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apartments are uniquely positioned to outperform through a period of elevated inflation as strong demand drivers support absorption.”
Willett said that labor and material shortages together with rising construction costs could curtail new supply risk this year.
“As interest rates rise, it places pressure on underwriting multifamily investments. Apartment cap rates have tightened significantly over the last year. As interest rates put upward pressure on the cost of capital, yield spreads have narrowed. This has the potential to restrain apartment investment activity.”
He said investor sentiment remains high by historical standards, suggesting that transaction activity will likely be substantial, at least through the first half of 2022.
“But investors have signaled increased sensitivity to interest rates,” Willett said. “If the 10-year Treasury pushes into the mid-3% range, many investors suggested that they may pare back their acquisition activity. So, the prospect of rising interest rates could bolster short-term investment activity.”
ASSET PRICES WILL SOON LEVEL OFF
Neil Schimmel, CEO, Investors Management Group, said that rising interest rates point to a mixed forecast for apartment investors.
“To begin, asset prices should level off in the near term, as cap rates have historically moved with interest rates. Debt service will clearly become more expensive and eat into cash flows.
“But we need to appreciate the recent explosion in rent growth. The picture has been especially rosy across the Sun Belt states as renters move to more affordably priced markets. Vacancies have reached historic lows across our portfolio. Nationally, demand has pushed rent growth into double-digit rates – and
housing cost is the single largest factor in the CPI inflation measure.
“Apartment owners who have benefited from inflated incomes since early 2021 now face the realities of Fed policy to cool inflation down.”
PROPERTY INVESTMENT AS A ‘SAFE HAVEN’
Jay Maddox, Principal, Capital Markets, Avison Young, said the recent spike in interest rates has not quelled the overwhelming investor and lender demand for multifamily properties, particularly in markets where rent growth continues to accelerate.
“So long as investors continue to factor anticipated rapid rent growth into their projections, we don’t expect to see much upward pressure on cap rates. If the inflationary environment persists then we can expect to see some leveling off in valuations.
“However, a downturn in the multifamily sector seems very unlikely given the overall strong investor demand, need for housing, and the perception that property investment is a safe haven from the volatility of the capital markets.”
A HEALTHY LAG BEFORE RATES FACTOR IN
Eli Randel, Chief Strategy Officer, CREXi, said the Fed’s interest rate increases that are meant to battle inflation and cool a bubbly economy could result in a tapering of rental rate (and operating expense) growth, but it’s probable there will be a healthy lag before the hikes achieve their desired effect on inflation.”
Randel said that more likely, “NOIs will continue to grow in the near-term especially given relative supply constraints before any potential tapering. However, increased interest rates will bring increased costs of capital and expanded cap rates which will eventually soften asset values around the edges. That said,
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