Sharp Downturn in Multifamily Construction Starts

• JBG Smith (JBGS) cuts its dividend by 22.2% to 17.5 cents a share, aiming to enhance financial flexibility amid a core development focus.

• CBRE Group (CBRE) saw a 30% decline in annual profit amid industry-wide reduced property demand, prompting a strategic shift towards more stable business areas.

Multifamily Construction Starts Plunge Nearly 36% in January, Permits Rise

January saw a significant drop in multifamily construction starts, marking the lowest level since the pandemic's onset.

By the numbers: According to Census Bureau figures released Friday, overall housing starts fell by 14.8% in January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.33 million units. This downturn was driven primarily by a 35.6% drop in multifamily sector starts, which plummeted to an annualized pace of 327,000 units. In contrast, single-family starts decreased by a modest 4.7% to 1 million units but showed a 22% increase from the previous year.

• Regional trends: The Northeast, Midwest, South, and West experienced decreases in combined single-family and multifamily starts by 20.6%, 30%, 9.7%, and 15.7%, respectively. Permit data also reflects these regional disparities, with notable increases in the Northeast and Midwest but declines in the South and West.

• Permits: Overall permits in January fell by 1.5% to a 1.47 million unit annualized rate. Single-family permits rose by 1.6%, reaching the highest level since May 2022, while multifamily permits declined by 7.9%, marking the lowest point since April 2020.

• Construction: The number of apartments under construction has fallen below 1 million for the first time since May 2023, with further reductions anticipated. Conversely, the number of single-family homes under construction remained steady at 680,000, equaling the highest count since June 2023.

What they are saying: Andrew Foran, TD Bank Economist, notes that volatility is typical in the multifamily segment. He pointed out that the sharp decline was somewhat anticipated following a strong December performance, which was later revised upwards. However, he also acknowledges the challenges faced by the segment, including high financing costs, slowing rent price growth, and an accumulation of projects from recent years.

➥ THE TAKEAWAY

Looking ahead: There is optimism for a rebound, with the possibility of the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates in the first half of the year. The National Association of Home Builders reported a surge in confidence among single-family builders to an 18-month high in February. The survey also noted a decrease in builders reducing home prices and offering sales incentives.

Rising Interest Rates Strain Arbor Realty's Loan Repayments

Arbor Realty Trust (ABR), a beacon in the Sun Belt's multifamily lending scene, is starting to feel the pinch from skyrocketing interest rates over the last two years.

What happened: Long Island-based Arbor Realty Trust became a significant lender in the Sunbelt region's apartment market, helping drive a multifamily boom in 2021 and early 2022. However, the surge in interest rates that followed led to difficulties for borrowers with floating-rate debt to meet their loan obligations, which were often converted into bonds for investors.

The strain: Data from CRED iQ shows that as of mid-January, a quarter of Arbor's securitized debt witnessed late payments, with about 9% being 30 days or more overdue. Although most borrowers paid eventually, 5.8% of Arbor's securitized debt payments remained overdue.

Earnings report: Arbor's earnings report on Friday reveals a significant increase in nonperforming loans, rising to 16 from 12 in the previous quarter, with the value jumping from $150.5 million to $262.7 million. The company also ranks as the 17th most shorted stock, signaling investor concerns for future challenges.

The silent killer: Arbor Realty confronts growing risks with borrower defaults and expiring interest rate hedges—65% of the 2021 caps have expired, and 92% will by year's end. Its CLO loan income now covers only 60% of debt payments. Renewing these hedges has become difficult, with a three-year hedge for a $100 million mortgage jumping from $51,000 to $5.4 million.

➥ THE TAKEAWAY

A challenging cycle: Arbor Realty Trust CEO Kaufman remains optimistic about the demand for workforce housing, a key segment of their portfolio, despite vacancy challenges in the Sun Belt markets. He anticipates that the influx of workers from the Mexico border will positively affect vacancy rates. However, the company is preparing for ongoing difficulties by maintaining around $1B in cash to mitigate potential losses. This comes amid a trend where some borrowers are choosing to default first and negotiate later.

The return of workers to downtown offices in 2023 benefitted many hotels in central business districts, but unevenly. Cities like San Francisco, Minneapolis, and Philly saw significant revenue drops of up to 30% compared to 2019, while Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Tampa were on the other end of the spectrum, enjoying up to 35% higher revenue per available room.