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.

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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.

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.

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Ivan Kaufman Interview on Bloomberg Markets

Ivan Kaufman, the chairman and CEO of Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:ABR), discussed how multifamily housing is maintaining stability during COVID-19. In a “Bloomberg Markets” interview with anchor Alix Steel, he also explained, in particular, the growth in value of suburban housing.

“People have been paying their rent on the multifamily side. Collections are off only 1% to 2%,” said Kaufman. “Despite the dislocation, it has been a great performing asset.” He noted that the extension of federal aid, which will allow people to continue to pay rent, will be critical for the housing market.

The country’s reducing unemployment and getting the coronavirus under control are two factors that will affect the housing situation, Kaufman stated.

The real estate expert and entrepreneur made several additional noteworthy observations. “Homeownership is approaching 68%, the highest rate since prior to the Great Recession. So, this trend, which started before COVID, now has been accelerated,” he said. “People are moving out of the cities. The social unrest, schools, all of these factors are leading to people moving to the suburbs.”

Kaufman commented that the inventory is now very limited in the suburbs. He projected this will lead to price appreciation both for owner-occupied and single-family rental homes.

Adding perspective to today’s overall economic situation, he pointed out that commercial real estate is a $14 trillion industry. “There are three asset classes that are doing extraordinarily well: multifamily, single-family rentals, and industrial. Sixty percent of the asset classes are performing exceptionally well,” he said.

The hospitality and retail sectors are still suffering. However, suburban offices are reaping some benefits from the demand for less density, driven by COVID-19. “I think it’s going to be a mixed bag. Clearly, there are a lot of people evaluating urban offices and suburban satellites.” He opined people will need to continue to watch the landscape for the next six to 12 months, to see the extent of the impacts of a suburban workforce.

View the complete Bloomberg TV interview above.

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