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.

Analysis

U.S. Multifamily Market Snapshot — August 2025

The U.S. multifamily market stood on the cusp of a new cycle at the halfway point of 2025, as demand continued to be driven by favorable demographic trends and a structural need for housing.

Articles

Small Multifamily Continues Steady Price Growth

Small multifamily valuations realized positive year-over-year growth in the second quarter of 2025, demonstrating the sector’s ongoing resilience in an unsettled economic environment. Steady rent growth, improving operating expense ratios, and stable cap rates helped move price growth into positive territory.

Articles

Metro-Level SFR Rent Growth Trends in the First Half of 2025

Albany, NY, and many other affordable mid-sized metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) outpaced the national rent growth average for single-family rental (SFR) properties in the first half of 2025, according to an analysis of Zillow’s Observed Rent Index, which tracks the 100 largest markets in the U.S.

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.

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John G. Caulfield

Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Agency Lending
Head shot of John G. Caulfield Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Agency Lending

John Caulfield is Arbor’s Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Agency Lending. Mr. Caulfield has extensive experience in the mortgage financing industry and a tenured track record of more than three decades with Arbor and its family of companies.

As Arbor’s COO, he has helped develop a unique sales and operations model that has supported Arbor’s growth into a leading multifamily finance company. His responsibilities include managing the national sales team as well as the operational infrastructure that supports the firms’ Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA and CMBS originations and servicing platforms. Mr. Caulfield oversees the end-to-end life of a loan process, from originations to screening through servicing. In addition, he oversees Arbor’s capital markets division. He is a member of Arbor’s DUS® Loan Committee and Arbor’s Executive Committee.

Mr. Caulfield graduated from State University of New York with a Bachelor of Science in Finance.

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