- U.S. rents were up 5 percent annually in August, slowing from the 6-plus percent increases reported for the majority of the year.
- Washington D.C. and Baltimore annual rent growth reached 3.6 percent and 3.2 percent, respectively, in August.
- Completions in Washington D.C. made up 3.6 percent of the total stock of new homes, with 17,800 new units forecasted by the end of 2016.
The Yardi Matrix U.S. Multifamily Outlook for fall 2016 found that national rent growth has continued but slowed, while a couple bursts of job growth has helped propel the market forward.
Covering 110 markets throughout the nation, the Yardi Matrix report has detailed ownership, construction and loan data from 65,000 multifamily properties. Although forecasters predicted a more active year for economic growth, 2016 rents increased strongly in August, at 5 percent year-over-year. However, trends are slowing, as growth surpassed 6 percent for the majority of last year.
Construction was also strong, the report shows. In 2016 360,000 units are set to be delivered– a 45 percent increase over the previous year. The majority of markets are reporting quick absorption of new housing stock, but some, such as Houston, are struggling to keep up the pace.
This new stock could also be having an impact on the slowing of rent growth. Nationally, multifamily rents were down 50 basis points month-over-month in August and 170 basis points from the last peak, which was in October 2015.
Some markets are still seeing growth in big figures. Sacramento saw year-over-year rent growth in August 2016 at 11.9 percent, and its 2016 rent forecast is 10.1 percent. And while Sacramento is leading in forecasted rent growth, Tacoma saw the biggest annual jump in August, at 12.7 percent.
Most markets are going to continue to trend in a positive direction, as millennials and baby boomers continue to fuel the rental economy. Occupancy rates reached near all-time highs of 95.9 percent in July, but this figure is expected to cool a bit as new supply continues to be delivered.
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Washington D.C. and Baltimore both had reported moderate growth in August, the report shows, with annual rises of 3.6 percent and 3.9 percent, respectively. Both are on a similar pace for the rest of the year, with a reported 2.8 percent and 2.4 percent year-end growth for Baltimore and D.C.
Washington D.C. was near the top of the list for new construction in August, just below Houston and Dallas. Completions made up 3.6 percent of the total stock of new homes, and by the end of 2016, the Yardi forecast is for 17,800 new units.
By the end of the year, Yardi predicts 3,887 new units to be delivered in Baltimore. A total of 1.9 percent of its stock was new inventory in August.
New home construction in the U.S. is still chugging along with strong figures, the report shows. Housing starts reached an annualized rate of 1.2 million units in July. Of the forecasted 360,000 new multifamily units expected to be delivered in total this year, 162,000 units have been completed.
And while occupancy rates are expected to be impacted by this large delivery, rent rates may not budge much. Builders continue to lean toward high-end lifestyle renters, Yardi says, making it more challenging for the renter-by-necessity to find an affordable place.
