San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland were among the top 25 most in-demand cities by renters in peak rental season in the third quarter, according to a new report from RentCafe.
In the Bay Area the latest engagement metrics show: Apartment availability in San Francisco dropped by a sharp 24%. Amid this limited inventory, renters doubled down on highly specific filters, often searching for smaller units or rent deals in central neighborhoods. This intense focus is highlighted by a 101% rise in saved searches.
Conversely, the number of favorited San Francisco properties dropped by 24%. This suggests renters are having a significantly harder time finding listings that truly meet their specific needs.
San Jose experienced a rise in apartment availability, which prompted renters to browse a wider range of options. This broader search activity is reflected in a 44% increase in listings page views.
Oakland saw a massive 141% increase in saved properties as favorites. This indicates that renters here find more options to their linking and are engaged in a deliberate process of narrowing down their options by compiling a precise shortlist before committing to a final decision.
Overall, on the West Coast, renter engagement remained steady in the third quarter of 2025 with several major cities advancing in the national rankings:
- Las Vegas – #1 in the West and #5 in the U.S.
- Long Beach – #2 regionally and #9 nationally
- Los Angeles – #3 in the West and #15 in the U.S.
- Oakland – #4 regionally and #21 nationally
- San Francisco – #5 in the West and #23 in the U.S.
- San Jose– #6 regionally and #24 nationally
- Seattle – #7 in the West and #25 in the U.S.
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