Analysis

Small Multifamily Investment Snapshot — March 2025

Amid ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty, the small multifamily sector remains favorably positioned for stability as the structural need for affordable housing in the U.S. has supported the strength of the sector’s demand profile.

Articles

Top Markets for Rental Occupancy

Nationally, vacancies have risen, but the performance of rental housing is extremely localized. Out of the 75 largest U.S. metropolitan areas, the occupancy rate for all types of rental properties, including single-family rentals, 2-4 family, multifamily, and mobile homes, increased in 36 markets last year, while exceeding 95% in nearly one-third of all markets, according to an analysis of newly released U.S. Census Bureau data.[1] From Grand Rapids, MI, to Columbia, SC, the top markets for rental occupancy show where conditions are tightest and demand is strongest.

Current Reports

Single-Family Rental Investment Trends Report Q1 2025

Arbor’s Single-Family Rental Investment Trends Report Q1 2025, published in partnership with Chandan Economics, is an up-close look at the single-family rental (SFR) sector as it enters a period of normalcy after explosive pandemic-era growth. SFR maintains its balance with the support of a healthy set of fundamentals while capital markets rebound and rent growth moderates.

Articles

Small Multifamily Price Growth Trends Show Stabilization

Small multifamily price growth trends indicate a stabilization may be ready to take hold. Expanding on the findings of Arbor’s latest Small Multifamily Investment Trends Report, our research teams more closely examined valuations to determine if trends in pricing and other fundamentals are supporting a turnaround.

Articles

SFR Rent Growth: Top Markets and Leading Regions

Elevated mortgage interest rates and high home prices boosted demand for single-family rentals (SFR) last year, supporting the growth of rents in almost all of the 100 largest metropolitan areas. Pricing momentum, which averaged 4.5% nationally, was concentrated in affordable markets in the Northeast and Midwest, an analysis of Zillow’s Observed Rent Index data shows.

Articles

Build-to-Rent’s Robust Activity Settles into Stable Pattern

Increasingly, single-family rental (SFR) operators have been relying on build-to-rent (BTR) development to satisfy their inventory needs. The popularity of BTR communities made economies of scale possible for the SFR sector in the recovery after the 2007 housing crisis and continues to fill a housing need nationwide. Now, newly released U.S. Census Bureau data shows that SFR development activity remained robust even as its momentum slowed, moving the sector into a more stable equilibrium.

General: 800.ARBOR.10

Home | In the News | Ivan Kaufman Talks Arbor's Success in Multifamily During COVID-19 at NYU Capital Markets Leadership Series

Ivan Kaufman Talks Arbor’s Success in Multifamily During COVID-19 at NYU Capital Markets Leadership Series

Friday, October 09, 2020
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Kaufman Shares Why Multifamily Has Remained a Strong Asset Despite the Global Pandemic

Ivan Kaufman, the founder, chairman and CEO of Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:ABR), appeared as the first featured guest on the NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate’s Capital Markets Leadership Series. Defying the negative economic pressures of COVID-19, Arbor achieved strong earnings. Kaufman shared an insider’s view of what’s behind his company’s phenomenal success and forecasts for the multifamily sector’s post-coronavirus future.

“Our earnings have never been better,” Kaufman stated to the program host, Sam Chandan, dean of the Schack Institute. “Most people are cutting their dividends or trying to figure out how to maintain them. We’ve increased our dividend in the pandemic.”

Arbor’s experienced management team anticipated the recession, following a 10-year bull run. The company structured its balance sheet and its lending, positioning itself for strong performance during the economic downturn. As suggested in other recent interviews, Ivan emphasizes how the REIT has a strategically diversified business platform. This includes serving as a top Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac small multifamily lender having a more than $5 billion balance sheet, and being active in growth areas such as single-family rentals (SFRs).

With headquarters in Uniondale, New York, Arbor has had many of its employees return to the office ahead of its peers. Kaufman advised companies to exercise common sense with phased re-openings and to consider density, transportation and the effectiveness of remote working.

Despite COVID-19, multifamily has performed exceptionally well. He credited the CARES Act with enabling people to pay rent and keeping the economy afloat. Prior to the pandemic, multifamily properties experienced consistent rent increases of 3% to 5% each year, for the last decade.

Even with the coronavirus disruptions, Kaufman opined multifamily remains a solid asset class. “When you underwrite a loan and the property is 95% occupied, there is coverage. You can go down to 87% or 86% occupied before you start seeing some pain. So, we’re in good territory,” he explained. “It’ll get a little bit softer, but I think overall, we’re in an extraordinarily great place.”

He pointed out that investors can refinance with today’s low interest rates, offsetting a decline in rents and occupancy with reduced mortgage payments.

However, the head of one of the nation’s leading multifamily lenders noted Class A urban properties will suffer as COVID-19 has accelerated the demand for reduced density and millennials are moving to the suburbs to form families.

“Absorption is going to be a lot slower. That will be the soft part of the market, no question about it,” said Kaufman. “The workforce housing, the B and C, specifically Class B properties, are holding up extraordinarily well.”

In addition, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac support the multifamily market, providing liquidity and consistency in multifamily lending. During the interview, Kaufman also discusses the growth in SFR demand, additional investment opportunities, other capital sources, the CMBS market, technology and much more.

Listen to the full NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate Capital Markets Leadership Series Interview.

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For more of Ivan Kaufman’s perspective on current multifamily trends, visit Arbor in the News. Contact Arbor to learn about our multifamily solutions to address your business goals.

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