Even as rents retreated elsewhere, single-family rentals (SFR) have continued to outperform all other housing sub-types, exceeding the all-property type national average in 17 consecutive months through February 2024, according to Zillow’s Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Annual SFR rent growth has seen substantial gains in many metropolitan areas since national rent growth peaked in March 2022. In this deep dive, the Chandan Economics and Arbor Realty Trust research teams pinpoint the metropolitan areas where SFR rents are rising the fastest.
Why Build-to-Rent Loans Have Strong Upside Potential
A nationwide housing shortage of rental homes, coupled with the rising costs of homeownership, has fueled the popularity of high-quality, affordable single-family rental (SFR)/build-to-rent (BTR) homes. In recent years, SFR/BTR construction starts have consistently reached new highs. In today’s economic environment, where mortgage payments are more expensive than rent payments in many markets, build-to-rent loans are a forward-thinking investment strategy.
Rental Affordability Under Pressure in Miami
Miami — a market with an attractive climate, urban amenities, and quality transportation options — has seen intense post-pandemic population growth. While its resurgence has been celebrated by many, Miami’s success has come at the cost of weakening rental affordability in the city.
State and Local Supply-Side Affordable Housing Solutions
For low-income renters, affordability is a deeply rooted issue. Since 2010, rental affordability has consistently and severely eroded in the U.S., with average rents growing faster annually than average incomes more than 72% of the time. As renters face increased inflationary pressures, state and local governments are exploring a mix of creative and tried-and-true solutions to expand the affordable housing supply.
Single-Family Renters: Identifying an Evolving Demographic
As the single-family rental (SFR) investment market matures, a clearer picture of its typical renter has begun to come into focus. On December 5 at IMN’s 11th Annual Single Family Rental Forum (West), a group of industry leaders, including Arbor’s Tres Seippel, Director, Construction Management, explored how demographic trends have influenced the rise in popularity of single-family rental homes.
Why Rising Apartment Vacancy Rates are Not Here to Stay
Although they remain near historical lows, apartment vacancy rates in the U.S. have begun to climb. However, this recent reversal may be a temporary trend, driven by renter satisfaction and a slowdown in the pace of new construction.
eCore23 Fireside Chat: Arbor and RXR CEOs Discuss Business, Politics, and Multifamily
At the eCore23 Summit in Miami in November, two long-time colleagues who first met in the 1990s, Arbor Chairman and CEO Ivan Kaufman and RXR Chairman and CEO Scott Rechler, hosted an exclusive, hour-long Fireside Chat before an intimate group of multifamily leaders.
Single-Family Rental Investment Trends Report Q4 2023
Arbor’s Single-Family Rental Investment Trends Report Q4 2023, developed in partnership with Chandan Economics, explores a multifamily sector ending the year on a high note as demand climbs for quality single-family rental (SFR) homes. Even with interest rates high, more shovels went in the ground for SFR projects, increasing build-to-rent (BTR) construction’s market share to a new peak. In the third quarter, SFR’s robust rent collections and retreating cap rates also demonstrated the sector’s continued resiliency amid economic dislocation.
Video: Special Report Fall 2023 Key Takeaways
In this video, Dr. Sam Chandan, Founding Director of the C.H. Chen Institute for Global Real Estate Finance at the NYU Stern School of Business and non-executive chairman of Chandan Economics, details the key takeaways of Arbor’s Special Report Fall 2023, which he co-authored with Ivan Kaufman, Chairman and CEO of Arbor Realty Trust.
FHFA Loan Caps for 2024: What Multifamily Borrowers Need to Know
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced a $10 billion rollback of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s volume cap for loan purchases for 2023 to $140 billion ($70 billion for each agency). This move aligns with industry expectations, given the anticipation of continued headwinds for the multifamily in 2024. Next year’s cap for the Government-Sponsored Entities (GSEs) is a reduction of approximately 7% from the $150 billion limit set for 2023 and a return to the level it was in 2021.
Affordable Housing Trends Report Fall 2023
With the cost of living climbing, the need for affordable housing has become more urgent. Although demand continues to outpace available supply, multifamily investment in affordable housing is fortified by Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), Project-Based Section 8, and the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) programs. Arbor’s Affordable Housing Trends Report Fall 2023, developed in partnership with Chandan Economics, examines the supply-driven programs and policies designed to improve supply at a point in time when federal gridlock has stalled many funding increases.