Research Sources

Arbor Realty Trust’s research articles and reports, developed in partnership with Chandan Economics, refer to and cite credible third-party sources, including: American Real Estate Society CoStar Fannie Mae Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank of New York Federal Reserve Board FINSIGHT Freddie Mac Moody’s CRE Morningstar DBRS MSCI Real Capital Analytics Nareit National Apartment Association National Association of Home Builders National Low Income Housing Coalition National Multifamily Home Council Novogradac Trepp U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Census Bureau U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Zillow

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.

General: 800.ARBOR.10

Research Reports

Top Markets for Multifamily Investment

from Arbor & Chandan Economics

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Arbor’s Top Markets for Multifamily Investment series provides a cross-market performance comparison of the top 50 metros in the U.S. Published annually, these reports reveal the leading metros in the U.S. for large multifamily investment in categories such as population growth, labor market performance, and renter demographics.

Large Multifamily Investment Archives

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Top Markets for Multifamily Investment Report Spring 2026

Spring 2026 data analysis of 50 largest U.S metropolitan areas pinpoints the most attractive locations for investment.
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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.
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Top Markets for Multifamily Investment Report Spring 2025

Even as macroeconomic uncertainties persist nationally, many large metropolitan markets have made positive gains this year.
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Top Markets for Multifamily Investment Report 2024

In an otherwise uneven economic environment, multifamily real estate and other investment classes adept at absorbing inflationary pressures have outperformed the rest.
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Top Markets for Large Multifamily Investment Report 2023

With elevated interest rates and volatility becoming the new normal, the risk vs. opportunity assessments of individual markets have shifted as domestic migration and insurance market corrections have changed the calculus.
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2021 Top Markets for Large Multifamily Investment Report

An annual cross-market comparison of the top 50 U.S. metros for large multifamily investment that offers a look at potential hotspots for investment.
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