By Stephen Lohr Developers and property managers are navigating a multifamily landscape that looks much different than it did a decade ago. Affordability challenges are redefining priorities, and hybrid work styles are reshaping lifestyles. To meet the needs of residents, developers and owners must understand this transforming market and the renter priorities that drive it. The Residency Reshaped report is a joint effort by Dallas-based architecture firm Corgan and Hugo, the name given to the firm’s research group. The report provides a data-driven framework to help stakeholders better understand what …
Industry Voices
What Missouri’s Expanded Tax Credit Program Means for Rural Affordable Housing Development
By Chris Fields Historic tax credits have funded multifamily and affordable housing development in older buildings for decades. Missouri’s recent legislative changes have now expanded this funding source. Gov. Mike Kehoe signed House Bill 3080 on July 13, 2026, restoring and expanding the state’s Historic Preservation Tax Credit program under a new name: the Missouri Historic, Rural Revitalization and Development Act. For developers working on adaptive reuse and historic rehabilitation projects, the changes are significant. The credit rate for qualifying rural projects, those located outside St. Louis and Kansas City, …
Nashville’s Fundamentals and a Resilient Labor Market Strengthen the City’s Multifamily Outlook
By David Nelson When considering the attributes of Nashville, a thriving music industry often first comes to mind. The city is dubbed Music City, after all, and has spawned a variety of successful country music artists. Nashville is more than twang and chart-toppers, however. It’s Tennessee’s capital and most populous city, home to more than 2.1 million residents in the metro area, with an economy anchored by major employers in healthcare, government, education and manufacturing. Its unique dynamics also make it a market to strongly consider for multifamily investment. Nashville’s …
By Wyatt Roberts The multifamily real estate market is competitive, and developers face dual challenges of managing rising construction costs while meeting the increasing demand for high-quality, efficient buildings. Building out major systems like heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) is especially challenging and represents a significant and ongoing expense. A geothermal heating and cooling system helps solve this problem, reducing overall costs and improving building-wide climate control outcomes. It is the most efficient, cost-effective and durable heating and cooling solution on the market. Geothermal heating and cooling systems work …
The Public ROI Test: When Do Multifamily Development Incentives Make Economic Sense?
Development incentives tend to produce two predictable reactions. One side sees them as a practical tool to get difficult projects built. The other side sees them as a subsidy to private developers. In my experience, neither reaction is enough. The real issue I see is not whether incentives are good or bad in the abstract. The better question I ask is much more practical: What is the public buying, would it happen anyway, and is the return worth the cost? That question is becoming more important across South Florida. Cities, …
Fires at multifamily properties are more common than people realize. The U.S. Fire Administration estimates that fire departments respond to an average of 106,700 multifamily residential building fires each year. When a fire occurs, property owners are suddenly faced with many urgent and overwhelming decisions. The hours immediately following are some of the most critical, yet it can be difficult to know where to begin. Every decision has a direct impact on the speed, cost and overall success of the recovery. Identifying vulnerabilities, establishing a recovery plan and building relationships …
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 …
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 …