Single-family rental (SFR) conditions strengthened during the first half of 2026, with rents rising across all 50 of the nation’s largest metros between December 2025 and June 2026. Growth was broad-based but uneven, with many Northeast and Midwest markets outperforming major Sun Belt metros.

This year’s data show that while multifamily completions moderated from 2024’s elevated pace, the sector’s shift toward larger properties continued. At the same time, larger has not necessarily meant taller, as lower-rise buildings continue to account for most new multifamily completions.

The single-family rental (SFR) sector continued to demonstrate resilience through early 2026, supported by stable occupancy, positive rent growth, and improving capital markets activity.

Generation Z’s potential for household formation could soon reshape many U.S. metropolitan areas. From McAllen, TX, to Hartford, CT, explore the top multifamily markets where rental demand is set to rise as Gen Z leaves the nest.

Indianapolis ranked as the top multifamily investment market in the U.S., in the latest Top Markets for Multifamily Investment Report from Arbor Realty Trust and Chandan Economics. The market has been supported by strong labor market conditions, tight occupancy levels, and a favorable affordability profile.

The latest Single-Family Rental Investment Trends Report from Arbor Realty Trust, developed in partnership with Chandan Economics, examines a commercial real estate sector that has proved to be both stable and resilient. Supported by strong occupancy, positive rent growth, and loosening capital markets, SFR remains firmly grounded on a path of steady growth.