April 2025 Houston Rental Market Update: Performance, Trends & Owner Insights

Written By Liz Holubec

Welcome to your monthly owner update, where we break down Houston rental market trends, Emerson’s portfolio performance, and key ownership insights to help you maximize returns. Whether you're self-managing or fully hands-off, the data this month speaks volumes.

📊 Portfolio Performance at a Glance – April 2025

April came with a few surprises. Here’s how our managed portfolio stacked up:

  • Rent Collection Rate: 91.1% (vs National Average of 95%)

  • Eviction Rate: 0.87% (vs Houston Average of ~9%)

  • Occupancy Rate: 93.8% (vs Houston Average of 90.8%)

Insight: The dip in rent collection? It stemmed from several evictions — all tied to tenants not placed by Emerson.

In fact, 93.5% of all evictions we handled last year were for tenants placed by the owner or an outside agent. That stat alone should raise eyebrows.

Takeaway: Tenant screening isn’t a formality — it’s an investment safeguard. If you're handling placements yourself or relying on third-party agents, make sure their screening process is air-tight. A bad tenant doesn’t just cost you rent — they cost you peace of mind.

📈 Houston Market Snapshot – April 2025

The broader Houston market remains steady, with signs of modest cooling as new listings rise. Here’s the latest:

  • Average Rent (HAR): $2,288 → $2,330 (+1.8% YoY)

  • Average Days on Market: HAR - 41 days | Emerson - 8 days
    (That’s 80.5% faster.)

Slower rent growth and increased time on market are signs of a shifting climate — but our team is still leasing at high velocity.

Why Our Properties Lease Faster:

  • Professional photography + detailed floor plans for every listing

  • Real-time pricing adjustments based on hyperlocal data

  • A dedicated Leasing Specialist focused solely on converting leads

Spring and early summer are peak leasing seasons, and we're making sure your property doesn’t miss a beat.

🛠️ Maintenance Performance – April 2025

  • Average Work Order Cost: $317.44

  • Median Speed of Repair: 4.5 days

  • Issues Resolved Without Sending a Vendor: 54 (Est. $17,141 saved for owners)

While a few HVAC replacements bumped up our average costs, we’re continuing to hit our repair targets and minimize expenses by:

  • Avoiding unnecessary cosmetic work

  • Holding tenants accountable

  • Solving problems before dispatching vendors

Bottom line: Less spend. Faster results. More ROI.

💬 Owner & Resident Satisfaction – April 2025

  • Owner Retention Rate: 99.4%

  • Resident Satisfaction: 4.7/5.0

  • Lease Renewal Rate: 75%

Performance continues to exceed industry standards across the board.

Renewals dipped slightly last month, but not due to dissatisfaction — just typical life transitions like job relocations and upsizing.

Reminder: Happy residents renew. Fewer turnovers = more consistency = higher returns.

🧠 Owner Insight of the Month: Hurricane Prep

Hurricane season starts June 1st — here’s your quick prep checklist:

  • Review insurance coverage

  • Trim overhanging tree limbs

  • Clear gutters and inspect drainage

  • Secure outdoor items and check sump pumps

As a client, know that our team assesses storm risk during every turnover. But proactive prep today can prevent major headaches tomorrow.

📣 Let’s Hear From You

Which part of this update did you find most valuable? Want more charts? Less data? A corny landlord joke at the end?

Let’s connect on LinkedIn — I’d love your feedback and ideas for future updates.

To your success,

Cam
Broker/Owner, Emerson Property Management

Liz Holubec