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Top Markets for Multifamily Building Permits

Multifamily permitting trends indicate continued national stability amid local recalibration. Across the country, issuances were steady, rising just 2.6% in 2025. At the metropolitan level, trends diverged sharply, with some markets accelerating and others pulling back. Per-capita leaders continued to cluster around high-growth Sun Belt and regional hubs, while year-over-year market-level fluctuations suggest that more pipelines have become increasingly selective and, in some cases, more concentrated in large-scale projects.

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Seven Facts About FHA Multifamily Loans

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA), a part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), is one of the largest mortgage insurers in the world. The agency insures mortgages on affordable housing, multifamily properties, single-family homes, and healthcare facilities. Since 1934,  FHA has financed over 50,000 multifamily mortgages nationwide. Whether you’re interested in acquiring, refinancing, or rehabilitating an affordable housing property, FHA multifamily loans are a financing route you need to know about.

FHA 232/223(f)

FHA® 232/223(f): Healthcare Refinance, Acquisition or Mod Rehab  

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Top States for Population Growth

Despite a national slowdown, population growth remained concentrated in a small group of states in 2025, where strong net domestic migration inflows, economic opportunity, and in some cases elevated birth rates drove the annual increases. Overall, 14 states had an annual population growth rate above 0.75%, while 12 states had less than 0.1%, according to a Chandan Economics analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey.

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Arbor’s Build-to-Rent Financing: 10 Reasons to Choose a Premier Lender

Build-to-rent (BTR), a compelling solution to the U.S. housing market’s evolving needs, is experiencing record growth. BTR accounted for 8% of all single-family rental (SFR) construction starts in the 12 months that ended in the first quarter of 2024, according to Arbor’s Single-Family Rental Investment Trends Report Q2 2024. As the need for quality rental units remains high, borrowers have much to gain from partnering with an experienced lender who specializes in build-to-rent financing.

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Nearly All Metros Post Positive Rent Gains

National rent growth in the single-family rental (SFR) sector remained strong and consistent in 2025 as market-level pricing momentum was broad-based and robust, according to an analysis of newly released data from the Zillow Observed Rent Index. Year-end annual rent gains averaged 2.9%, down from 4.1% in 2024, marking the most modest increase since 2015. But even as the intensity of SFR rent growth abated last year, its reach was extensive, with 98 of the 100 largest markets posting year-over-year gains.

General: 800.ARBOR.10

Top Markets for Multifamily Investment Report Fall 2025
As headwinds fade and transaction volume rises, market knowledge is a critical advantage to commercial real estate investors. The Arbor Realty Trust-Chandan Economics Multifamily Opportunity Matrix analyzed a wide range of factors within the 50 largest U.S. metros to assess market strength and durability. From maturing, dynamic metros to affordable, opportunity-rich markets, our biannual report is a roadmap to the top locations for capital deployment.


Key Findings:

  • Nashville, TN, is the most appealing metropolitan market for multifamily investing due to its robust labor market, strong performance fundamentals, business-friendly tax climate, and youthful population profile.
  • Six of the top 10 markets are in the Midwest, underscoring how the region’s blend of stability, affordability, and newfound economic dynamism is leading to multifamily success.
  • Strengthened by regional momentum and labor market diversification, Indianapolis, IN, and Columbus, OH, finished second and third, respectively.