More Tampa Bay home sellers turn into "accidental landlords"

Zoom in: These homes were listed for sale on Zillow for at least two weeks, then delisted and relisted as rentals within three months of being off the market.

• Tampa Bay had the highest share of accidental landlords in Florida — and the sixth-largest percentage in the nation.
• Accidental landlords are most common in softer markets with more price cuts, Zillow found.

Zoom out: Shares were lowest in the Northeast and Midwest markets, including Boston (0.6%), New York (0.7%) and Chicago (1.3%).

• Nationally, the average is 2.3%.

The big picture: Charging rent may help homeowners cover their mortgage payments, especially those with low rates.

• But being a landlord isn't easy — and costs can pile up, from repairs to property management fees.
• "I kind of wish that I'd sold and moved on," said a Maryland condo owner, who told the Wall Street Journal he'd relocated for work and was reluctant to sell at a loss.

Between the lines: Accidental landlords also add homes to the rental pool, which can ease rent prices.

• Single-family rents rose 2.6% in February from a year earlier, the slowest annual growth in Zillow data going back to 2015.

What we're watching: Whether sellers who pulled listings last year have better luck as they try again. Redfin reports that many have relisted.