Articles

LIHTC Program: An Impactful Affordable Housing Financing Resource

As renters face a national shortage of 7 million low-income rental homes, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program is pivotal in helping to close the affordability gap for renters. It is the nation’s most significant resource for affordable apartment housing construction, which gives state and local agencies approximately $10 billion in annual budget authority to issue tax credits for affordable housing development.

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

Press Contact If you are a member of the media and would like to arrange an interview with one of our knowledgeable multifamily and commercial real estate finance executives or if you have general media questions about Arbor, please contact us at [email protected] or through the below form.   Fill out the form to reach our press team.  

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.

General: 800.ARBOR.10

FREDDIE MAC®

Lease-Up Loan

Arbor’s Freddie Mac Lease-Up Loan product allows newly constructed properties to lock in a rate and fund a loan before the collateral is fully stabilized.

Description Refinance Lease-Up – Refinancing for newly constructed properties
Acquisition Lease-Up – Acquisition financing for newly constructed properties
Loan Amount Typically $10M and up
Loan Terms 5-10 years
Loan Types Fixed- and floating-rate loans; Interest-only (I/O) available during lease-up period
Eligible Property Types
  • Well-constructed properties exhibiting strong lease-up trends in good locations and strong markets
  • Student housing and manufactured housing community transactions are not eligible
  • Stabilization expected within 12 months of closing
Eligible Borrowers Borrowers must have experience with new construction or lease-up properties and generally have strong financial capacity and real estate management expertise with good performance and credit history
Amortization 30 years
Minimum DCR
  • 1.30x (Conventional and Targeted Affordable)
  • 1.35x (Seniors Housing with Independent Living)
  • 1.45x (Seniors Housing with Assisted Living)
Maximum LTV (as-stabilized)
  • 75% for Refinance Lease-Up (Conventional and Targeted Affordable)
  • 70% for Refinance Lease-Up (Seniors Housing with Independent Living or Assisted Living
  • 70% for Acquisition Lease-Up (Conventional, Targeted Affordable Seniors Housing with Independent Living or Assisted Living)
Minimum Cash Equity Requirement
  • 15% for Refinance Lease-Up (Conventional and Targeted Affordable)
  • 20% for Refinance Lease-Up (Seniors Housing with Independent Living or Assisted Living)
  • 25% for Acquisition Lease-Up (Conventional, Targeted Affordable and Seniors Housing with Independent Living or Assisted Living)
Lease-Up Credit Enhancement Requirements
  • Lease-Up Credit Enhancement is required for all Lease-Up transactions
  • The form of the Lease-Up Credit Enhancement will be determined by Freddie Mac
  • The Lease-Up Credit Enhancement must be at least 5% of the unpaid principal balance (10% if the Lease-Up Credit Enhancement is a guaranty, subject to additional conditions)
  • Release of Lease-Up Credit Enhancement will occur once the property has achieved the required amortizing DCR based on average performance of the past 3 months, net rental income for the past 1 month meets or exceeds the level necessary to reach the required amortization DCR, and met other standard conditions as set forth by Freddie Mac
  • If the required DCR is not reached within 12 months, the Lease-Up Credit Enhancement will be used to resize the loan and recast the payments
Appraisal Report Must provide the “as-is” and “as-stabilized” value for the property
Closing Debt Service Escrow An additional 3-month debt service escrow may be required based on the property’s actual operations at underwriting
Rate Lock
  • 50% occupied
  • 60% leased
  • 60% or more Certificates of Occupancy issued
Premier Sponsors & Markets Except for Seniors Housing, additional flexibility is available on a case-by-case basis through an assessment of the sponsor and market as determined by Freddie Mac
Closing
  • 1.05x DCR (Refinance Lease-Up) and 1.0x DCR (Acquisition Lease-Up)
  • 65% occupied
  • 75% leased
  • 100% of Certificates of Occupancy issued (Conventional and Targeted Affordable)
  • 90% of Certificates of Occupancy issued (Seniors Housing with Independent Living or Assisted Living)
  • Assisted Living properties must have all required licenses authorizing operations

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