The multifamily market is entering the time of year when rent growth typically occurs and there is no indication of any slowing in the market, according to Yardi Matrix’s latest report.
“Our latest multifamily national report presents a $2 rise in average U.S. rents in February and year-over-year growth of 3.6% as evidence of the sector’s continuing strength,” the company says in the report.
“Our February survey of 127 major U.S. real estate markets shows that demand, bolstered by a strong job market, shows no signs of slowing. Rents averaged $1,426 for the month.
“The market has strength to perform well for a while, even if the economy or other commercial real estate segments slow down,” the report says. “Occupancy rates have ticked down slightly, but absorption has been no problem.”
Phoenix takes over the top spot in rent growth
- Rent growth has steadily increased since bottoming at 2.2% in the fall of 2017. The consistent growth is a sign of the strength of the sector’s fundamentals and an indication that the cycle has a ways to run.
- Phoenix (8.0%) has taken over the top spot in the rankings, edging out the former leader, Las Vegas (7.9%). Sacramento, Atlanta and the Inland Empire also have year-over-year growth topping 5.0%. Portland, Kansas City and Houston are the only metros below 2.0% growth year-over-year.
Multifamily continues to perform well despite a long market run
Demand has shown no signs of slowing, as the job market has remained very strong, with unemployment below 4% and wage growth accelerating to more than 3%, the report says.
Metros with strong population gains and healthy job growth have benefited the most from the demand picture. Phoenix and Las Vegas are well above the rest, with growth dominated by Southwest and West Coast markets. Other top rent-growth markets—such as Sacramento and the Inland Empire—are near the top due to the combination of robust demand and weak supply growth.
With the marketing entering the rent growth phase, all signs point to this year being no different.
Home purchases increased as some millennials start buying single-family homes
It is notable that the homeownership rate has climbed over the past year to 64.8% in the fourth quarter of 2018, from 64.2% a year earlier.
The most significant change came from 35-to-44- year-olds, whose homeownership rose 220 basis points year-over-year to 61.1% in fourth quarter of 2018.
“What’s interesting about this is that it could portend social change heralded by some analysts, who have forecast that millennials were merely delaying— not shelving—marriage and family. In this scenario, older millennials will increasingly settle down in the suburbs, have children and seek to re-create the picket-fence lifestyle of their parents. If that’s correct, there could be a weakening of demand for urban apartments, since these households will give up the more amenity-rich cities and inner-ring suburbs in favor of better schools and more privacy.
“Could this be the start of a longer-term trend? Possibly. The data would have to change more significantly and for a longer period of time before we can make any pronouncements with certainty,” the report says.
View the full Yardi Matrix multifamily national report for February 2019 for additional detail and insight into 127 major markets.
Yardi Matrix is the industry’s most comprehensive business development and asset management tool for investment professionals, equity investors, lenders and property managers who underwrite and manage real estate investments in multifamily, industrial, office and self storage. Email matrix@yardi.com, call 480-663-1149 or visit yardimatrix.com to learn more.
About Yardi
Yardi® develops and supports industry-leading investment and property management software for all types and sizes of real estate companies. Established in 1984, Yardi is based in Santa Barbara, Calif., and serves clients worldwide. For more information on how Yardi is Energized for Tomorrow, visit yardi.com.
