Top 7 Reasons Spokane Renters Are Moving in 2025

As Spokane's leading experts in Spokane Property Management and Spokane Valley Property Management, the team at Cobalt Property Management stays ahead of renter trends to help our property owners minimize vacancies and maximize retention. According to Buildium's Annual 2025 Renter Survey, here's a breakdown of the top reasons local renters are planning moves this year:

• Location Changes (36%): The top driver - safety and convenience tend to be the 2 largest reasons for the move we hear. Reflects the 3 major rules of real estate: location, location, location!
• Affordability Pressures (31%): Rising rents are pushing folks toward better-value options. With Spokane's median rent climbing, savvy Spokane Valley Property Management companies keep their finger on the pulse of the market in order to serve our owner clients in real time in order to limit vacancies.
• Pursuing Homeownership (30%): A third of movers are trading rentals for keys to their own home. Our Spokane Property Management services include consistent communication with the tenants in order to limit the vacancy time during the transition.
• Evolving Space Needs (27%): Life stages—like growing families or remote work setups—are sparking upgrades.
• Desire for Better Amenities (21%): Renters crave modern perks like updated kitchens, gyms, or pet-friendly features. 
• Household Shifts (20%): Breakups, merges, or empty nests are reshaping living situations. Proactive outreach from your Spokane Property Management team can guide these renters to another property in our network before they look elsewhere.
• Service Dissatisfaction (17%): Slow response to maintenance requests tops the list for Spokane Property Management company complaints. This is a pain point with many large Spokane Valley Property Management companies and Cobalt Property Management puts an emphasis on being quick to solve maintenance issues.

The Retention Opportunity You Can't Ignore: Excitingly, 36% of renters say they'd likely stick with their current property manager if a suitable unit opens up nearby. For multi-property owners in the Spokane metro, this means guiding relocating tenants to other assets in your portfolio—reducing vacancies and boosting loyalty.