Writing a monthly rent check often feels like lighting money on fire. You\'ll never again see that cash, you build no equity and there are no tax benefits.

But renting makes sense to those unwilling or unable to buy a home in an uncertain housing market. The number of such Americans seems to be growing; last month mortgage applications fell to their lowest level in a year.

That\'s good news for landlords--especially those in New York City, NY and San Francisco, CA. In these cities, tenants pay the highest rents in the country by a significant margin. Those renting a median-level place in the five boroughs can expect to pay $2,922 a month this year. That\'s up 6.6% from last year. In the City by the Bay, it\'s a more affordable $1,904. Here, though, rents are growing faster than anywhere else; they\'re up 7.8% from last year