Is the Development and Design of Multifamily Rental Housing In Line with Recent Trends?

Renter household formation has outpaced owner household growth during the past few years spurring an increase in multifamily construction.

Yet according to data from the Fannie Mae National Housing Survey, 51 percent of the renter respondents stated that they would like to own a home someday. Even more telling, approximately 57 percent of those aged 18 to 34 years old – the cohort most likely to rent, according to the Census Bureau – also stated that they aspire to own a home. That sentiment, coming from the nation’s young adults, may suggest to multifamily rental developers that perhaps this cohort is not likely to turn the U.S. into a “rentership society” – at least, not by choice. 

Read the latest edition of Housing Insights, as Fannie Mae’s Multifamily Economics and Market Research Group examines the demographic conditions that have contributed to the recent increase in multifamily supply, looks at the general characteristics of the new multifamily supply, and suggests implications for multifamily apartments given the continued stated preference to own among the primary renter cohort. 

Tanya Zahalak
Economist, Multifamily Economics and Market Research

September 16, 2013

The author thanks Kim Betancourt, Patrick Simmons, and Orawin Velz of Fannie Mae for valuable comments in the creation of this Housing Insights. Of course, all errors and omissions remain the responsibility of the author.

Opinions, analyses, estimates, forecasts and other views of Fannie Mae's Multifamily Economics and Market Research Group (MRG) included in these materials should not be construed as indicating Fannie Mae's business prospects or expected results, are based on a number of assumptions, and are subject to change without notice. How this information affects Fannie Mae will depend on many factors. Although the MRG bases its opinions, analyses, estimates, forecasts and other views on information it considers reliable, it does not guarantee that the information provided in these materials is accurate, current or suitable for any particular purpose. Changes in the assumptions or the information underlying these views could produce materially different results. The analyses, opinions, estimates, forecasts and other views published by the MRG represent the views of that group as of the date indicated and do not necessarily represent the views of Fannie Mae or its management.

The views expressed in these articles reflect the personal views of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of any other person, including Fannie Mae or its Conservator. Any figures or estimates included in an article are solely the responsibility of the author.