Articles

Top Markets for Rental Demand Growth

Population growth, a critical factor in assessing rental housing demand, increased 0.9% in the U.S. during 2024, the fastest annual rate since 2008. However, growth rates were much higher for many markets, especially those in Texas, Florida, and the Carolinas. As first explored in Arbor’s Top Markets for Multifamily Investment Report Spring 2025, we dive deeper into metro-level population growth in markets with at least 500,000 residents to find the nation’s top markets for rental housing demand growth.

Articles

Arbor Recognized for Excellence from Agency Partners

Arbor’s platform of diverse multifamily financing solutions, combined with our strong industry relationships and our commitment to accuracy and close collaboration with our government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) partners, drives us to the top of the multifamily lender rankings year after year. Through decades-long relationships with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and FHA, our best-in-class team delivered results for our borrowers in 2024, propelling Arbor to the top of the partner rankings.

Articles

Renters See Apartments as ‘Forever Homes’

Today’s renters are in it for the long haul. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s recently released 2025 SCE Housing Survey shows that the average renter thinks there is a two-in-three chance they will rent for the foreseeable future. With home prices and interest rates unfavorable to would-be homebuyers, we explore renters’ perceptions and how they could impact future rental housing demand.

Current Reports

Top Markets for Multifamily Investment Report Spring 2025

Arbor’s Top Markets for Multifamily Investment Report Spring 2025, developed in partnership with Chandan Economics, is your roadmap to the best locations to deploy capital. Based on the findings of our exclusive Multifamily Opportunity Matrix, this in-depth analysis assesses economic strength and market capabilities to navigate evolving conditions of the top 50 largest U.S. metros.

Research

Arbor’s data-driven articles and research reports empower multifamily and single-family rental investors and developers to make more profitable financial decisions.

Articles

Renters Account for Majority of Household Growth

The number of rental households climbed nearly 2% last year, as 848,000 more households became renters, an analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Housing Vacancies and Homeownership Survey shows (Chart 1). Rental households also hit a new high of 45.3 million, accounting for more than half of all U.S. household growth in 2024. Weakening affordability, evolving lifestyle preferences, and a limited supply of quality housing all contributed to surging multifamily and single-family rental (SFR) demand.

Articles

Solar Panel Usage Accelerates in Rental Properties

Solar panel installations, which skyrocketed in the U.S. over the last half-century, are projected to double to 10 million in just six years. While installations soared in all types of residences, owner-occupied properties significantly outpaced rentals. However, the evolving economics of solar power may be approaching a tipping point for single-family rental (SFR) operators looking for a differentiator.

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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