Unless an 11th-hour agreement is reached, a Congressional impasse will trigger the first partial U.S. government shutdown in four years. Starting October 1, 2023, many non-essential federal government operations will be limited or suspended. Agency lending, however, will not be interrupted, and there is no cause for concern. Borrowers should anticipate some inconveniences, such as processing and closing delays.
From California to Maui, the frequency and scope of wildfire events are rising, causing insurance markets and public agencies to reevaluate property in areas at risk for catastrophic damage. As a result, rental housing providers are seeing greater limitations to coverage, higher premium prices, and, in some cases, a total absence of viable private insurance — a trend detailed in the NMHC 2023 State of Multifamily Risk Survey and Report. This troubling new trend has placed many rental housing operators in a bind where they must simultaneously contend with the declining availability and affordability of insurance options.
In the last three years, multifamily construction has reached levels not seen since the 1980s, supported, in part, by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans. If you are exploring the acquisition, refinancing, rehabilitation, or new construction of conventional multifamily, affordable housing, seniors housing, or a healthcare facility, consider FHA multifamily construction loans, a stable financing option with excellent terms and many other attractive advantages.
More than halfway through 2023, the single-family rental (SFR) sector continues to demonstrate why it deserves the attention of multifamily investors.
While the single-family rental (SFR) sector’s rent growth averages have retreated from record highs, structural tailwinds are keeping price growth positive — both nationally and in major SFR markets. In this research brief, Chandan Economics and Arbor Realty Trust analyze DBRS Morningstar data, which covers the top 20 MSAs by SFR activity, to discover the metropolitan areas where SFR rent growth is the hottest right now.
Fannie Mae recently announced that its Small Loan cap has increased from $6 million to $9 million for all loans committed as of August 22, 2023. Multifamily borrowers and lenders have praised the change to the Fannie Mae Small Loans program, which will encourage greater investment in a rapidly growing sector where demand remains high despite market volatility.
While macroeconomic headwinds may not recede soon, tenant dependability, the core strength of small multifamily, has proven to be a powerful antidote to financial market storms.
As Baby Boomers reach retirement age, their evolving geographic preferences are strengthening housing markets and local economies in new locations, which feature attractive climates, relative affordability, and ample outdoor activities. With swelling populations of senior citizens, our top five emerging metropolitan areas for retiree relocation are fertile ground for multifamily real estate investment.
While the impact of COVID-19 contributed to a 0.9% decline in small multifamily prices in the first quarter of 2020, they are still up 5.5% from a year ago.
Chandan Economics’ analysis noted that annualized first-quarter small multifamily loan value fell to $55.2 billion, representing a 6.7% decline in lending activity compared to last year. Yet the report provides reasons for reassurance. The dependability of underlying multifamily demand and the agencies’ commitment to providing programs that maintain market liquidity support the sector’s traditional resiliency. Even with the uncertainties caused by the coronavirus, multifamily is expected to outperform other sectors.
Download the full report, “Q1 2020 Small Multifamily Investment Trends Report,” for the latest updates covering the following:
