Multifamily Housing Market Forecast to Cool in 2026 as Vacancies Climb
- brg_news_room
- Feb 18
- 1 min read
USA: The multifamily housing market in the United States is expected to slow in 2026 as vacancy rates continue to rise, according to economists speaking at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) International Builders’ Show in Orlando. After a post‑pandemic slump, multifamily property sales rebounded in 2025 with a 15 % increase across most metropolitan areas, but the influx of new supply is now meeting softer demand, driving up vacancies to a record 7.3 % late in the year. This has also put downward pressure on rent growth, which slipped by about 1 % year‑on‑year. High construction costs and tighter financing are contributing to a constrained development environment, and multifamily starts are projected to decline in 2026 and 2027 toward levels closer to pre‑pandemic norms. Despite this cooling, completions in 2024 reached a 38‑year high.
Source: Supplyhouse Times
