Multifamily Operational Results
The national multifamily market remained remarkably stable during the week ending September 13, with occupancy continuing to track very closely to prior-year levels. Average U.S. occupancy was 94.56%, down just 2 basis points from the prior week and only 9 basis points below the same period last year. Leased occupancy declined modestly to 97.00%, trailing year-ago levels by 9 basis points. While occupancy has eased from its summer peak, the decline is consistent with normal seasonal patterns following the close of the primary leasing season. More importantly, both occupancy measures remain effectively in line with last year's performance.
Leasing activity continued its expected seasonal moderation. Properties averaged 2.3 new leases signed during the week, down from 2.5 the prior week and slightly below the 2.5 leases recorded during the same week last year. While demand softened modestly, leasing velocity remains significantly stronger than it was earlier in the year and continues to track close to historical norms.
Pricing remains the most encouraging trend in the data. Net Effective Rent (NER) increased 0.1% week over week to $1,781, while annual NER growth for new leases improved to -1.2%, narrowing from -1.5% the prior week. This marks the second consecutive week of improvement and suggests pricing pressure is gradually easing across the market. While rents remain below last year's levels, the direction of change has been consistently positive.
That national average, however, masks substantial differences across markets. Among the 28 markets tracked, annual rent growth ranged from +9.6% in San Francisco to -6.9% in San Antonio, creating a 16.5-point spread between the strongest and weakest performers. Notably, several markets, including Austin, Denver, Miami, Phoenix, Portland, Riverside, Sacramento, and Tucson, reported occupancy levels above last year despite negative rent growth. This combination typically reflects supply-driven pricing pressure rather than weakening demand, as new inventory continues to be absorbed without materially impacting occupancy.
Revenue performance remained stable and continued to improve on a year-over-year basis. RevPAU held at $1,684 for the week, while the annual comparison improved to -1.3% from -1.6% the prior week. Unlike earlier in the year when occupancy gains drove most of the improvement, recent revenue gains are increasingly being fueled by stronger pricing trends.
Bottom Line: Occupancy and demand have largely recovered to year-ago levels, shifting the focus to rent growth. Pricing improved for a second consecutive week and is now the primary driver behind narrowing revenue gaps. While national fundamentals appear balanced, performance remains highly market-specific as supply conditions continue to shape outcomes across regions. The key question heading into the fall is whether improving rent momentum can continue once seasonal leasing demand fades further.
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