talking about how much rent has dropped in the Valley in recent months, and I ask if you’ve noticed this change in any way.

We also look at some interesting rentals and links with housing news—including a poem written by someone who experienced eviction as a child.

Thanks for reading! I’ll be back in your inbox on April 15. Hope you learn something useful, and don’t forget to forward this to a fellow renter!

Jessica Swarner

Newsletter Editor, Rent Check PHX

Rents are falling in metro Phoenix. Here’s where they dropped the most

man and woman standing on balcony in high rise overlooking cityscape

Tyler and Elizabeth Marcou on their 17th-floor balcony at The Ryan apartment building in downtown Phoenix on Jun 9, 2025. (Rob Schumacher/The Republic via Reuters Connect)

By Catherine Reagor, Arizona Republic

Metro Phoenix renters are getting a reprieve from rising monthly costs in the midst of escalating gas prices.

Rents are down in the Valley’s 10 biggest cities and aren’t expected to climb this year.

Glendale posted the biggest Valley drop, with its median rent for a one-bedroom plummeting 14.2% during the twelve months ending in February, according to apartment research firm Zumper.

“The Phoenix metro area is still working through one of the strongest supply waves in the country,” Crystal Chen, housing expert with Zumper, said.

The Valley had a surge in apartment development during the past few years, ranking in the top five for new multi-family development nationally. That increase in supply has put pressure on prices and led to apartment owners offering more deals.

Here’s how much rent dropped in each city

🧑‍🍳 If you love a kitchen with character: This four-bed, two-bath in Phoenix’s historic Coronado neighborhood has some fun tiling that makes for a fun vibe in the kitchen. The 1,705-square-foot home near 12th Street and McDowell Road has original oak floors, a detached garage with a private driveway, a bright sunflower mural, and Ring security cameras. Rent is $3,700 a month and includes monthly landscaping. The home is available May 1, and pets are allowed.

😯 If you want a unique home with lots of land: This is one of the most interesting listings I’ve seen in a while. For $4,850 a month, you could rent a 4,122-square-foot home on 1.43 acres in Laveen. The four-bed, 3.5-bath—which almost looks like a giant white barn?—was custom-built in 2024 and is at the end of a private road. There are both attached and detached garages, for a total of six covered parking spots, and a 1,685-square-foot basement. The home is available now, and cats and dogs are allowed. The listing also mentions room for horses and goats, “or whatever lifestyle you’ve been building toward.”

🧱 If “little brick townhouse” perks up your ears: This 600-square-foot, one-bed, one-bath is going for $1,000 a month. The red brick home is near 17th Avenue and McDowell Road and has one covered parking spot. It’s available now, and the listing doesn’t mention pets.

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 March 31. 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.

Today’s feature story looks at the falling rents in the Phoenix metro area.

I’ve seen a lot of comments pointing out that these small decreases don’t mean much considering how much rent spiked in the past decade—and that’s true. This dip doesn’t mean we’re going back to pre-COVID prices.

Also, this decrease typically isn’t something you’re going to feel if you’re already renting. Your landlord is unlikely to lower your rent to reflect the market, unless they’re seeing less demand and really want to keep you around.

But it does give you some leverage. You could use the lower rents around you to try to negotiate a lower rent. Or, if you did choose to move, it means you should have some better options on the market.

Hopefully, it at least means that you won’t see a huge increase when it comes time for lease renewal—but you never know. Landlords raise prices for all sorts of reasons, and if they feel confident they could replace you, they may still push for a higher rent.

I’m curious what you all have been seeing in the last six months to a year—have you noticed any shift in the Phoenix rental market? Or is it feeling same-old, same-old to you?

Email here

*Paywalled content noted with 🔒

👷 In Phoenix, former office buildings are being converted into 1,550 apartment units. (Phoenix Business Journal, 🔒)

🔑 Forty transformed shipping containers will provide transitional housing for older adults in Phoenix. (Axios Phoenix)

🏡 Nearly 1 in 5 Gen Zers in Phoenix own a home, while over 80% rent. (AZ Big Media)

📋 Chandler is opening its public housing waitlist for families needing three to five bedrooms. The deadline to apply is April 17. (ABC 15)

💸 Ever wonder what $2,000 in rent gets you? Here’s how it looks in Phoenix and across the US. (The Copper Courier)

🏠 US home prices have set monthly record highs for over two years straight. So what’s happening with them in Phoenix? (The Copper Courier)

🎨 Need to make some paint touch-ups before leaving your rental? Here’s a tool that could help. (Apartment Therapy)

✍️ I love poetry, and I especially appreciate when it touches on tough topics like housing. Here’s a poem written by someone who was evicted as a child. (Shelterforce)