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Government Shutdown: What Multifamily Borrowers Need to Know

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Understanding the Impact of Wildfires on Rental Property Insurance

From California to Maui, the frequency and scope of wildfire events are rising, causing insurance markets and public agencies to reevaluate property in areas at risk for catastrophic damage. As a result, rental housing providers are seeing greater limitations to coverage, higher premium prices, and, in some cases, a total absence of viable private insurance — a trend detailed in the NMHC 2023 State of Multifamily Risk Survey and Report. This troubling new trend has placed many rental housing operators in a bind where they must simultaneously contend with the declining availability and affordability of insurance options.

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Five Advantages of FHA Multifamily Construction Loans

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Where are Single-Family Rental (SFR) Rents Rising the Fastest?

While the single-family rental (SFR) sector’s rent growth averages have retreated from record highs, structural tailwinds are keeping price growth positive — both nationally and in major SFR markets. In this research brief, Chandan Economics and Arbor Realty Trust analyze DBRS Morningstar data, which covers the top 20 MSAs by SFR activity, to discover the metropolitan areas where SFR rent growth is the hottest right now.

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Fannie Mae Small Loans Cap Raised to $9 Million

Fannie Mae recently announced that its Small Loan cap has increased from $6 million to $9 million for all loans committed as of August 22, 2023. Multifamily borrowers and lenders have praised the change to the Fannie Mae Small Loans program, which will encourage greater investment in a rapidly growing sector where demand remains high despite market volatility.

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The Top Five Emerging Metros for Retiree Relocation

As Baby Boomers reach retirement age, their evolving geographic preferences are strengthening housing markets and local economies in new locations, which feature attractive climates, relative affordability, and ample outdoor activities. With swelling populations of senior citizens, our top five emerging metropolitan areas for retiree relocation are fertile ground for multifamily real estate investment.

GENERAL: 800.ARBOR.10

Arbor CEO Ivan Kaufman on Top Opportunities in the Housing Market

Arbor Realty Trust’s CEO reveals when he expects the housing market to return to equilibrium and why he’s optimistic on the year ahead

The multifamily and single-family rental markets are stronger than ever, despite the current imbalance in supply and demand, noted Ivan Kaufman, founder, chairman and CEO of Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ABR) in an interview on TD Ameritrade Network’s Morning Trade Live with Oliver Renick.

While there was concern over new supply getting to the market due to a dislocation in the commodities market, notably lumber, Kaufman explained that these issues were mostly temporary and beginning to dissipate.

Labor shortages have been another factor exacerbating the supply/demand imbalance, which Kaufman anticipates will also begin to normalize come September, as pandemic-related emergency measures such as those under the CARES Act expire and people return to work.

Once commodity prices, labor and the supply chain are back to more normal levels, “I think you’ll start to see housing delivered. And over the 12-month period after that you’ll see supply and demand get more to equilibrium,” he said.

Another sign of the housing market’s recovery has been a relative pullback in capital market activity by the Federal Reserve and the government sponsored enterprises (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac), as other sources of liquidity return to the market.

“As the environment is getting back to normal, [the Federal Reserve, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac] are going to pull back. They did a great job of providing liquidity to the market during this period in 2020 when there was huge disruption,” Kaufman said. “I think the Fed should step back a little bit and let the market equilibrium return to normal and do it gradually.”

Kaufman also discussed Arbor’s recent public offering of 6 million shares of common stock, noting his optimism about the market and Arbor’s growth potential in the year ahead.

“We’re funding our growth and every dollar is accretive and every dollar is accounted for. We’re very much in a great position to be able to add capital at attractive prices, add capital that’s accretive and which will help grow our dividend,” Kaufman noted.

The additional capital will be used to support Arbor’s investment in growing sectors like single-family build-to-rent communities, he said.

“We’re the leader in that space. We think that’s where there’s a lot of expertise required,” he stated. “In every line of our business we’re seeing extraordinary opportunities and a lot of juice left.”

Watch the full interview above.