Ali Wolf to Present on the State of the Rental Market

Ali Wolf to Present on the State of the Rental Market 

“But we can also take the radical view that the test of an economy has to do with the extent to which it is providing everybody with a decent means of living."  

–  David Korten

The rental market is a critical component of the overall housing sector and is significantly influenced by macro-economic trends. At this year’s J Turner Research Summit, speaker and economist Ali Wolf will present her session, State of the Rental Market and Wider Economy, analyzing the interplay of key factors such as interest rates, housing affordability, rental demand, migration patterns, and shifting demographics. She will also cover the impact of current policies and their potential future implications for renters, landlords, and the housing market as a whole. Learn from Ali and our stellar line-up of powerhouse speakers October 15–17, all from the beautiful Fairmont Grand Del Mar in San Diego, California. 

Ali Wolf is the Chief Economist for Zonda, the largest new home construction data company in North America. As head of the Economics Department, Ali manages and analyzes the content for Zonda, runs special research projects, strategizes with the nation’s largest homebuilders, and presents nationwide covering topics across the housing market and wider economy. She is the creator of Zonda’s proprietary indices, including the New Home Pending Sales Index and the New Home Lot Supply Index. Ali has focused much of her career on understanding prior recessions and led the charge on “Millennials discussing Millennials” in the homebuilding space. Highly regarded as an industry expert, Ali is quoted frequently in national publications including CNBC, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Yahoo! Finance, and has also appeared on national and international TV and radio programs such as Bloomberg TV and Marketplace. Further, Ali serves as an advisor to the White House, providing data and insights on the U.S. housing market. Prior to joining the Zonda team, Ali worked for another consultancy firm and was a researcher for both the Canadian and UK Parliaments. Ali holds a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University in Economics and a master’s degree from the London School of Economics in Real Estate Economics and Finance. 

Ali’s presentation will provide multifamily professionals with 3 key takeaways: 

1. There is no national rental market. The Midwest, West Coast, and Northeast are the strongest today. 
2. Apartment demand is holding up, even as new supply hits the market. 
3. The “rent versus own” equation will continue to favor renting as long as mortgage interest rates remain 5%+. 

As real estate is an evolving sector of the U.S. economy with many moving parts, Ali is excited to share in-house data with attendees and discuss forecasts and upcoming trends. 

When Ali isn’t busy analyzing and advising on the housing market, you might find her taking in a musical or historical play. She especially loves Evita! She also recently rediscovered the music of Sum 41, a punk band, after reading a book by their lead singer. Learn more about Ali and how her expertise relates to The Butterfly Effect: Navigating Multifamily’s Tipping Point, at this year’s summit. 

For more information, visit J Turner Research Summit 2025.