Some things just don't change: This year renters will still trade up to higher end apartments when they can, ultimately moving on to home buying. What is different is that work from home trends will make location less important, according to ApartmentGuide. "We don't anticipate job seekers placing as much emphasis on location as it relates to their commute as in years past," Brad Dillman, chief economist at Cortland, told the site.

What will likely matter more is rising home prices, which are expected to continue their upward trajectory in 2021 as interest rates remain low, ApartmentGuide notes. Indeed, home prices are predicted to hit their highest mark since 2006 at 5.5 million, with the projected median home price of $293,000 a record high.

The National Association of Realtors recently listed what it sees as the top ten markets for growth. They are smaller and secondary markets and it can be argued that their popularity is both a function of relatively sane prices and the work from home trend. They are Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, Boise City, Idaho, Charleston-North Charleston, SC, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Des Moines-West Des Moines, Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, Ind., Madison, Wis., Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, Provo-Orem, Utah and Spokane-Spokane Valley, Wash.