Analysis

Small Multifamily Investment Snapshot — March 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.

Articles

Top Markets for Rental Occupancy

Nationally, vacancies have risen, but the performance of rental housing is extremely localized. Out of the 75 largest U.S. metropolitan areas, the occupancy rate for all types of rental properties, including single-family rentals, 2-4 family, multifamily, and mobile homes, increased in 36 markets last year, while exceeding 95% in nearly one-third of all markets, according to an analysis of newly released U.S. Census Bureau data.[1] From Grand Rapids, MI, to Columbia, SC, the top markets for rental occupancy show where conditions are tightest and demand is strongest.

Current Reports

Single-Family Rental Investment Trends Report Q1 2025

Arbor’s Single-Family Rental Investment Trends Report Q1 2025, published in partnership with Chandan Economics, is an up-close look at the single-family rental (SFR) sector as it enters a period of normalcy after explosive pandemic-era growth. SFR maintains its balance with the support of a healthy set of fundamentals while capital markets rebound and rent growth moderates.

Articles

Small Multifamily Price Growth Trends Show Stabilization

Small multifamily price growth trends indicate a stabilization may be ready to take hold. Expanding on the findings of Arbor’s latest Small Multifamily Investment Trends Report, our research teams more closely examined valuations to determine if trends in pricing and other fundamentals are supporting a turnaround.

Articles

SFR Rent Growth: Top Markets and Leading Regions

Elevated mortgage interest rates and high home prices boosted demand for single-family rentals (SFR) last year, supporting the growth of rents in almost all of the 100 largest metropolitan areas. Pricing momentum, which averaged 4.5% nationally, was concentrated in affordable markets in the Northeast and Midwest, an analysis of Zillow’s Observed Rent Index data shows.

Articles

Build-to-Rent’s Robust Activity Settles into Stable Pattern

Increasingly, single-family rental (SFR) operators have been relying on build-to-rent (BTR) development to satisfy their inventory needs. The popularity of BTR communities made economies of scale possible for the SFR sector in the recovery after the 2007 housing crisis and continues to fill a housing need nationwide. Now, newly released U.S. Census Bureau data shows that SFR development activity remained robust even as its momentum slowed, moving the sector into a more stable equilibrium.

Articles

Advancing Sustainability in CRE Finance in a Shifting Landscape

With political headwinds reshaping the corporate responsibility landscape, commercial real estate (CRE) leaders, policymakers, and academics recently gathered in New York City for the NYU Stern Chen Institute for Global Real Estate Finance’s 3rd Annual Symposium on Innovation & Sustainable Real Estate to discuss the future of sustainable real estate finance, investment, operations, and technology. In a series of panel discussions, industry leaders offered their perspectives on how sustainability is evolving in a new political environment and why green policies still make business sense.

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Research Reports

Single-Family Rental Investment Trends

from Arbor & Chandan Economics
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Our quarterly Single-Family Rental Investment Trends series analyzes key developments in one of the multifamily market’s most rapidly growing sectors. Arbor’s SFR trends reports connect recent data points with expert analysis to detail the influence of recent trends in occupancy, rent growth, housing demand, and other areas driving investment in the SFR market.

Single-Family Rental Archives

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Single-Family Rental Investment Trends Report Q1 2025 Rent Growth Resumes Pre-Pandemic Patterns as CMBS Activity Climbs Key Findings SFR/BTR construction starts remain strong as growth patterns stabilize. SFR CMBS activity in 2024 rose nearly 200% compared to the prior year. Annual SFR rent growth stabilized near 4.4%. Table of Contents

SFR Construction Soars Amid Favorable Trends in Cap Rates and Debt Yields
SFR Construction Hits Another All-Time High as Structured Capital Markets Rebound
SFR Construction Soars as Rent Growth Remains Robust
More than halfway through 2023, the single-family rental (SFR) sector continues to demonstrate why it deserves the attention of multifamily investors.
More than halfway through 2023, the single-family rental (SFR) sector continues to demonstrate why it deserves the attention of multifamily investors.