Softening Boston Rental Market?

[Chris B.]

Good evening,

I've been a Boston-area landlord over several years now, and in the past have never had any issues finding tenants all too eager to pay rents that have invariably increased from the preceding lease year.  However, this past summer, demand seems to have slowed, I've had fewer showings, and my rental agents tell me that the rental market in the Boston area has "changed" and they're not seeing the same level of demand.

Has this been the experience of other Boston landlords, or is something else at work that explains the decline in interest?