2025 Emerson Owner-Client Letter
Below is the annual Emerson Owner-Client recap I sent to all our owners at the end of 2025. Note: Non-applicable content has been removed for clarity and focus.
As we move into another year of Houston real estate, property owners are navigating a rental market defined by high inventory, flat rents, and shifting resident expectations. At Emerson Property Management, transparency and data-driven performance are core to how we operate. This 2025 Annual Update breaks down everything Houston rental property owners need to know: market trends, our performance benchmarks, key legal updates, and upcoming improvements for 2026.
All data below is sourced from the Houston Association of Realtors (HAR), MLS, and Emerson’s internal systems including Meld, Buildium, LeadSimple, and our performance tracking tools.
What This Update Covers
2025 Houston Rental Market Review
Emerson’s Performance Highlights
Key Legal Changes Impacting Landlords
Improvements Coming in 2026
2026 Pricing Updates
Houston Rental Market Review 2025
Houston followed the same pattern we’ve been reporting in our monthly newsletters: inventory is high, rent growth is flat, and competition among rentals is increasing.
Single-Family Rent Trends
Oct 2024 → Oct 2025: $2,251 → $2,262 (0.5 percent increase)
Jan 2025 → Oct 2025: $2,283 → $2,262 (0.92 percent decrease)
Rents remain essentially flat year over year, driven by an unusually large supply of rental homes.
Days on Market (CDOM)
Oct 2024 → Oct 2025: 36 → 39 days (8.3 percent increase)
Jan 2025 → Oct 2025: 34 → 39 days (14.7 percent increase)
Note: CDOM is the most accurate metric because it includes relistings. Across Houston, homes simply took longer to lease in 2025.
Record Inventory Levels
HAR reported 11,749 single-family homes for rent in October, surpassing September’s record. Renters now have more choices than ever.
What This Means for Owners, Buyers, and Sellers
For Buyers and Investors: It’s a strong buying environment. Sellers are adjusting expectations away from pandemic-era pricing, and high inventory provides leverage. Expect flat appreciation and rent growth in the near term.
For Sellers: It’s a challenging market. Longer listing times, more concessions, and tighter buyer scrutiny are the norm. Selling is not ideal unless necessary.
For Rental Property Owners: Flat rents plus rising competition mean resident experience, property condition, and management quality matter more than ever. This is the year to:
Maintain cash reserves
Keep homes well-maintained
Focus on service and retention
New Texas Laws Favoring Property Owners
Two major bills signed into law in August 2025 strengthen landlord rights:
SB 38: Courts must now hold eviction trials within 21 days, reducing delays.
SB 1333: Faster sheriff/constable action against squatters and higher penalties.
When many states are moving in the opposite direction, Texas continues to protect property owners’ rights.
Emerson Property Management Performance: 2025 Highlights
Despite a volatile market, Emerson outperformed the broader Houston rental market across leasing, maintenance, and resident satisfaction.
Maintenance Performance
Median Work Order Cost: $343 (vs $211 in 2024)
Work Orders Resolved via Troubleshooting: 550 of 1,880 (nearly 1 in 3)
Estimated Owner Savings: $90,000+
Median Speed of Repair: 4.7 days (improved 23 percent year-over-year)
Resident Satisfaction: 4.5 out of 5.0
Vendor prices across HVAC, plumbing, and appliances rose sharply, but our troubleshooting processes saved owners significant money. Faster repairs, stronger vendor oversight, and consistent resident satisfaction kept turnover lower and retention higher.
Leasing Performance
Median Days on Market: 26 days
Median Lease Price: $1,749
Houston CDOM (Market Average): ~39 days
Emerson-leased properties rented about 33 percent faster than the Houston average. High-quality rent-ready standards, professional photos, and strong marketing continue to drive better outcomes for our owners.
General Operations
Median Turn Time: 19 days (13 in 2024)
Avg Turnover Cost: $2,323 (down 45 percent from last year)
Renewal Rate: 64.6 percent
Avg Tenancy Length: 1.93 years
Evictions: 24 (3.7 percent of leases)
Turn time increased due to nearly 70 new onboards and a higher number of evictions, though excluding these variables brings us closer to prior performance levels. We expect continued improvement with expanded vendor partnerships and operational refinements already underway.
Owner-Placed vs Emerson-Placed Tenants
Outstanding resident balances after move-out: Owner-placed: $4,733 vs Emerson-placed: $1,839
The data remains consistent year after year: Emerson-placed tenants carry significantly lower risk and far fewer delinquencies than owner-placed residents.
Improvements Coming in 2026
We continue reinvesting in systems, staffing, and value-add protections for owners.
1. Tenant Damage Guarantee (New for 2026)
A new protection program covering up to $2,500 in tenant-caused damage beyond the security deposit.
2. Dedicated Owner Onboarding Specialist
A new full-time role that ensures smooth onboarding, faster setup, and better communication for new owners and properties entering our system.
3. Expanded Vendor Partnerships
More vetted vendors improve response times, increase pricing competition, and strengthen quality control as we move into a tighter cashflow era for landlords.
4. Simplification Across Systems and Processes
We are auditing all software, workflows, and operational procedures to streamline tasks and increase time spent on strategy, analysis, and owner communication.
Final Thoughts
The Houston rental market is shifting rapidly, and these next few years will separate passive hobbyists from well-prepared investors. Patience, strategic upgrades, and strong management will be the differentiators.
At Emerson Property Management, our mission is to help you stay ahead of the curve with clear data, proactive service, and systems that protect your assets.
We look forward to another year of being your property management professional.
Cameron Tope
Broker/Owner, Emerson Property Management
