My son works hard. He’s responsible, ambitious, and trying to carve out a life in a country that prides itself on opportunity. Yet every month, he wrestles with rent that keeps climbing, leaving little room for savings or breathing space. He’s not alone. Millions of young singles and starting families face the same squeeze.
Even before the pandemic, the housing market was tight. Supply lagged demand, affordable units were scarce, and rents rose steadily—but at least predictably, 3–4% per year. Then 2020 hit. Trillions in federal dollars poured into the economy, inflation spiked, construction costs skyrocketed, and new housing lagged further.
Just as families were trying to recover, millions of foreign-born residents entered the U.S. between 2021 and 2024, accounting for
60% of rental demand growth. Suddenly, my son is competing for the same apartments with more renters than ever before, while costs soar.
Rents & Border ApprehensionsYear Avg Rent ($) Rent % Change Border Apprehensions
2015 994 +3.2% 331,000
2016 1,029 +3.6% 409,000
2017 1,068 +3.8% 304,000
2018 1,109 +3.8% 521,000
2019 1,149 +3.6% 978,000
2020 1,185 +3.1% 458,000
2021 1,265 +6.8% 1,734,000
2022 1,341 +6.0% 2,379,000
2023 1,448 +7.9% 2,476,000
2024 1,535 +5.1% 1,821,000
2025(proj)1,650 +7.5% 238,000Rents jumped 6–8% annually in 2021–2023, entry-level apartments disappeared, and Americans who follow the rules are left out in the cold. My son’s struggle is personal. It’s also emblematic: when government inflates demand through reckless spending and ignores border enforcement, ordinary Americans pay the price. The time for excuses is over.
