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.

Articles

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.

General: 800.ARBOR.10

What a Difference Corporate Culture Makes!

From appreciation programs, to branding contests, to employee profiles, Arbor’s Corporate Culture Committee (CCC) is moving the needle forward toward fostering the best possible work environment for our people. Here’s a look at CCC’s achievements to date and what’s on the horizon …

Our Three Focus Areas

Employee Connectivity

Goal: Connect employees to the business and each other through both internal and external activities

Interaction/Engagement

Goal: Invite employee involvement, participation, feedback and input to make them part of major initiatives

Branding

Goal: Develop a consistent corporate culture brand and use internal and external channels to attract, retain and sustain employees

Employee Connectivity

Our Arbor After Hours employee profiles showcase our people and the unique and interesting ways they spend their time outside Arbor. They highlight the things employees do to give back to their communities, enrich their own lives, recharge and reenergize. From skydiving, to volunteering, to rising up to challenges, the popular articles in this continuing series add a human interest element to our business and connect employees to each other, personally and professionally.

See Who We’ve Featured

Coming up – We’re planning several new initiatives, including Arbor Appreciations, where we’ll celebrate employee milestones like birthdays, service anniversaries and special project completions. An employee recognition program, Who Brings Out the Best in You?, will provide a forum for employees to acknowledge outstanding coworkers. The idea is to recognize and reward employees for their contributions to our business and toward enhancing their work environment. We’ll also promote team-building off-sites, group gatherings and activities, anything that brings our people together.

Interaction/Engagement

In our robust Be the Best You Can Be video series, employees across the business get to share their Arbor journeys with their coworkers, and viewers get to learn more about their fellow employees’ careers, insights and accomplishments.

Stay Interviews are part of a recruitment effort where we talk with employees with longer tenures to find out why they chose to come – and stay – at Arbor, then we publish their quotes on both social media and internally on Captivate.


Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn


Twitter

Captivate

We held grand opening celebrations for our two newest offices in Boston and Atlanta.

Other Happenings

  • We’re working to better integrate and leverage our internal communications channels – including the intranet (X-Change), emails, videos and Captivate – to communicate consistently and comprehensively throughout our growing company
  • A special Intranet Redesign Task Force is bringing employees from all levels and areas of the company together to work toward a common goal: revamping, expanding and enhancing our intranet and renaming the X-Change
  • We’re increasing opportunities for employees to hear from, and connect with, executives through our social channels and events like Town Halls. Focused and heightened communication and interaction from corporate leaders will build employee engagement across the business

Coming up – More Arbor Meet and Greets will provide employees even greater opportunities to connect with executives, face-to-face, in a casual setting

Branding

The CCC is focused on any and all efforts to promote Arbor’s brand internally and externally. The Six-Word Story contest gave all employees across the business a voice, asking them to sum up what Arbor means to them in just six words. We received more than 100 submissions. Winning stories now brand the walls of many of our offices as a reminder of our values and corporate culture. All in Arbor green! Our written and video content further drives home our brand message and provides a glimpse into Arbor’s unique corporate culture.

Coming up – In addition to new initiatives, we’re committed to enhancing existing programs that drive Arbor’s brand in our communities and beyond. Community engagement includes expanding our Corporate Challenge events in cities like Atlanta, Dallas and Cleveland. We’re also developing our corporate social responsibility statement and defining our charitable giving. In the social media realm, we’re kicking off a 10K Follower LinkedIn campaign. And, we will be naming ‘Social Ambassadors’ among our employee base soon.

Corporate Culture Committee Members 2019-2020

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