Apartment Conditions Remain Below Par for 9th Straight Quarter

Apartment Conditions Remain Below Par

The average of apartment investment conditions tracked by the National Multi Housing Council’s quarterly survey have remained below the 50/50 better/worse level since January 2016. That coincided with the peak in national occupancy at 93% according to the Census Bureau.

The market tightness index has also been below 50 since January of 2016:

NMHC Apartment Market Tightness

The sales index has been below 50 since October 2016:

NMHC Apartment Sales Index Chart

Equity financing turned negative in January 2016 and then rebounded in the latest survey:

NMHC Apartment Equity Financing Availability

On the debt index, well debt is volatile:

NMHC Apartment Debt Financing

What we’re seeing: With occupancy still above its long term (30yr) average nationally the apartment market is late-ish in the cycle according to standard methodology … but your mileage could vary depending on the particular market. On the supply side peak deliveries have happened in many markets but there are a few still delivering more this year than last and at least one where the peak won’t happen until 2019 (if everything permitted gets started… and completed on time).

The other thing to keep in mind is that these are surveys* not hard data so we look at them as indications and unless most or all make major moves there’s probably more noise than signal. But we do keep an eye on them.

*Here are the five questions the NMHC asks:

Question #1: How are apartment market conditions in the local markets that you watch? “Tight” markets are defined as those with low vacancies and high rent increases. Conditions obviously vary greatly from place to place, but on balance, apartment market conditions in your markets today are: (tighter, looser, unchanged, na)
Question #2: What about sales of apartment properties in the local markets you watch? The sales volume (number of deals) currently is: (higher, lower, unchanged, na)
Question #3: What about equity financing for apartment acquisition or development? Considering both price and non-price terms, equity financing today is: (more available, less, unchanged, na)
Question #4: What about the conditions for multifamily mortgage borrowing? Considering both interest rates and non-rate terms, compared to three months ago: (better, worse, unchanged, na)
Question #5: In the markets you are familiar with, how does year-over-year rent growth in Class B and C apartments compare to that in Class A apartments?: (B&C much stronger, somewhat stronger, somewhat weaker, much weaker, about the same, na)

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