Arbor Realty Trust, a long-term partner of Project Destined, is once again reaffirming our commitment to the next generation of commercial real estate leaders by participating in two new programs this spring that will provide students with invaluable insight into multifamily real estate and single-family rental (SFR) financing.
Arbor Realty Trust and Chandan Economics’ latest Special Report leverages industry-leading data analysis to interpret key multifamily real estate trends as the sector moves from recalibration to stabilization. With occupancy levels remaining strong and loan originations rebounding sharply, this biannual report outlines why now is an opportune time to deploy capital.
The nation’s rental housing is older than at any point on record, with a median age of 45 years, according to the 2026 America’s Rental Housing report from Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS). America’s aging housing stock has created unique opportunities as the need for capital investments to rehabilitate and preserve affordable housing units rapidly rises.
Arbor’s Single-Family Rental Investment Trends Report Q1 2026, developed in partnership with Chandan Economics, spotlights how market shifts, including the rising cost of living and historically high build-to-rent activity, have fueled record rental household growth.
Multifamily permitting trends indicate continued national stability amid local recalibration. Across the country, issuances were steady, rising just 2.6% in 2025. At the metropolitan level, trends diverged sharply, with some markets accelerating and others pulling back. Per-capita leaders continued to cluster around high-growth Sun Belt and regional hubs, while year-over-year market-level fluctuations suggest that more pipelines have become increasingly selective and, in some cases, more concentrated in large-scale projects.
The small multifamily sector entered 2026 on a strong note, even as lending conditions remained shaped by persistently high interest rates and regulatory uncertainties.
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA), a part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), is one of the largest mortgage insurers in the world. The agency insures mortgages on affordable housing, multifamily properties, single-family homes, and healthcare facilities. Since 1934, FHA has financed over 50,000 multifamily mortgages nationwide. Whether you’re interested in acquiring, refinancing, or rehabilitating an affordable housing property, FHA multifamily loans are a financing route you need to know about.
FHA® 232/223(f): Healthcare Refinance, Acquisition or Mod Rehab
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Units
Virginia Beach
Year Built
An experienced value-add multifamily owner was looking for financing to acquire a large multifamily property in Virginia Beach, Va. The property is unique in that it’s located near a naval base, and as a result, it has a concentration of tenants in the military. The situation was more complex due to the deal’s borrower structure, which included multiple investors. As the borrower had a previous business relationship with Arbor and the sales broker, the borrower felt comfortable with Arbor’s ability to not only guide them to the right financing for their needs but also provide them with the certainty of execution to deliver.
As a result of Arbor’s strong internal collaboration between its underwriting and originations departments, as well as its strong partnership with Freddie Mac, the deal was able to be financed with competitive terms and on time.
Arbor was able to execute a 10-year, $32.3 million fixed-rate loan under the Freddie Mac Conventional loan program. Despite the complexity of the deal, Arbor was able to secure the best financing possible for the borrower’s business goals while providing the borrower with peace of mind that the transaction would successfully close.