Articles

Annual Build-to-Rent Starts Hit Another High in Q3 2024

As more single-family rental (SFR) operators rely on build-to-rent (BTR) development to supply new inventory, construction starts have steadily risen, reaching another record high in the third quarter of 2024. SFR/BTR construction has eclipsed 92,000 units in the last four quarters — an all-time high and an annual increase of 31.4%.

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.

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Yahoo! Finance: Ivan Kaufman on Arbor’s Rental Assistance Program

Yahoo! Finance: Ivan Kaufman on Arbor’s Rental Assistance Program

Arbor Realty Trust Inc. (NYSE:ABR) developed a unique rental assistance program to help tenants hit with financial difficulties resulting from COVID-19. The company’s Chairman and CEO Ivan Kaufman spoke with Yahoo! Finance’s Alexis Christaforous and Brian Sozzi and explained how Arbor’s program will financially assist tenants across the country, while helping to maintain financial liquidity and stability in the housing market.

With the $2 million Arbor Rental Assistance Program (ARAP), Arbor is providing $1 million, matched with borrowers’ funds to provide interest-free advances to tenants to pay their rent at Arbor-financed properties. Tenants have up to three years to pay back the funds.

“What we did was reach out to our ecosystem of borrowers and ask how can we leverage our capital? How could we leverage your capital? How could we get to those who need the money?” Kaufman explained. “What we’re also seeing is tenants really do want to pay their rent. Tenants do want to be current. But they need help. We’re here to help them and in a way that when they can make financial ends meet, it won’t be painful.”

He noted that 99% of Arbor’s borrowers were making their payments. However, private capital is needed to fill gaps, supplementing governmental programs. As one of the country’s leading multifamily lenders, known for its strong relationships with its network of borrowers, Arbor has the infrastructure to connect with renters and their families who have suffered hardships as a result of the coronavirus.

Kaufman also created the program to help keep the market liquid, and to prevent mortgage foreclosures and a devaluation of real estate that would destabilize the economy. “My goal is not just simply looking at Arbor and our borrowers but looking at the universe in total. If we can get 1,000 borrowers and 1,000 other lenders to do what we’re doing, we’re talking about billions and billions of dollars to reach those who are in need,” he said. “And that’s the message. How do we get to those who have been most impacted?”

Lenders and borrowers have access to tenants who are hard-pressed by the unprecedented effects of COVID-19. He reasoned that private industry could assist the government in effectively averting another economic crisis.

To watch the full interview, click here.

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Learn more about ARAP and Arbor’s loan programs. Contact Arbor today to speak with an originator about our multifamily financing options.