Multifamily

The Orlando multifamily market may have an appearance of being oversupplied and on shaky ground, but it is actually thriving and has a long runway for growth ahead. The Orlando MSA has an inventory of approximately 165,000 rental units and about 10,000 units under construction. While that new supply approaches historical high-water marks, the lack of inventory of entry-level, single-family homes and the complexion of the household formation leads us to the conclusion that we are undersupplied in the multifamily space. That being said, within the overall numbers there is likely an oversupply of Class A inventory and an undersupply of workforce housing. Vacancies are hovering in the 6 percent range and rent growth has slowed to around 3 percent after having stronger years. The undersupply of workforce housing is being exacerbated by the value-add business model being employed on most of the Class B and C buyers over the last five years, catapulting the average rents and straining the ability of the working-class to keep rent as a percentage of income at a healthy level. Overall, single-family homebuilding is at a 10-year high, but still well below the pre-recession days. Permits are also soaring, but the makeup of the …