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Matt Maison, vice president of research for Arbor Realty Trust
AcquisitionsArbor Realty TrustContent PartnerFeaturesMidwestMultifamilyNortheastSoutheastTexasWestern

Multifamily Opportunity Matrix Reveals Most Promising Markets for Investors, Developers

by Sarah Daniels

By Arbor Realty Trust Inflationary environments set many investors’ minds to thinking about multifamily properties, which have tended to perform as well or better than other property types in the face of economic headwinds. Product type is no guarantee of success, however, and careful site selection is essential to ensure a project will have the renter demand and pricing power the owner needs to succeed. Arbor Realty Trust, in partnership with Chandan Economics, developed the opportunity matrix featured in Arbor’s Top Opportunities in Large Multifamily Investment Report 2022. The opportunity matrix helps clients navigate the nation’s apartment markets, enabling them to compare relative strengths from one metro to the next and identify those offering the greatest potential for development or investment. Its ranking system, which analyzes eight key categories, found the top three U.S. metro markets for large multifamily investment in 2022 are San Antonio, Kansas City and Las Vegas. “Reviewing what made these communities rise to the top of our 50-metro ranking will demonstrate how investors can use the matrix to compare the climates of opportunity in the markets in which they operate, or to suggest new fields of opportunity for their next venture,” said Matt Maison, vice president …

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Content PartnerFeaturesMidwestMultifamilyNortheastPavlov MediaSoutheastTexasWestern

Multifamily Fiber Networks Must Be Dedicated, Resilient to Serve Increased Resident Demand

by Sarah Daniels

Fiber networks built with multifamily properties in mind offer network resilience while maximizing ROI for owners and operators. Well-constructed fiber networks are at the heart of meeting and exceeding residents’ growing Internet needs, especially when work-from-home culture and the constant need for online connection have made Internet slowdowns and downtime unacceptable for end users. Fiber can also strengthen connectivity across multifamily properties, shoring up the Wi-Fi services residents have come to know and on which they’ve come to depend. How does a national fiber network integrate with multifamily properties? By focusing just on the needs of the multi-dwelling unit (MDU). “Instead of building out 200-mile routes of duct and fiber, we build out ‘miracle miles’ in densely populated MDU areas. From that point, we’re able to easily grow or expand out from that area,” says Michael O’Linc, president of fiber services & campus communications at Pavlov Media. O’Linc stresses the importance of a more planned, methodical approach for MDUs. A network that serves multifamily buildings must be a network focused on backups and fail safes. The “miracle mile” method creates a main line with laterals — creating a ring shape as it expands. This approach to fiber makes networks easier to …

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Construction Site
BohlerContent PartnerDevelopmentFeaturesMidwestNortheastSoutheastTexasWestern

Prep for Success: Site Civil Engineering Design Streamlines Construction, Avoids Snags

by Sarah Daniels

Can you dig it? Possibly, but site civil engineers can help determine if construction can rock on without running into rocky situations. Thorough site civil due diligence is the foundation for developing a project with minimal delays. Keeping land development projects moving forward — especially during construction — requires highly informed due diligence processes and expertise when it comes to approvals and plans. Site civil engineering design with constructability in mind can support general contractors while streamlining the overall bidding and construction process. But what are best practices when it comes to ensuring a successful project? REBusinessOnline spoke to two experts who specialize in high-quality construction documents: Benjamin Plumb, P.E. project manager, and Keith Simpson, director of engineering, work for Bohler, a land development consulting and technical design company. You Never Know What You’ll Find Before You Dig — However, These Tips Can Help Uncertainty is part of any development project, but Simpson outlines two scenarios that make up the majority of the challenges he sees: 1. Existing underground utilities that are not reflected in plans. 2. Soils that differ from what was expected from the geotechnical report. In some cases, slowdowns are unavoidable and will cause delays, but due diligence can …

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Dana Wade LIHTC Walker Dunlop
Affordable HousingContent PartnerDevelopmentFeaturesLoansMidwestNortheastSoutheastTexasWalker & DunlopWestern

