Leasing Activity

Demand for all forms of housing has been on the rise in recent years, a trend that is expected to continue in 2022. One segment of the market that is attracting significant attention is single-family/build-to-rent (SFR/BTR), as a series of economic and demographic shifts increase the attractiveness of an alternative to traditional apartments. Developers are ramping up activity on thousands of new units, particularly in the high-growth southern U.S. markets. Dozens of projects totaling more than $1.5 billion sold in 2021. Meanwhile, billions of dollars of debt and equity capital continue to move into this increasingly attractive investment class. Northmarq’s National Multifamily 2022 Outlook covers the record-setting momentum that multifamily properties across the United States saw last year and projects what the market may see in 2022. Northmarq’s full report is available here (with further rundowns on factors like the overall economy, rent trends, the investment market and financing climate). Their analysis on the SFR/BTR market below breaks down the trends and opportunities for growth in this burgeoning sector. Reasons for Growth Several factors are prompting the development of SFR/BTR. A primary influence is the changing mix of renters; today’s renters are generally older and more affluent than in the past. These …