Articles

Larger Buildings and Smaller Units: How New Multifamily Completions Continue to Evolve

Driven by high construction costs, land constraints, and rental affordability, developers are increasingly prioritizing smaller units in higher-density multifamily properties. Utilizing data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s annual Survey of Construction, the research teams at Chandan Economics and Arbor Realty Trust have analyzed how the characteristics of new multifamily properties continue to evolve.

Finance

10 Items to Have on Hand for the Fastest Financing Possible

In today’s constantly evolving market environment, partnering with a lender that can balance prioritizing speed of execution with tailored solutions makes all the difference in securing the financing you need. Arbor’s experience, expertise, and innovation, combined with our willingness to understand each deal and work to make it successful, set us apart from other multifamily lenders. In our more than three decades of closing deals, we’ve found that having these 10 items on hand at the beginning of your borrowing journey helps prevent roadblocks and streamlines the entire financing process.

Articles

Markets Where the Share of Renters is Highest

The U.S. housing market reflects a patchwork of local needs, preferences, and geographies, creating distinct storylines. Across the country, many significant shifts have occurred over the last five years, an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data shows. More expensive housing markets tend to support higher percentages of rental households, and in fast-growing metros, rentals have become a highly effective and flexible way to house new residents.

Articles

SFR Investing: A Guide to Seizing the Sector’s Momentum

Single-family rental (SFR) investing is surging as this asset class outperforms. With homeownership less attainable and lifestyle renting more popular, the sector’s tailwinds bode well for long-term growth. If you are new to this space, our guide has answers to commonly asked questions.

Current Reports

Single-Family Rental Investment Trends Report Q2 2025

Bolstered by robust build-to-rent (BTR) activity, the single-family rental (SFR) sector continued to display strength even as the residential housing market moderated. Arbor’s Single-Family Rental Investment Trends Report Q2 2025, developed in partnership with Chandan Economics, provides original research and analysis of key performance metrics for investors to take a closer look at a sector on the rise.

Analysis

Small Multifamily Investment Snapshot — June 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.

General: 800.ARBOR.10

Home | Originations Team | Brian Scharf

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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