All the anecdotal reports I've heard say the rental market is as savage as ever, but according to some fancy craigslist numbers crunched by the folks over at Mission Local, things are starting to normalize.  After apartment availability bottomed out in August of 2011, the available units have since increased by at least a couple.  And—for even better news—rental rates have just started to even out, with 4+ bedroom places averaging around $5,750 for the last few months and the price of studios actually starting to decrease.

Of course, this doesn't factor in square footage or apartment quality or location or sublets or any of that gobbledygook, but progress is progress.

[Mission Local]