Apartment Rent, Concessions and Occupancy Rates

Abstract

This paper examines the effects of rental concessions on apartment rent and occupancy rates. Using limited-information maximum likelihood estimation, equations for rent, occupancy, and concessions show that landlord-supplied rental concessions have a positive effect on both rent and occupancy rates. Rental concessions seem to provide the landlord a means to collect higher average rent and at the same time to increase occupancy rates. The results also indicate that a negative relationship exists between rent and occupancy rates and that certain amenities, services, and occupancy restrictions influence rent.