"The single-family rental sector is having its moment," Arbor said in its newly-released Q3 2020 Single-Family Rental Investment Trends Report. The pandemic could have either disrupted the single-family housing momentum by hampering rents and migration, or—as it actually happened—boosted outward migration and demand for single-family homes. Rent collections have remained stable, new demand has hit generational records and rents have seen upward pressure, according to the report, all good news for the future of the single-family rental market.

In the third quarter of 2020, single-family rentals had an average 95.3% occupancy rating, a 100 basis point increase from the first quarter of the year. This is the highest occupancy rate since 1994 for single-family rentals.

This demand could lead to a shortage of single-family rental homes. However, recently investors and developers have showed a renewed commitment to operating and developing these properties. Invitation Homes and Rockpoint Group recently formed a $1 billion joint venture to acquire and operate single-family rentals in the Western US, Southeast US, Florida and Texas. Through the joint venture, Invitation Homes will provide investment, asset management and property management services. In addition, RangeWater just launched an $800 million platform to build and operate single-family rental communities in the sunbelt region.