Workforce Housing Financing

Take advantage of Arbor’s Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac workforce housing financing products with flexible loan terms and competitive pricing. Arbor’s Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac workforce housing programs offer competitive pricing, underwriting flexibility, and preservation incentives for the development of affordable housing solutions. Partner with a Freddie Mac Top Lender of Workforce Housing Rent Preservation financing to grow your portfolio to discover value-add workforce housing opportunities.

Articles

Build-to-Rent (BTR) Development Continues to Outpace Historical Highs

As single-family rental (SFR) demand has risen, build-to-rent (BTR) development has become more efficient at creating a distinct, community-focused experience for renters. Newly released U.S. Census Bureau data confirms that while the pace of SFR/BTR construction slowed during the second-quarter, development has remained robust compared to historical trends.

Articles

Arbor’s Innovative BTR CLO Delivers Key Competitive Advantages

Arbor Realty Trust, a perennial innovator in commercial real estate finance, closed a unique $802 million collateralized loan securitization (CLO) in May 2025 that cements the multifamily lender’s position at the forefront of build-to-rent (BTR) financing.

Articles

The Most Active Markets for New Multifamily Development in 2025

After the volume of multifamily permits fell nationally in 2023 and 2024, this year is on pace to be a year of stabilization for multifamily development. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, out of the top 100 largest U.S. metros by population, 47 had more multifamily permits through the first six months of 2025 than they did over the same period last year. Driven by strong underlying multifamily demand, attractive investment opportunities are leading to rebounding construction pipelines. As multifamily permitting rises, we explore the markets where new permits issued are most concentrated and where construction activity is gaining momentum.

Current Reports

Small Multifamily Investment Trends Report Q3 2025

Arbor’s Small Multifamily Investment Trends Report Q3 2025, developed in partnership with Chandan Economics, examines the factors behind the continued upward trajectory of the sector amid an ongoing capital markets recalibration. Several of its core performance metrics, including valuations, originations, and credit standards, have shown measurable improvement as a multifamily market-wide normalization takes shape. Supported by strong fundamentals, small multifamily stands tall despite economic uncertainty.

General: 800.ARBOR.10

Brian Scharf

Managing Director, Sales
Headshot of Brian Scharf

Brian Scharf is responsible for originating multifamily and commercial loans through Arbor’s product lines, including Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, SFR Construction and Permanent Portfolio Loans, CMBS, Private Label, Bridge, Mezzanine and Preferred Equity. Based in Arbor’s headquarters location in Uniondale, Long Island, he brings over 20 years of experience in the commercial real estate finance industry, spanning positions in origination, underwriting and asset management.

Mr. Scharf joined Arbor in 2009 and was promoted to Managing Director in 2021. He consistently produces the highest levels of client satisfaction across borrowers and intermediaries and has built a well-diversified, nationwide clientele, closing more than 500 loans with a total notional value exceeding $8B.

Prior to Arbor, Mr. Scharf served as a Senior Associate of Real Estate Finance at Hypo Real Estate International, where he originated and underwrote construction and permanent loans. He began his career at Credit Suisse, where he ascended from analyst to AVP of Asset Management for their Real Estate Opportunity Fund, personally securing and structuring more than $3B of financing across all levels of the capital stack.

Mr. Scharf graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a Bachelor of Science in Finance. He lives in Jericho, NY with his wife and two children.

[email protected] | 516.506.4253
Uniondale, NY

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