By Rajiv Ramakrishnan Veterans are not a one-size-fits-all population. Some are transitioning back to civilian life after active service, while others are aging in place or living with physical injuries, PTSD or other invisible challenges. While affordability and accessibility remain essential, successful veteran housing must also support how residents experience their environment every day. Architecture does more than provide shelter. Thoughtful design can support independence, encourage connection and create places where residents feel safe, comfortable and at home. Beyond Affordability: Designing for Stability Affordable housing removes one of the largest …
Industry Voices
For people who live in, own or manage affordable housing, energy efficiency can offer significant benefits beyond energy savings. Research from the U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) shows that owners of affordable housing properties struggle to sustain truly affordable rental housing for low-income families because they are often faced with high energy bills and maintenance costs. This disparity impacts residents, too. According to the DOE’s Low-Income Energy Affordability Data (LEAD) Tool, the average percentage of income spent on energy costs for low-income households is three times higher than for non-low-income …
Hurricane season officially began on June 1, and for property owners and managers across the Gulf Coast and Southeast, preparation should already be underway. While the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts less hurricane activity this summer, it only takes one storm to put residents, properties and entire communities at risk. Storm preparedness is about more than asset protection. It is about protecting the people who call these communities home; residents who, when a property is damaged or destroyed, can be left displaced, vulnerable and without access to the …
By Jeff Goll The headlines on multifamily have not caught up to the data. After two years of being the asset class everyone wanted to disparage, the U.S. apartment market quietly began to rebalance in the first quarter of 2026. New deliveries are collapsing, demand is returning faster than most forecasts expected, occupancy and renewal rates are improving, and the construction pipeline has thinned to a level that effectively guarantees a tighter market for years to come. For well-capitalized developers and operators with discipline and a low-cost basis, the setup …
By Alfonso Costa Jr. As the federal Opportunity Zone (OZ) program evolves into a permanent “OZ 2.0” framework, with new OZ census tracts taking effect Jan. 1, 2027, states like Florida are moving quickly to shape where capital flows by launching online portals. For developers, investors, business owners and local officials, understanding how these rules are changing and how to engage in state-level nomination processes will be critical to harnessing tax-advantaged equity while deploying it into projects that deliver long-term community benefit. Opportunity Zones 2.0 Brings More Flexibility and a …
By Craig Johnsen Few sectors have shifted more over the past five years than multifamily housing. From 2020 through 2022, asset prices climbed at a rate that, in retrospect, far outpaced the underlying drivers of long-term value. From 2023 through 2025, those same assets gave back much of that appreciation as capital pulled back, lenders grew more cautious and headlines became less favorable. To a casual observer, the sector now looks like one to wait out. If you are deeply embedded in the economics of the industry, however, it could …
By Brad Butler The lack of affordable rental housing in the United States has reached alarming levels, and the problem seems to worsen with each passing month. As job creation has slowed in certain industries, many people are moving to urban areas in search of better employment opportunities, housing options and long-term economic stability. From the outside, this trend could make urban multifamily development look like an easy entry point into the business. But looks can be deceiving. While urban markets offer many advantages, development in these areas is significantly …
By Jay Sawmiller For multifamily and mixed-income housing owners and operators, liability claims are no longer rare, isolated events — they’re a growing operational challenge. From tenant injuries and environmental hazards to cyber incidents and employment-related liability exposures, a wide spectrum of risks is surfacing that can threaten financial stability and reputational standing. The stakes are especially high for developers, owners and operators managing affordable housing, where tighter budgets and regulatory scrutiny demand more robust risk management. Liability losses from premises-related injuries can vary, with some claims escalating into six- …
By Sandy Jack When you think about technology in multifamily, conversations have historically focused on solving one problem at a time. If you needed a lock, for example, you bought a lock. If you needed Wi-Fi, you found a provider. Each of those individual tech decisions might have made sense in the moment, but none of those decisions was connected to the others. Operators are redefining technology by shifting the question from, “What do I need to invest in today?” to “How do these tools work together to better …
By Wendy Dorchester Pet-friendliness is one of the ultimate differentiators at rental communities, and the difference is obvious the moment you walk a truly pet-inclusive property. Residents bond over their pets, often knowing the names of each other’s dogs before they know the names of their neighbors. Communities that embrace this reality benefit from stronger renewal rates, more engaged residents and an environment that feels welcoming to a wider pool of renters. But while the industry has made significant progress over the past decade, the recent 2026 State of Pets …