We had to rent our former home for 4 years after we moved, but couldn't sell because the market value was too low after the real estate crash. It's really hard to find tenants that aren't total deadbeats. Raise your rent and it's almost impossible to fill the vacancy. Lower the rent and get nothing but unqualified applicants with terrible credit and criminal records. So sure, maybe I could lower the rent to get someone in there, but that means there's a high chance they'll either a) not pay their rent, b) damage the property, or c) both.