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.

Current Reports

Single-Family Rental Investment Trends Report Q3 2026

Arbor’s latest Single-Family Rental Investment Trends Report highlights how this commercial real estate sector performed resiliently in the face of adversity last quarter. Even as policy uncertainty created new headwinds, firm operating fundamentals drove SFR forward.

Articles

Build-to-Rent Activity Remained Elevated Amid Policy Uncertainty

Build-to-rent (BTR) development remained resilient in a complicated operating environment last quarter as production continued to normalize, according to newly released U.S. Census Bureau data. Despite political uncertainty, higher capital costs, and other headwinds, BTR maintained a historically high share of new single-family construction.

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Success Story: Large Multifamily
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Large Multifamily New Construction: $23.4M FHA 221(d)(4) Loan

192

Units

GA

Kingsland

2021

Year Built

Situation

Multifamily owner-operators with decades of experience in construction, acquisition and management were looking to develop a 192-unit, Class A apartment community in Kingsland, GA. Low vacancy rates and limited new supply in the market made it an opportune time to develop new market-rate housing in the market. The borrowers were looking for FHA financing to construct the property and transition to long-term permanent financing upon completion and stabilization.

Arbor Action

Arbor began the underwriting and loan application process in late 2019, with the expectation that the borrowers’ strong development experience and HUD knowledge would make them a good candidate for FHA financing with a 16-month construction timeline. The unexpected impacts of the pandemic posed challenges and disruption in the market, but the Arbor team worked diligently to ensure the borrowers would receive financing in a timely manner and stay on schedule.

Result

Due to Arbor’s experienced FHA team and the borrowers’ strong application, Arbor successfully secured a $23.4 million FHA 221(d)(4) loan to fund the construction of the property and transition to a 40-year term loan. The loan allowed the borrower to cover development costs and operate the property for stable rental income.