Shortage of Tax Credits, Higher Interest Rates Plague Affordable Housing

by Sarah Daniels

Forty-year-high inflation rates that are outpacing wage growth and eating away at personal income are exacerbating already outsized resident demand for affordable housing financed by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. But it seems that obstacles to supplying new units to meet that demand are only multiplying. Those range from a shortage of housing tax credits needed to fund new supply to resistance to multifamily development at the local level. Meanwhile, higher mortgage rates are making home buying more difficult and expensive. In turn, that is creating more apartment renters, thereby putting upward pressure on rental rates. In September, for example, the average monthly rent price nationwide hit $1,759, an increase of 7.8 percent from the prior year, according to Realtor.com’s monthly rental report. That’s also nearly 25 percent higher than September 2019, the organization reports. What’s more, from 2015 through 2020  — long before mortgage rates spiked — the U.S. lost 4.7 million apartment units with rents less than $1,000 per month, according to U.S. Apartment Demand Through 2035, a report by the National Multifamily Housing Council and National Apartment Association. “Demand for affordable units is only going to become more acute between now and the end of …

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Aaron Hargrove Walker Dunlop Affordable Housing
Affordable HousingContent PartnerFeaturesLeasing ActivityLoansMidwestMultifamilyNortheastSoutheastTexasWalker & DunlopWestern

Walker & Dunlop: Affordable Housing’s Appeal Grows for Investors

by Sarah Daniels

With transaction volume for market-rate housing beginning to ebb, affordable housing investment is poised to play a more central role in the months ahead. Several factors have broadened the allure of affordable housing as an investment vehicle in recent years. When the pandemic began taking a toll on market-rate housing performance, investors saw federal, state and even local governments enact measures to help residents at affordable communities maintain their rent payments and help ensure housing remained available for people struggling financially. We saw the interest level in Section 8 properties, for example, increase significantly during the pandemic, due chiefly to federal guarantees backing those rent streams. From a financing perspective, the strong commitment shown by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Administration to preserve liquidity for affordable housing has bolstered development and investment in the space. Due to the required hold periods, affordable housing investments are less affected by market cycles, so liquidity should remain strong. Now, changing economic forces promise to drive new equity to the affordable sphere and fuel further investment. The Federal Open Market Committee’s resolve to combat record inflation is exerting upward pressure on mortgage rates and, eventually, cap rates, which could discourage sellers …

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Walker Dunlop Private Lending SBL
AcquisitionsContent PartnerDevelopmentFeaturesLoansMidwestMultifamilyNortheastSoutheastTexasWalker & DunlopWestern

Walker & Dunlop: Small Balance Lending Presents New Financing Option for Turbulent Market

by Sarah Daniels

Following a similar move in June and July, the Fed implemented its third consecutive interest rate hike of 75 basis points in mid-September. This is the biggest three-month interest rate swing since 1994. What does this all mean for investors in the small balance lending (SBL) segment of the multifamily sector? The combination of rising interest rates, inflation and market uncertainty tempts borrowers to sit on the sidelines until conditions improve. Turbulent markets also limit financing options, as many lenders and capital sources tend to become cautious and pull back. But the need for capital transcends market cycles and seasoned multifamily investors know that rate hikes are nothing new. We’ve been here before with interest rates of nearly 7 percent in the 2000s and a record high of nearly 20 percent in the 1980s. The business of real estate investing never stops. New acquisition opportunities arise as distressed owners are forced to sell, cap rates settle to more conservative levels and the market shifts in the buyer’s favor.  All things considered, now is the time to seek new investment opportunities. In fact, Warren Buffett once offered the timeless advice that it is wise for investors to be “fearful when others …

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Bayer Headquarters at 67 Whippany Rd Whippany, NJ
BohlerContent PartnerDevelopmentFeaturesLife SciencesMidwestNortheastOfficeSoutheastTexasWestern

Life Sciences Developer Checklist: Processes to Accelerate Speed to Market

by Sarah Daniels

Combinations of offices with laboratories, research and development spaces and/or manufacturing areas make life sciences facilities highly customizable. These multipurpose, technical spaces are in high demand from companies seeking first-class facilities for research-based advancements. Low vacancies, high rents and the chance to convert unused office or retail spaces on a faster timeline have prompted some creative approaches to retrofit existing space to fulfill the needs of science and technology tenants. In other instances, facilities must be built from the ground up to conform to best practices. But what factors matter most to the life sciences field? And how can developers increase their speed to market? Read on for tips and checklists for developers hoping to speed up the process of building or retrofitting these facilities. Industry Drivers: Speed to Market and Flexibility Office conversions into life sciences facilities offer a variety of options. Life sciences facilities often do not need to accommodate large trucks (eliminating circulation and loading dock concerns), they use office components and (most importantly) office conversions offer faster speed to market than other types of conversions. “Speed to market is most important for these developers/tenants. There is a shortage of space, so a well-designed, spec building will …

