Greg Willett, chief economist at RealPage explains why 2016 saw high demand and tight occupancy in rental properties

High demand and tight occupancy in the face of 87,939 completed units kept rental unit numbers above historical norms says rental housing technology and analytics firm RealPage, Inc. Greg Willett, RealPage’s chief economist, suggested that the high demand was just another solid year for the rental market. “The apartment sector’s winning streak has run seven full years so far,” Willett explained “Job production continues at solid levels, encouraging new household formation. While apartment construction is substantial, significant building is justified by the very strong demand tallies.”

 

Demand Remains High During Unusual Period

An area of rental properties that saw a significant increases from the previous year was in demand. “Demand for 328,559 apartments was recorded in 2016 across the country’s 100 largest metros, up 24 percent from 2015’s net move-in total” RealPage denoted highlighting that 2016 had the third largest calendar year volume posted during the past three decades, behind the years 2000 and 2010. Demand was even strong during the usually slow Q4, when most renters are less inclined to move due to the holiday season. RealPage elaborated that “Demand in the fourth quarter of 2016 reached more than six times the volume recorded in the fourth quarter of 2015.”

 

Occupancy and Rent Growth Steady and Above Average

Leading Metros in Annual Rent GrowthRealPage also found that despite 328,559 additional units of new construction nationwide, occupancy and rent growth remained at historical highs throughout 2016. By end of year 3026, occupancy reached a level of 96.3% nationally, up from 95.9% in 2015. This figure actually represented a slight cool down, as Q3 numbers for occupancy reached as high as 96.5%. Averaging $1,248, rent growth saw a slight dip in late 2016. However, RealPage researchers were quick to point out the fundamental is still strong. “Rent growth doesn’t have to reach best-ever readings to be strong” Greg Willett explains, noting later “The 3.8 percent typical price increase posted in 2016 is still well above the long-term historical norm.” California was featured five times on RealPage’s list of the top 15 metro leaders in rent growth, with San Diego rounding out a 15th place tie with Orange County.

 

Looking Forward to New Construction

RealPage concluded their analysis by suggesting 2017 could look very similar in construction numbers. Although ongoing apartment construction projects are scheduled to complete 364,730 units in 2017 (with some estimates as high as 26% increase of completions in 2016), expectations of all units being completed remained cautious. “It is important to realize [that] labor shortages and other factors consistently have held completions in this market cycle about 10 percent to 15 percent below the volumes scheduled” RealPage elaborated, “if that same pattern holds true moving ahead, 2017’s deliveries could line up almost exactly with the demand total posted over the past year, suggesting that concerns about market softening could be overblown.” As long as construction volume remains on schedule for 2017, RealPage admits that occupancy numbers may continues to decline, but will remain healthy and above average at 95% while annual rent could decline to a 3.2% national average.

 

Read the full report “RealPage® Reports Robust Apartment Demand and Occupancy, While the Rent Growth Pace Cools Mildly” HERE