Based on information from the September Realtors® Confidence Index, Realtors® continue to report rental rates higher than a year ago. A total of 47 percent of respondents reported higher rental rates, while 14 percent reported lower rates. No-change was reported by 17 percent, with 21 percent reporting no information. The continued escalation in rents emphasizes the advantage of owning a home with a fixed mortgage—thereby fixing a significant portion of overall housing costs.