The U.S. multifamily market finished 2025 with growing optimism and resilience. Investment volume accelerated to a three-year high, bolstered by greater interest rate clarity and the tightest cap rates across major real estate sectors.
The number of households renting single-family homes rose 1.7% in 2025, reaching a seven-year high, according to a new Arbor Realty Trust and Chandan Economics forecast, based on an analysis of newly released U.S. Census Bureau data. Since the pandemic, the single-family rental (SFR) sector has stabilized, reversing recent household losses and regaining momentum.
The latest report in Arbor Realty Trust’s Affordable Housing Trends series, developed in partnership with Chandan Economics, explores lingering challenges and new opportunities in this critically important multifamily real estate sector. In a new video, Dr. Sam Chandan, one of the commercial real estate industry’s leading scholars, shares his take on the new research report and what its findings could mean for the future of affordable housing finance.
With homebuying out of reach for many, more tenants are staying in the rental market longer than in previous cycles. This dynamic offers multifamily investors a strategic opportunity to focus on tenant retention, according to Dr. Sam Chandan, one of the commercial real estate industry’s leading scholars, who recently shared his expert insights on the 2026 Housing Outlook webinar with RentRedi.
Normalization was the thread that tied together multifamily real estate narratives in 2025. Asset valuations stabilized, cap rates held steady, and rent growth was balanced. Entering the new year, normalization is still driving the conversation, as shown by newly released data from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta on real estate conditions and associated trends.
The single-family rental (SFR) sector, supported by healthy fundamentals, demonstrated its strength and durability again last quarter as the for-sale home market softened.
Arbor Realty Trust recently wrapped up its 18th Annual Holiday Drive, which raised nearly $22,000 for Long Island-based Family & Children’s Association (FCA). As in past years, Arbor extended the impact of the drive by matching all employee contributions dollar-for-dollar.
The multifamily rental households estimate reached an all-time high of 22.4 million in 2025, following meaningful post-pandemic shifts in affordable housing and rental demand. The commercial real estate pillar maintained its growth, as new inventory and persistent homeownership constraints supported a rising number of multifamily household formations.
Arbor has been a relationship-first, multifamily direct lender and loan servicer since 1993. We excel at developing long-term connections and collaborating with borrowers to tailor custom loan solutions that consistently deliver results for our clients.
For over 30 years, Uniondale, NY-based Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ABR), has been extending financing to borrowers who share our commitment to enhancing the U.S. rental housing supply. A nationwide real estate investment trust and direct lender, we specialize in loan origination and servicing for multifamily, single-family rental (SFR) financing, and other diverse commercial real estate assets.
Top 10 lender by volume for more than a decade and a repeat Top Small Loans Lender.
Approved Freddie Mac Seller/Servicer and a Top Small Balance Loan Lender.
Shorter-term, one-stop shop financing for multifamily and commercial assets positioned for permanent take-out.
HUD-approved MAP, LIHTC & Lean Lender for multifamily, seniors and healthcare.
Arbor provides long-term Fannie Mae and HUD-insured financing solutions for the creation and preservation of affordable housing.
Bridge, Permanent and Build-to-Rent loan solutions through Arbor’s proprietary platform.
Solutions used in conjunction with new or existing commercial loan financing to help in completing all the components of the capital stack.
Efficient and transparent online loan origination and processing.
Experienced servicing division that oversees a multibillion-dollar portfolio and is rated by S&P and Fitch for commercial and special servicing.
