San Antonio Renters Face Tough Choices as Leases Expire Amid Tight Apartment Supply

Maria Galvan’s lease in Tobin Hill ends next month, but instead of celebrating her third summer in the trendy neighborhood, she’s scouring listings and feeling the squeeze of San Antonio’s tight rental market. Like thousands of others across Bexar County, Galvan is worried she may be priced out.

Her situation isn’t unique. San Antonio’s rental market has tightened dramatically, driven by population growth, a historic shortage of new apartment construction, and stubbornly high mortgage rates. Lease expirations this summer—peak moving season—are forcing renters to scramble for affordable options or negotiate sharp rent increases, especially across central and northern neighborhoods.

Neighborhood Crunch and Local Initiatives

Some of the sharpest rent hikes have hit areas like the Medical Center, where UT Health San Antonio and several major employers have drawn in new arrivals. Data from ApartmentData.com shows the average rent in Medical Center hit $1,330 in June, up 7% year-over-year. In downtown-adjacent Lavaca, it’s closer to $1,560 for a two-bedroom.

Organizations like the San Antonio Apartment Association (SAAA) and the city’s Fair Housing Council of Greater San Antonio are fielding a surge in calls from renters facing nonrenewal notices or who need help finding units in their price range. The city’s Neighborhood & Housing Services Department points to the Relocation Assistance Program—launched last year—which offers counseling, moving stipends, and deposit support for eligible tenants forced to move due to extreme rent hikes or landlord decisions.

Supply vs. Affordability: The Data

While the city added more than 5,500 new apartment units in 2025, that hasn’t kept up with demand. Occupancy sits above 94% citywide according to ALN Data, and bidding wars for mid-range units on platforms like Zillow and Apartments.com have become common. June’s median asking rent across San Antonio was $1,295, a 6% jump compared to last July.

Meanwhile, homebuying remains out of reach for many. With the average mortgage payment on a starter home now exceeding $2,075/month (per SABOR’s latest market snapshot), renters looking to jump to ownership face steeper financial hurdles than at any point in the past decade.

Planning Ahead: Steps for Renters

The reality is, most renters whose leases are expiring this summer have just a few practical strategies. Housing advocates at San Antonio Tenants Union recommend contacting landlords 60-90 days ahead of lease expiry to negotiate terms—a tactic that has helped some secure smaller increases instead of outright nonrenewal. If moving is necessary, platform alert systems (like those on Apartments.com and Facebook Marketplace) can notify renters instantly when new local listings drop. For income-restricted households, city-backed properties on South Flores or in Westlawn have limited openings, but require early application as waitlists are long.

Experts also recommend consulting legal aid if a landlord is failing to return a security deposit or attempting to evict without due process. Ultimately, flexibility on neighborhood, timing, and unit size may be the best play for renters navigating San Antonio’s tightest market in years. As Galvan puts it, “I’m hunting every day, but I may have to look a little further from the Pearl than I’d hoped.”