Some irch people are opting to rent instead of buying homes, and it’s especially prevalent in expensive cities. Redfin data compiled by Fox News positioned San Jose, Orlando, San Francisco, New York, and Seattle as the five cities that have the most “rich renters.” Find Out: I’m a Real Estate Investor — These Are the Worst Cities To Buy Property Right Now Trending Now: How Middle-Class Earners Are Quietly Becoming Millionaires — and How You Can, Too This trend is gaining momentum as housing prices go up, ...

Market Overview - The overlap rate between new and second-hand housing markets in February 2026 slightly decreased by 0.1 percentage points, maintaining around 12%[2] - The overlap rate in first-tier cities is the lowest at 8.3%, down 0.2 percentage points month-on-month and 1.6 percentage points year-on-year[2] - Second-hand housing search proportion ended a seven-month upward trend, decreasing by 0.3 percentage points to 74.7%, but still up 3.6 percentage points year-on-year[6] Market Dynamics - The second-hand housing market's diversion pressure towards new housing has weakened, with a diversion pressure of 32.3%, down 0.5 percentage points month-on-month and 1.6 percentage points year-on-year[8] - In February 2026, the diversion pressure in first-tier cities is the lowest at 23.9%, while third and fourth-tier cities have the highest at 38.4%[8] - The transaction volume for both new and second-hand homes in 46 cities dropped significantly by 41% and 44% respectively month-on-month, consistent with seasonal trends[15] Future Outlook - The market is expected to recover post-holiday, with pent-up demand likely to be released, leading to improved transaction volumes in March[23] - The differentiation between new and second-hand housing markets is anticipated to continue, with a marginal improvement in the new housing market environment expected in March[23]

Core Insights - Housing starts increased in both November and December, indicating a reduction in some of the challenges faced by the home-building sector towards the end of 2025 [1] Industry Summary - The home-building sector experienced a rise in housing starts during the months of November and December, suggesting a potential recovery or stabilization in the market conditions [1]