Current Reports

Affordable Housing Trends Report 2026

Arbor Realty Trust’s Affordable Housing Trends Report, developed in partnership with Chandan Economics, explores a year marked by one of the most significant policy shifts in decades, with consequential developments in both the marketplace and the political arena. Our annual report finds that although affordability continues to present challenges, this year’s new initiatives are set to rebuild tomorrow’s pipeline.

Articles

HUD Expands FHA Financing Eligibility to Qualifying BTR Projects

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently announced a significant policy change that expands Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage insurance eligibility to qualifying build-to-rent (BTR) communities. Effective immediately, professionally managed rental developments consisting of detached single-family homes, duplexes, and triplexes are eligible for FHA-insured financing under the same general framework as traditional multifamily properties.

Articles

Financing a Build-to-Rent Community Through Construction, Lease-Up, and Stabilization

Single-family rentals (SFR) now house 41% of the U.S. renter population, according to Rentometer Mid-Year Report 2025: National Trends in Single-Family Rental Markets. Arbor provides investors with short-term and long-term SFR financing to meet this growing demand. Whether a sponsor is developing a build-to-rent (BTR) community, holding an SFR portfolio long-term, or acquiring assets to rehab, Arbor finances build-to-rent (BTR) communities across construction, lease-up, and stabilization under one lender relationship, backed by the strength of an $802 million BTR collateralized loan obligation Arbor closed in May 2025.

Articles

Why Top Multifamily Lenders Practice Disciplined Underwriting

Every multifamily lender says it underwrites conservatively, but few follow a truly disciplined approach. Arbor Realty Trust’s own record is a case in point, with 19 consecutive years in the Top 10 Fannie Mae Multifamily DUS Lenders, a top-three ranking in Freddie Mac’s Conventional Small program, and an upgraded Commercial Special Servicer rating from Fitch Ratings in January 2026.

Investment

Special Report Fall 2026

Arbor Realty Trust’s Special Report Fall 2026, developed in partnership with Chandan Economics, leverages data-driven research to detail the state of the rental housing market. Amid headwinds, multifamily remained resilient in a selective investment environment favoring disciplined underwriting and market selection. Attractive entry points for well-positioned investors continue to populate the road ahead.

Analysis

U.S. Multifamily Market Snapshot — September 2026

The U.S. multifamily market remains on stable footing in a mixed macroeconomic climate. Rent growth continued to trend upward through the second quarter, while apartment fundamentals remained resilient amid slowing employment growth and elevated vacancies.

Current Reports

Single-Family Rental Investment Trends Report Q3 2026

Arbor’s latest Single-Family Rental Investment Trends Report highlights how this commercial real estate sector performed resiliently in the face of adversity last quarter. Even as policy uncertainty created new headwinds, firm operating fundamentals drove SFR forward.

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 national 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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