A survey of landlords predicts residential rent payments will go up 5% this year. The USA Today story says it's being blamed on the real estate market, which was red hot just a couple of years ago.

Follow along: homes were selling so well between 2000 and 2004 that lots of apartments were converted to condos so their owners could get in on the action and sell them. That means there are a lot fewer rental properties out there right now. That means less supply, higher demand, higher prices.