When NBC10 Boston confronted Coombes outside housing court last May, he was unapologetic: "I use the law and the law helps me do what I need to do."The tactics are straight from the "professional tenant" playbook: filing health complaints about items in disrepair, then refusing to let contractors in to fix them. Submitting multiple appeals. An 11th-hour bankruptcy filing, the couple's 10th in the past decade, with all but the most recent one dismissed."These people are professionals," Behaj said. "They have ...

Core Insights - The Garbers have specific cash flow and ROI goals for their rental properties, aiming for immediate cash flow and a payback period of three to six years for their initial investment [1][2] Investment Strategy - The couple began investing in rental properties in 2020 to create an additional revenue stream and achieve financial independence, currently owning 28 units across 15 properties as of 2025, with an average cash-on-cash return exceeding 20% [2][7] - Their investment criteria, or "buy box," includes properties located close to their home in Brevard County, Florida, which is experiencing appreciation and high demand [3][4] - They focus on affordable housing, preferring to rent at or below market rates to attract a larger pool of tenants and ensure tenant satisfaction, which in turn helps maintain the properties [5] - The Garbers seek undervalued properties, adhering to the principle that "you make money on the buy," and look for properties that have been on the market for a while or require cosmetic renovations [5][6]

Core Insights - The U.S. rental market has experienced a decline in rent prices for 24 consecutive months, indicating a significant easing of rental pressure [2][4] - A notable pullback in multifamily development is occurring due to rising construction costs and new tariffs on materials, which may lead to future rental supply issues [2][4][6] Rental Price Trends - The median asking rent for 0–2 bedroom properties in the 50 largest metros decreased to $1,712 in July, reflecting a $43 (-2.5%) drop year-over-year [3][12] - Although rent prices are $254 (17.4%) higher than pre-pandemic levels, they are $47 (-2.7%) below the peak reached in August 2022 [3][12] Multifamily Development - Multifamily completions for buildings with two or more units fell 38.1% year-over-year in June 2025, from an annual rate of 656,000 units to 406,000 [4][11] - The Midwest experienced the steepest annual drop in completions at -55.7%, followed by the South (-33.5%), Northeast (-33.0%), and West (-28.9%) [5][11] Permitting Trends - Local permitting trends indicate that developers are responding to increased construction costs and reduced profit margins by scaling back new project plans, signaling potential future supply constraints [6][8] - Significant declines in permitting were noted in various markets, including Orlando (-54.9%), Philadelphia (-28.1%), and San Antonio (-27.3%) [7][8] Future Market Dynamics - The current renter-friendly market may shift to a tighter, more competitive landscape if construction pullbacks continue [4][11] - Realtor.com® will monitor construction trends and policy changes to assess the evolving landscape for renters and developers [11]