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.

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.

General: 800.ARBOR.10

Single-Family Rental Investment Trends Report Q3 2024

SFR Construction Hits Another All-Time High as Structured Capital Markets Rebound

The single-family rental (SFR) sector’s performance surged again last quarter, demonstrating its ability to thrive in all economic cycles. SFR construction continued its record-breaking ascent as CMBS activity blossomed. Arbor’s Single-Family Rental Investment Trends Report Q3 2024, developed in partnership with Chandan Economics, examines the sector’s fundamentals as would-be homeowners weigh the rent-vs-buy calculation.

 

Key Findings:

  • SFR/BTR construction starts surged to another new record high.
  • SFR CMBS activity in 2024 is on pace to triple last year’s total.
  • Cap rates rose to their highest point in more than six years as rent growth
    remained healthy.