SF, Oakland Lead Nation in Rent Increases

San Francisco led the country in rent growth during Q2 2013, with rents jumping 7.8% to $2,498—making the Bay Area the best place in the country to be a landlord. Oakland’s 6.9% increase in rents came in at #2, and San Jose’s 5% rise placed #5. The combined Bay Area’s 6.8% rent growth was more than double the nation’s 3.1%.

The rental surges are fueled by the generally improving economy and, specifically, the positive performance of two key industries: technology and energy.

The following list includes the MSAs that saw the steepest rent increases year-over-year in Q2 2013:

1. San Francisco, CA: 7.8%
2. Oakland, CA.: 6.9%
3. Denver, CO: 6.1%
4. Seattle, WA: 6%
5. San Jose, CA: 5%
6. Portland, OR: 4.4%
7. Houston, TX: 4.3%
8. Austin, TX: 4.1%
9. West Palm Beach, FL: 4%
10. Fort Worth, TX: 3.6%

Read more at the Wall Street Journal