Finance & Investment

With nearly one-fifth of multifamily properties now over 65 years old, it’s time to consider solutions for rejuvenating the rental housing stock in the U.S. While building rehabs are a tried-and-true solution, build-to-rent (BTR) is an alternative that is well-positioned to expand as Americans increasingly favor renting over homeownership.

In a year when inflation and elevated interest rates weakened affordability, the rental housing sector strengthened and expanded. An analysis of newly released U.S. Census Bureau Housing Vacancies and Homeownership data shows the number of rental households climbed in 2023.

Over the last decade, single-family rental (SFR) operators have been increasingly focusing on build-to-rent (BTR) development as the needs and preferences of renters have shifted. As explored in the latest Arbor Single-Family Rental Investment Trends Report, SFR/BTR development has surged at a time when new, for-sale, single-family home starts have declined.

Less than six months since its launch, Arbor Private Construction (APC) already has a robust pipeline of executable transactions, a strong sign that Arbor’s Chairman and CEO Ivan Kaufman correctly anticipated and identified changes in the construction lending marketplace when he introduced a new proprietary financing product last fall.

When people think of tech hubs, they often imagine a familiar mix of standards such as Silicon Valley, Boston, and New York, or recent-growth markets like Austin and Miami. However, Northern Virginia is quickly becoming a bona fide technology hub in its own right.

With constantly changing market conditions, investors sometimes need access to capital with flexible terms to improve or secure an asset. Commercial bridge loans are a popular financing tool that provides borrowers with short-term capital for renovations and purchases. They are often the perfect first step in the door to the beginning of a long-term financial partnership.

On the heels of a strong 2023, the single-family rental (SFR) sector is positioned to expand even more in 2024. Build-to-rent (BTR) starts ticked up in the third quarter to reach 7.8%, another record high. With occupancy rates stable and lease renewal rent growth above historical averages, SFR has healthy fundamentals that will continue to support growth amid headwinds, Arbor’s Single-Family Rental Investment Trends Report Q1 2024, developed in partnership with Chandan Economics, shows.

Arbor’s platform of diverse multifamily financing solutions and our strong industry relationships drive us to the top of the multifamily lender rankings year after year. Through decades-long partnerships with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and FHA, our best-in-class team delivered results for our borrowers in 2023, propelling Arbor to the top of the partner rankings.

Small multifamily starts the year from a position of strength with normalizing expense ratios and healthy occupancy rates. After demonstrating resiliency amid headwinds, this subsector is ready to capitalize on any positive momentum in the financial markets. Arbor’s Small Multifamily Investment Trends Report Q1 2024, developed in partnership with Chandan Economics, examines and explains the key developments every investor needs to know.

As part of its focus on mission-driven lending, Fannie Mae recently introduced a new loan product designed to expand affordability and increase accessibility in communities across the country. The government-sponsored agency’s new Sponsor-Dedicated Workforce (SDW) Housing product provides financing for the creation and preservation of affordable workforce housing in underserved communities without the necessity of government subsidy.