Articles

Top Multifamily Markets for Low Renter Turnover

Tenant retention is a valuable — though sometimes elusive — contributing factor to the strength of a multifamily property. Nationally, 29% of multifamily households signed a third lease for the same unit, according to an analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. Locally, renter turnover was lowest in major coastal markets, like New York City, and highest in transient renter markets, like Charleston, SC.

Current Reports

Small Multifamily Investment Trends Report Q2 2025

While markets undergo rapid recalibration, the small multifamily market’s performance remains strong and stable. Arbor’s Small Multifamily Investment Trends Report Q2 2025, developed in partnership with Chandan Economics, details how the sector’s resilient fundamentals effectively support its growth amid ongoing economic volatility.

Proprietary Preferred Equity behind Conventional Loans

FREDDIE MAC® Proprietary Preferred Equity behind Conventional Loans   Arbor now offers access to proprietary preferred equity behind all Freddie Mac Conventional loans we originate. With Arbor, you can simultaneously secure a senior loan and preferred equity under one roof, streamlining your experience throughout the lifecycle of your loan.

Analysis

Top U.S. Multifamily Rent Growth Markets — Q1 2025

The U.S. multifamily market continued to settle into a more normalized cycle during the first quarter of 2025, as well-positioned investors began to take advantage of new opportunities in an uncertain economic environment.

Analysis

U.S. Multifamily Market Snapshot — May 2025

The U.S. multifamily market continued to settle into a normalized cycle during the first quarter of 2025, despite ongoing uncertainties surrounding the global economy and labor market.

Articles

Dr. Sam Chandan Dissects What’s Driving Top Market Growth

In a rapidly evolving economic environment, the top markets for multifamily investment tend to shift quickly. In this video, Dr. Sam Chandan, founding director of the C.H. Chen Institute for Global Real Estate Finance at the NYU Stern School of Business and founder of Chandan Economics, discusses the findings of Arbor’s Top Markets for Multifamily Investment Report Spring 2025, which was developed in partnership with Chandan Economics.

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.

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Ivan Kaufman Discusses Arbor’s Record Performance in 2020 on The Ground Up Podcast

Ivan Kaufman on The Ground Up Podcast

Arbor Realty Trust’s CEO reveals how the company achieved record originations and dividend growth despite the pandemic

While many companies experienced a dislocation in 2020, Arbor Realty Trust was able to achieve a record performance, setting itself apart from competitors, noted Ivan Kaufman, the founder, chairman and CEO of Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:ABR), in an interview on The Ground Up podcast with Brad Thomas.

In fact, 2020 marked one of Arbor’s best years as a public company, raising its dividend three times during the year and marking the ninth straight year of dividend growth for the company.

In the interview, Kaufman explains how Arbor was so well prepared for the pandemic.

“We had the proper liability structures and more significantly, we’re a very diversified mortgage REIT. Our income streams come from multiple sources,” Kaufman noted.

As a result, Arbor was able to take advantage of opportunities in the market, achieving record originations of $9.1 billion in 2020, a 20% increase over 2019.

Kaufman also attributed Arbor’s success to it sustainable business model and its focus on multifamily housing, one of the industry’s most resilient asset classes.

The multifamily industry is backed by the government-sponsored agencies, meaning “the market is very stable even through a dislocation,” Kaufman noted. As a leading lender for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHA multifamily loans, Arbor was able to take advantage of the opportunity to provide liquidity throughout the pandemic.

Arbor’s balance sheet is also supported by a significant servicing portfolio, which grew to nearly $25 billion in 2020.

The head of the publicly traded REIT noted that Arbor’s adequate capital and preparation going into the pandemic is now paying off.

“Combined with our dividend increases, we’re very optimistic about our opportunity to continue to grow and increase our dividend and increase shareholder value,” Kaufman said. He added that he’s confident Arbor will join the elite club of public companies with 10 straight years of dividend growth in 2021.

Watch the full interview here.