Multifamily starts forecast continues to rise
Revisions to Fannie Mae’s housing forecast in May call for more multifamily starts across the entire forecast horizon than in last month’s forecast. Fannie Mae is now predicting 371,000 starts in 2025 with 396,000...
EPA drops ESPM: prepare for the worst
Many of you have likely seen recent news reports from early May 2025 indicating that the ENERGY STAR program is facing elimination as part of a broader EPA reorganization. The reports are confirmed. This...
EPA drops ESPM: hope for the best
While concerns about the potential elimination or privatization of ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager (ESPM) are understandable, the possible transition away from ESPM could, in fact, present opportunities for innovation, competition, and improved data management.
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A sense of optimism at the MBA
The following is excerpted from remarks prepared for delivery by the Mortgage Bankers Association’s President and CEO Bob Broeksmit, CMB, at the 2025 Secondary and Capital Markets Conference:
My message today is simple. I’m going...
Multifamily mortgage originations up sharply in Q1
A report from the Mortgage Bankers’ Association (MBA) says that multifamily mortgage originations were up 39 percent year-over-year in Q1. Originations of all commercial mortgages as a single asset class rose 42 percent year-over-year.
Commercial...
Multifamily construction activity falls in April
The Census Bureau’s report on new residential construction stated that multifamily permits declined again after last month’s bump. Multifamily starts rose for the third consecutive month. Multifamily completions continued their slide which started last...
Markets that reached supply summits earlier and at more modest levels are now seeing...
In evaluating rent performance among major apartment markets, two key factors emerge: the timing of peak supply and the scale of new inventory at that peak. Data from RealPage Analytics suggests markets...
Construction materials prices rise moderately despite copper wire price jump
The producer price index (PPI) report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) stated that construction materials prices rose 0.3 percent month-over-month in April on a seasonally adjusted basis. The index of components and...
Berkadia Student Housing Achieves Remarkable Transaction Volume in First Quarter 2025
Berkadia announced that its Student Housing platform had a successful first quarter with significant transaction activity nationwide. The platform transacted on a total of 11,094 beds, showcasing robust investment sales and mortgage banking activity...
Teams from the University of California Berkeley, University of Kansas and Yale University Named...
The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA) is pleased to announce that four graduate student teams have been selected as finalists of the 2025 Innovation in Affordable Housing Student Design and Planning Competition....
WNC & Associates Closes $228M Affordable Housing Fund Across 17 States
WNC & Associates (WNC), a family-owned business known as both a pioneer and leader in the affordable housing industry, has closed WNC Institutional Tax Credit Fund 57, L.P. (Fund 57), a $228MM fund which...
CBRE reports CRE investment up 14 percent in Q1
A recent report from CBRE says that both commercial mortgage investment volume and momentum rose in Q1. Volume grew to $88 billion, while momentum rose 13 percent compared to their year-earlier levels.
Dividing the market
CBRE...
Grace Hill Announces Strategic Acquisition of HelloData
Grace Hill, a leading provider of technology-enabled performance solutions for the real estate industry, announced the acquisition of HelloData, the leader in AI-driven market analysis solutions for multifamily owners and operators.
The multifamily industry is...
Redfin: April rents up for month but down for year
Redfin’s rent report for April says that the national median asking apartment rent rose 0.9 percent for the month to reach a level of $1,625. However, the median rent growth was -1.0 percent year-over-year.
Varying...
Update: Rent control advances in Washington, stalls in California
Update May 12, 2025: Governor Bob Ferguson (D) has signed the Washington state rent control bill. Its provisions take effect immediately.
The St Paul city council has passed changes to its rent control ordinance that...
