Economy

Multifamily Forecasts Converge toward Optimism As we move further from the uncertainty and rent growth stagnation of 2023, an increasing number of sources are finding room for optimism in the multifamily investment market. A looming drop-off in multifamily supply, the consequence of a interest-rate-driven decline in new construction projects, has become a central part of…

Apartment Fundamentals Are Improving The apartment market is improving markedly from a renter’s perspective, and there are promising signs of long-term apartment market strength from an investor’s perspective as well. For renters, lower rent-to-income levels indicate that apartments are becoming increasingly affordable as wages outpace rents, and the increased apartment supply should continue this trend.…

Could Multifamily Crash? Really? This month’s inflation report came in slightly higher than expected, causing some worry that the much-anticipated interest rate cuts from the Fed may not arrive as quickly as previously thought. A “higher for longer” environment is one reason why some are pessimistic about multifamily in 2024, but there is little evidence…

Multifamily Investment Picture Keeps Improving Compared to the prevailing uncertainties of 2023, a better view of the multifamily market and its driving forces points to increased investment activity as the year progresses. Significant challenges remain for apartment operators in 2024, but greater clarity on apartment construction, interest rates, housing demand, and the economy, alongside pent-up…

Are We Underestimating Apartment Demand? The enormous amount of apartment supply expected this year should temper any expectations of apartment demand, but newly-published research on the topic argues that U.S. housing needs are far larger than can be addressed even with the historic amount of multifamily completions last year and forecasted for this year. On…