Articles

FHFA Loan Caps for 2025: What Multifamily Borrowers Need to Know

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced a $3 billion boost to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s volume cap for loan purchases in 2025 to $146 billion ($73 billion for each agency). This increase in FHFA loan caps for 2025 aligns with industry expectations, given the anticipation of improving market conditions and lending activity expected in a lower interest rate environment. Next year’s cap for the Government-Sponsored Entities (GSEs) is an increase of approximately 4% from the $140 billion limit set for 2024.

Analysis

U.S. Multifamily Market Snapshot — November 2024

The U.S. multifamily market held steady in a more normalized cycle through the first three quarters of 2024, following its skyrocketing recovery from the pandemic-related contraction. Rental demand remained strong, driven by the continued nationwide housing shortage and strong wage growth, while the high levels of new construction seen over the last two years appears to have peaked.

Current Reports

Small Multifamily Investment Trends Report Q4 2024

Small multifamily’s normalization pushed forward last quarter as the Federal Reserve made a long-awaited reduction to the target federal funds rate. Arbor’s Small Multifamily Investment Trends Report Q4 2024, developed in partnership with Chandan Economics, shows signs of stability have multiplied. Robust rental demand, a limited supply of quality affordable housing, and several other promising developments should support the subsector’s strength heading into 2025.

Analysis

Top U.S. Multifamily Rent Growth Markets — Q3 2024

The U.S. multifamily market held steady in a more normalized cycle during the third quarter of 2024. Rental demand remained strong, while new leaders emerged among the top markets for rent growth.

Articles

Top Markets for Wage Growth in 2024

One of the most essential factors multifamily investors need to consider before executing a transaction is the health of the local labor market. Wage growth and other trends are driven by a delicate, constantly adjusting balance of labor supply and demand. In some markets, an inflow of employers can cause wages to spike. In others, population outflows can create the same effect. In this deep dive, we expand on the data findings from the 2024 Top Markets for Multifamily Investment Report, exploring the unique conditions driving metro wage growth trends.

Press Contact

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Current Reports

Top Markets for Multifamily Investment Report 2024

With interest rate pressure easing, quality multifamily investment opportunities have emerged from coast to coast, making identifying the optimal location essential. A roadmap for investors, Top Markets for Multifamily Investment Report 2024, developed in partnership with Chandan Economics, ranks the top 50 metropolitan markets found through an analysis of 10 key factors, including affordability, population growth, and climate risk.

Articles

The Value of a Top Freddie Mac Small Balance Loans Lender

Small multifamily properties play a crucial role in providing affordable and market-rate rental housing across the country. But Arbor and Freddie Mac understood that financing in this sector had historically been fragmented when we partnered to create the Small Balance Loan (SBL) program in 2014. As the program celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2024, Arbor is proud to have helped pioneer the product to meet a critical need for our borrowers. A six-time Top Small Balance Loans Lender, Arbor has the right experience to expertly customize loan products and align your asset’s long-term goals with your community’s needs.

General: 800.ARBOR.10

FANNIE MAE DUS® Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) 5-5

Arbor’s DUS® ARM 5-5 product offers a 5-year variable rate financing option with an embedded cap and an option to extend for an additional 5-year term or convert to a fixed rate.

BENEFITS Attractive low-cost financing; no minimum or maximum loan size; maximum interest rate is set at rate lock; optional extension to second 5-year term with minimal reunderwriting; convertible to a fixed-rate loan with minimal re-underwriting
ELIGIBILITY Existing, stabilized multifamily properties, including: Conventional, Multifamily Affordable Housing, Seniors Housing, Student Housing, and Manufactured Housing Communities; loans for acquisition or refinance
TERM Initial 5-year loan term; optional extension to a second 5-year term at maturity; rollover will retain the same guaranty and servicing fees as the original loan; rollover will not incur a prepayment premium
AMORTIZATION Up to 30 years
INTEREST RATE ADJUSTMENTS Adjusts based on changes to the underlying index and is equal to the index plus the margin
MAXIMUM LTV 65%
MINIMUM DSCR 1.00x at the maximum lifetime interest rate; mortgage loan amount shall not exceed that of a fixed rate loan with similar terms
RATE LOCK 30-day commitments
INDEX 30-day average SOFR
SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCING Supplemental loans are available
LOCKOUT PERIOD; PREPAYMENT AVAILABILITY No prepayment is allowed during the first year of either the initial or second 5-year variable rate terms; thereafter, prepayment is permitted with the payment of a 1% prepayment premium; no prepayment premium is due during the “open period” (typically the last 3 months) of either the initial or second 5-year variable rate terms
INTEREST RATE CAP Maximum monthly interest rate adjustment of 1% up or down; maximum lifetime interest rate to Borrower capped at 5%, plus the guaranty fee, plus the servicing fee
INTEREST RATE FLOOR The interest rate will never be less than the sum of the investor spread, the guaranty fee and the servicing fee
CONVERSION TO FIXED RATE Subject to the terms of the loan document, the variable rate mortgage loan may be converted to a fixed rate mortgage loan (with a 7- or 10-year term) on any rate change date beginning on the first day after the Lockout Period and ending on the first day of the third month prior to the Maturity Date

  • No prepayment penalty is charged at the time that the variable rate Mortgage loan converts to a fixed rate mortgage loan
  • Minimal re-underwriting; lender determines that the current net cash flow can support the new fixed rate terms
  • No increase in the loan amount; loan may be eligible for a Supplemental Loan
NEW MBS ISSUANCE AT CONVERSION TO FIXED OR VARIABLE RATE ROLLOVER If the Borrower opts to either (i) convert the ARM 5/5 Loan to a fixed-rate Mortgage Loan, or (ii) extend the initial 5-year variable-rate term of the ARM 5/5 Loan for a second 5-year variable-rate term:

  • At Conversion to fixed or renewal to a new 5-year variable-rate term, the existing MBS is repaid.
  • For a Conversion to a fixed rate, a new fixed-rate MBS is issued.
  • For a renewal to a new 5-year variable-rate term, a new variable rate MBS is issued.
ACCRUAL Actual/360
RECOURSE Non-recourse execution with standard carve-outs for “bad acts” such as fraud and bankruptcy
ESCROWS Replacement reserve, tax and insurance escrows are typically required
THIRD-PARTY REPORTS Standard third-party reports required, including Appraisal, Phase I Environmental Site Assessment and Property Condition Assessment
ASSUMPTION Loans are typically assumable, subject to review and approval of the new borrower’s financial capacity and experience

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