Apartment hunters are still optimistic — barely — despite the coronavirus pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic has impacted renter interest in the US but just over half of those in the process of finding a new apartment are remaining optimistic.
RENTCaf surveyed over 6,000 rental seekers and found that 56% still plan on moving despite the outbreak.
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As the coronavirus pandemic worsens in the US, renter interest continues to dip.

RENTCafreported that rental housing searches on its site dropped by 25% from March 11 to March 17 . For the same week a year earlier, traffic was down just 4% .

However while renter interest is falling, data reveals that most renters who are in the process of finding a new apartment are remaining optimistic.

From March 18 to March 20, RENTCaf surveyed over 6,000 people who are in the process of searching for a new rental home to see if they were still planning on moving, and 56% said they will still move as soon as they find a new apartment. On the contrary, 17% said they will not move in light of the pandemic and 16% hadn't decided yet.

Nearly half 49% of those surveyed said their renting preferences have not changed in light of the outbreak, 51% said the current situation has not impacted their apartment selection process, and 60% said they don't plan on postponing their move-in date.

RENTCaf plans to re-run the survey this week, with more shelter-in-place orders being put in place around the country.

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