05/13/2025
The multifamily sector is experiencing a significant upswing, with investment volumes rising by 33% year-over-year to $28.8 billion in Q1 2025—the highest first-quarter total since 2022. This surge marks the multifamily sector as the leading asset class in commercial real estate investment for the quarter.
A notable factor contributing to this growth is the sharp decline in the national vacancy rate, which dropped to 4.8%—the largest first-quarter decrease on record. Net absorption reached 100,600 units, the highest quarterly figure since 2000, while new completions fell to 71,000 units, down from 120,000 in the previous quarter. This indicates that demand is outpacing supply, a trend expected to continue as construction slows.
With vacancy rates stabilizing across all asset classes and rent growth beginning to accelerate, the multifamily sector appears poised for sustained growth in the coming quarters.
It may take several more quarters of demand exceeding supply before multifamily rent growth accelerates.