Articles

FHA Multifamily Case Study: Closing Loans Amid Uncertainty

In times of volatility, it pays to have support from a team willing to go the extra mile. Whether it’s meeting tight deadlines or ensuring all requirements are met, Arbor’s Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Underwriting department remains committed to helping borrowers secure loans that expand rental housing opportunities for Americans.

Analysis

Top U.S. Multifamily Rent Growth Markets — Q4 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

CREFC Miami 2025: Young Professionals Network Fosters Career Growth

Networking and attending industry conferences to learn trends and insights are among the most advantageous ways young commercial real estate finance professionals can advance in their careers. This year, Gabriel Rondon, Analyst, Structured Asset Management at Arbor and a CRE Finance Council (CREFC) Young Professionals Network member, was selected as one of the network’s ambassadors at CREFC Miami, giving him a golden opportunity to expand his professional horizons.

Articles

The Single-Family Rental Sector Returns to Growth Mode

Although the single-family rental (SFR) sector’s profile expanded after the 2007-2010 subprime mortgage crisis, the number of its households slid between 2016 and 2020 as many rentals transitioned into owner-occupied homes. Following a period of pandemic-related uncertainty, SFR has returned to growth mode, increasing its number of households for the second time in three years.

Investment

Special Report Spring 2025: Optimism on the Rise

Arbor’s Special Report Spring 2025, developed in partnership with Chandan Economics, covers the state of the U.S. rental housing market on the cusp of a new cycle. After a year of steady growth, favorable trends put wind in the sector’s sails, giving rise to budding optimism. With the economic landscape shifting, the rental housing market’s resilient performance in 2023 and 2024 provides a solid foundation for continued growth.

Analysis

Affordable Housing Market Snapshot — Winter 2024-2025

Continually challenged by low inventory, affordable housing sits at a crossroads following the 2024 election. Incoming leadership plans to introduce market-based principles to an agenda that may also include an expanded Housing Choice Voucher program.

Articles

How Lifecycle Commercial Loan Servicers Enhance Multifamily Borrowing

A loan closing is only the beginning of the borrower-lender relationship. Partnering with a lifecycle lender that also services its loans gives borrowers continuity from origination through servicing. Throughout the life of the loan, borrowers can benefit from in-house commercial loan servicers’ tailored solutions and superior customer service, which are hallmarks of a strong long-term partnership.

Articles

Lifestyle Renters Put a New Spin on The American Dream

Four in 10 renters in large multifamily apartment communities do not envision homeownership as a part of their American Dream, a survey by Entrata recently found. Instead, lifestyle renters opt for newly constructed, high-quality rental housing with many of the typical amenities of homeownership without its traditional downsides.

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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