Rental markets are cooling down in a historic way. For the first time on record, we're seeing rents actually fall instead of climbing higher. What's driving this shift? Young people are increasingly moving back in with their parents rather than paying premium prices for their own place.

This trend tells us something important about the broader economy. When housing becomes unaffordable relative to wages, people make different choices. They delay independence, postpone major life decisions, and hold onto cash instead of sinking it into housing costs.

For crypto investors, this kind of macro data matters. When traditional assets like real estate become less attractive due to affordability concerns, it reshapes how people think about storing and growing their wealth. Rental deflation combined with other economic pressures often precedes asset reallocation cycles in broader markets.