I fail to see what the new senators' "agreement" has to do with landlords. The senators are merely shoveling more money at the real estate industry and buyers pretty much across the board. Like Proposition 13, it is a meat axe approach to surgery, a blunt instrument which will benefit many people who don't need help, and to the extent it props up home prices (which are still above what incomes and rents would justify) push housing further away from potential homebuyers absent the credit. And since the majority of homebuyers during the next six months would be buying anyway, the cost to the govt. per additional home purchased is much more than $8,000. In light of the recent weakness of the dollar and record and unsustainable deficits, this is also tantamount to giving the finger to our foreign creditors, who will eventually wise up and dump dollars. At least the senators are playing Chicken.

As for comparability in rents, I don't think it's as difficult as you are implying. Surely, there are houses in your neighborhood which are being rented out?