It appears the COVID-19 outbreak has changed that, at least for the time being. The shift in the market began with the pandemic-induced stay-at home orders put into place last spring and summer, and it has been extended by a decline in the number of people who typically move to Central Texas from out-of-state, market experts say. At the same time, new apartment projects that were planned before the pandemic continued to be completed, adding even more available units into the market. The upshot is that, for the first time in years, renters and landlords in the Austin area appear to be approaching equal footing, market experts say.