The Real Reason More People Are Choosing to Rent | Richard Ross on Real Estate Affordability

What’s actually happening in housing right now, and why don't the headlines tell the full story?In this episode of Common Denominator, I sit down with Richard Ross to break down what’s really driving today’s rental and housing market. We get into why multifamily occupancy is dropping even as the country faces a housing shortage, how demographics are reshaping demand, and why more renters are moving away from traditional apartments.Richard walks me through the rise of built-to-rent single-family communities, why three- and four-bedroom rentals are in such high demand, and how affordability, lifestyle, and flexibility are changing renter behavior. We talk interest rates, the lock-in effect, institutional ownership narratives, and where real opportunities may exist as stress builds across commercial real estate.In this episode, you'll learn: - Why apartment occupancy is falling despite housing shortages- How demographics are reshaping rental demand- Why renters are choosing single-family homes over apartments- The real math behind renting versus owning today- Why interest rates don’t work the way most people think- How flexibility and lifestyle now drive housing decisions- Where pressure — and opportunity — may emerge in real estateTimestamps:00:00 – Why housing data feels contradictory01:05 – Demographic shifts impacting apartments03:09 – The built-to-rent single-family model06:57 – Renting vs owning: the real numbers07:52 – Institutional ownership and political narratives11:30 – Renters by choice and lifestyle flexibility12:36 – Creating real community in rental housing15:59 – How far people are willing to live from work17:44 – Why mortgage rates don’t follow the Fed20:35 – Where opportunity may emerge nextLike this episode? Leave a review here:https://ratethispodcast.com/commondenominator🎙 Common Denominator PodcastWebsite: https://moshepopack.com/podcast/YouTube: @mpopackInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mpopackFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoshePopackNewsletter: https://moshepopack.com/newsletter/