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NAI property management Elizabeth Barnes
Content PartnerFeaturesLeasing ActivityMidwestNAINortheastOfficeRetailSoutheastTexasWestern

Property Management Post-COVID? It’s All About Taking Care of the Client

by Sarah Daniels

Elizabeth Barnes, COO of NAI Plotkin, knows property management is always a labor- and people-intensive profession, no matter the day or time of year. In that regard, the pandemic did not change the best practices for the Springfield, Mass.-based full-service brokerage and management company. “The number-one best practice has always been — and remains to this day — to manage the property as if you own it, with the awareness that you don’t,” Barnes says. Treat the Asset as Your Own For Barnes, this means focusing on the asset’s value at all times. “Common area maintenance (CAM) reconciliation, capital planning, value engineering options — they need to be front and center,” she continues. “It’s not just about cutting expenses. Look at how you can add value or reduce upfront costs.” All this should be done, she states, with the owner’s goals for the property in mind. Those goals may differ based on whether the owner is, for example, looking to divest the asset. Or if the tenant’s space has gone dark. Or if a pandemic is occurring. “There is a definite focus on health and safety now, regardless of the product type,” Barnes says. “Many owners wanted HVAC and air-handling …

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Multifamily Operators Streamline Internet Rader
Content PartnerFeaturesLeasing ActivityMidwestMultifamilyNortheastPavlov MediaSoutheastTexasWestern

Multifamily Operators Streamline Connectivity with Bulk Internet Access

by Sarah Daniels

The landscape of multifamily Internet access is changing rapidly, driven by evolving resident expectations. No longer merely a utility, reliable Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections are essential for attracting and retaining residents, along with cutting operation costs. Expanding connectivity needs, work-from-home (WFH) culture and growing interest in smart-home applications are all driving residents’ Internet requirements. The centrality of Internet access for multifamily residents was inevitable in the long run, according to Bryan Rader, president of Multi-Dwelling Units (MDU) at Pavlov Media. COVID lockdowns accelerated an already burgeoning trend: bulk-managed Internet designed to improve connections and simplify growing demand. Bulk-managed connectivity offers a variety of solutions for on-site managers, residents and owners, as well as cost savings in unexpected areas. This approach provides building-wide Internet connections through a single provider, rather than asking residents to sign up individually with one of several Internet providers. The bulk Internet management company may also install and manage the building’s connection infrastructure. The simplicity of bulk-managed Internet (which started as bulk-managed Wi-Fi in student housing) is becoming increasingly practical for multifamily buildings. In the last four or five years, the traditional multifamily industry is starting to follow the same model that became standard in student housing …

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Multifamily Rent Growth Hugh Cobb Asset Living
Content PartnerDevelopmentFeaturesLeasing ActivityMidwestMultifamilyNortheastSoutheastTexasWestern

Asset Living: What’s Fueling Apartment Rent Growth?

by Sarah Daniels

As the commercial real estate market adjusts to how much of an effect higher interest rates will have on investment sales and property values, the rental housing sector continues to witness robust resident demand and rent growth as home ownership has become even more difficult for first-time buyers. According to a recent report by the National Multifamily Council (NMHC) and the National Apartment Association (NAA), by 2035 the U.S. needs to build 4.3 million new residential rentals to meet housing needs amid shifting demographics, the existing shortage and the loss of 4.7 million affordable units with monthly rental rates of $1,000 or less, the organizations report. “We’re just not seeing enough new apartments being built, and as a result, we’re seeing significant demand in the rental housing market,” says Hugh Cobb, a principal of Asset Living, one of the nation’s largest property managers of multifamily, affordable, student, active adult, single-family rentals and build-to-rent housing. “Because we’re seeing a decrease in demand in the single-family sales market due to higher mortgage rates, people are staying in apartments longer. And as their families grow, they’re looking for alternative rental housing, such as the build-to-rent space,” says Hugh Cobb. “Through our proprietary data …

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