Foley, Ala. — (GSN) — The tourist season is about to start along the Alabama coastal towns and businesses are hiring. Each year this creates a frantic search for rental properties for staff housing. With such demand, rental rates have risen to new heights. The seasonal employees or driving further inland for properties and reasonable rental terms.

According to a regional overview on Reddit, rents have increased dramatically, with reports of a 60–90% rise in the last three years. Renting a house of approximately 1,500 square feet costs around $2,200 per month, with many houses listing for $2,000 or more. Some listings for a 3/2 are as high as $3,800/month.

A two-bedroom, two-bath apartment in nearby Foley now costs $1,600 per month, up from $950 per month five years ago.

New apartment complexes and rental home businesses are attracting their service industry employees via TikTok and social media platforms. Some have even resorted to billboards along local roads.

Due to high rents, workers are often forced to live farther away, resulting in daily commutes that can be more than an half-hour each way.

The City of Gulf Shores is recognizing the housing issue and is developing a comprehensive plan that includes a dedicated housing element. This element will focus on identifying gaps in the housing market, including the necessary locations, types, and quantities of housing needed in the community.

The City of Foley has several new or actively leasing apartment communities and rental home developments, along with several large residential projects that have recently been approved or are in the planning stages. According to Apartments.com, the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Foley is $1,455 per month, and for a three-bedroom apartment, it is $1,881 per month.

A significant new housing facility is being constructed specifically to address the workforce housing shortage for the South Baldwin hospitality industry. The first phase is to house over 600 seasonal workers who are in the U.S. under the J-1 visa program, with future plans to expand the campus to accommodate up to 2,400 people.

While the future housing projects are underway, local landlords and rental companies are encouraged to list their available units soon. The later weeks of April are when seasonal staff are expected to make arrangements for employment and housing.