Analysis

Small Multifamily Investment Snapshot — March 2025

Amid ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty, the small multifamily sector remains favorably positioned for stability as the structural need for affordable housing in the U.S. has supported the strength of the sector’s demand profile.

Articles

Top Markets for Rental Occupancy

Nationally, vacancies have risen, but the performance of rental housing is extremely localized. Out of the 75 largest U.S. metropolitan areas, the occupancy rate for all types of rental properties, including single-family rentals, 2-4 family, multifamily, and mobile homes, increased in 36 markets last year, while exceeding 95% in nearly one-third of all markets, according to an analysis of newly released U.S. Census Bureau data.[1] From Grand Rapids, MI, to Columbia, SC, the top markets for rental occupancy show where conditions are tightest and demand is strongest.

Current Reports

Single-Family Rental Investment Trends Report Q1 2025

Arbor’s Single-Family Rental Investment Trends Report Q1 2025, published in partnership with Chandan Economics, is an up-close look at the single-family rental (SFR) sector as it enters a period of normalcy after explosive pandemic-era growth. SFR maintains its balance with the support of a healthy set of fundamentals while capital markets rebound and rent growth moderates.

Articles

Small Multifamily Price Growth Trends Show Stabilization

Small multifamily price growth trends indicate a stabilization may be ready to take hold. Expanding on the findings of Arbor’s latest Small Multifamily Investment Trends Report, our research teams more closely examined valuations to determine if trends in pricing and other fundamentals are supporting a turnaround.

Articles

SFR Rent Growth: Top Markets and Leading Regions

Elevated mortgage interest rates and high home prices boosted demand for single-family rentals (SFR) last year, supporting the growth of rents in almost all of the 100 largest metropolitan areas. Pricing momentum, which averaged 4.5% nationally, was concentrated in affordable markets in the Northeast and Midwest, an analysis of Zillow’s Observed Rent Index data shows.

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Build-to-Rent’s Robust Activity Settles into Stable Pattern

Increasingly, single-family rental (SFR) operators have been relying on build-to-rent (BTR) development to satisfy their inventory needs. The popularity of BTR communities made economies of scale possible for the SFR sector in the recovery after the 2007 housing crisis and continues to fill a housing need nationwide. Now, newly released U.S. Census Bureau data shows that SFR development activity remained robust even as its momentum slowed, moving the sector into a more stable equilibrium.

Articles

Advancing Sustainability in CRE Finance in a Shifting Landscape

With political headwinds reshaping the corporate responsibility landscape, commercial real estate (CRE) leaders, policymakers, and academics recently gathered in New York City for the NYU Stern Chen Institute for Global Real Estate Finance’s 3rd Annual Symposium on Innovation & Sustainable Real Estate to discuss the future of sustainable real estate finance, investment, operations, and technology. In a series of panel discussions, industry leaders offered their perspectives on how sustainability is evolving in a new political environment and why green policies still make business sense.

Articles

Dr. Sam Chandan Sees an Opportune Moment Emerging for Multifamily Buyers

Rental housing remains uniquely positioned for continued growth in an environment of economic volatility and political uncertainty, Dr. Sam Chandan, founding director of the C.H. Chen Institute for Global Real Estate Finance at the NYU Stern School of Business and founder of Chandan Economics, asserts in his video overview of Arbor’s Special Report Spring 2025.

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David E. Friedman

Executive Vice President, Chief Credit Officer and Head of Non-Agency Production & Syndications

David Friedman is Arbor’s Executive Vice President, Chief Credit Officer and Head of Non-Agency Production & Syndications. He joined Arbor in February 2022 as Executive Vice President responsible for leading Arbor’s loan-syndicated lending platform tasked with the development of its strategic partnerships for loan origination and establishing access to new sources of capital, as well as managing and growing existing relationships to fund Arbor’s business needs. In May 2024, David was given expanded responsibilities and named as Chief Credit Officer and Head of Non-Agency Production & Syndications. As Chief Credit Officer, David sets go-forward credit policy for all lines of business, excluding Agency, and has day-to-day responsibility, oversight, and decision-making authority over Arbor’s credit function and process for new originations on Structured Finance, Residential Financing (SFR and BTR), and Non-Agency Lending and Investments platforms. As Head of Non-Agency Production & Syndications, David has oversight and responsibility for: Arbor Private Label (APL), Arbor Private Investment (API), Arbor Private Construction (APC), Mezzanine Debt Lending and Preferred Equity Investments. In addition to those responsibilities, David continues to lead the firm’s direction in syndicated and capital markets and mortgage-related fund formation efforts.

Bringing over two decades of experience in commercial real estate lending, origination, credit, and directing syndication efforts at institutional groups, David is adept at successfully establishing and managing multiple programs. Prior to Arbor, he held leadership roles at financial powerhouses such as Greystone, TD Bank, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and PNC Bank.

David holds a Master of Science in Real Estate Finance & Investment from NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Babson College.

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