Apartment rents in Huntsville grew by 7.6 percent in July, “well ahead of the 2.9 percent national norm,” according to RealPage, a national software and data analytics provider to the real estate industry.

Local realtor and property manager Isaac Winkles agrees that rents are rising and “occupancy rates are super high,” but Winkles said he thinks 7.6 percent is high. He put the rent increase between 3 and 5 percent.

“Huntsville apartments have been jam-packed full for a while, with occupancy now near all-time highs,” RealPage market analyst Adam Couch said. "While other markets across the nation have seen an increase as well, Huntsville is a great example where it’s especially pronounced.

“When occupancy is pushed to the sky high levels seen right now, rent growth tends to rise alongside it,” Couch said, "as does interest from apartment developers. Construction levels remain manageable in Huntsville, however, indicating that market performance levels will remain consistent in the near term.”

Winkles said his figures show 1,212 properties leased in the last 12 months and about half that, 609, leased in the last six months. That’s about 100 properties leased a month, he said, and he agreed that the supply of rental units is tight. “Yes. the rental market is probably hotter than the sell market,” Winkles said

One of the features of that market is increasing competition from outside investors for local houses. These speculators put the houses, if they get them, on the rental market believing they will be able resell at a good profit as the city keeps growing. Winkles said he has heard from investors from nearby Nashville and as far away as Oregon and California.

Only one market nationwide - Phoenix - has rents growing faster than Huntsville, RealPage said. Rent growth there is 8.1 percent. RealPage says average occupancy in Huntsville in July was nearly 98 percent and average rent was $869.

New apartment complexes have been announced or started to fill the gap. Those include projects on Balch Road, Town Madison, Bridge Street and just last week in downtown Huntsville.