Exploring the Success of Multifamily Housing in Today's Real Estate Market
We’re excited to welcome you to the latest edition of the Magnify Monthly Real Estate Newsletter. We’ve got a fresh batch of the latest real estate news and industry updates to keep you informed and ready to make smart investment choices.
The Multifamily Real Estate Market:
So, here’s the scoop: Multifamily housing is doing quite well. In August, both rents and occupancy rates remained stable. The average rent in the U.S. inched up by just a dollar to $1,728, but compared to the previous year, the growth slowed to 1.5%, which is 20 basis points lower than July. One of the key factors affecting rent growth in different cities is the supply of new housing. Places like New York, Chicago, Indianapolis, and San Diego are seeing higher rent growth because they don’t have a lot of new housing coming onto the market. The good news is that the U.S. economy is doing better than expected, which supports the demand for multifamily housing. In August, asking rents in the U.S. increased slightly, and occupancy rates remained strong at 95.0%. The GDP grew by 2.1% in the second quarter, and the job market is thriving. Over the past year, the economy added a whopping 3.1 million jobs, and the unemployment rate is at an impressively low 3.8% as of August. All of this translates into more households forming and, consequently, a higher demand for apartments.
Up until July, about 190,000 multifamily units have been taken up in the U.S., according to Matrix data. While this falls behind the record-breaking pace of nearly 600,000 in 2021, it’s still considered healthy. In 2023, Washington, D.C., Phoenix, Miami, Chicago, and Denver led the way in terms of the absolute number of units absorbed among the top 30 Matrix metros. But when we look at absorption as a percentage of available housing stock, Charlotte, Tampa, and Nashville are the standout performers so far this year. Now, let’s talk about the challenges. There are some headwinds facing the multifamily market. Property expenses, particularly insurance costs, are rising rapidly. Inflation is still quite high, and there’s talk of the Federal Reserve possibly increasing interest rates further. This could create some issues for property owners, especially when they need to refinance their low-rate mortgages. Plus, higher interest rates might put a damper on economic growth.
Now, for the investors out there eyeing multifamily properties, here’s the lowdown: The market is generally favorable, but keep a close eye on those rising expenses and potential interest rate hikes. These factors could affect the returns on your investment. So, it’s a good idea to stay informed and make strategic decisions based on the evolving economic landscape.
