by Theresa Bradley-Banta
This post has three great free resources to help you find the best cities to buy apartment buildings. They are:
- Two of the top ranked annual reports for apartment market research and investment forecasts and,
- One of my favorite websites for city by city apartment market research data and videos.
These reports, articles and videos will help you narrow down your search for the best apartment and multifamily investing markets.
The metro area data includes:
- Apartment investment market conditions and overviews.
- Employment and payroll forecasts.
- Construction forecasts: New development figures and absorption expectations.
- Apartment rental vacancy forecasts: Including historical figures.
- Apartment rent forecasts: Asking and effective rents.
- Investment forecasts.
- Sales trends.
- Market cycles.
Note: When investigating real estate investment markets it’s important to start your research at the macro level by studying the national and regional markets. This will give you a solid baseline for comparison between regions and markets. Armed with that data you’ll be able to knowledgeably drill down to specific data for individual metro areas and cities. In other words, a broad overview will help you see how each metro and city might perform in comparison to other areas.
For research at the submarket level download A Checklist for Researching Real Estate Markets. It includes 20 links where you can find the information you’re looking for!
National and Metro Apartment Market Investment Reports
Integra Realty Resources has just published their IRR-Viewpoint 2021. This includes an overview of:
- National Real Estate.
- Capital Markets.
- Investment Criteria: Market cycle phases, capitalization rates, and discount rates.
Tip: While there you can also download the IRR-Viewpoint for each year of the past decade. If you are considering a particular market it would be very wise of you to look at how that market has performed historically.
Marcus & Millichap has their multifamily investment forecast. This report offers both a national perspective and local market overviews. Their report covers the:
- National Economy.
- National Apartment Overview.
- Capital Markets.
- Apartment Investment Outlook.
Again, both of these reports offer apartment market data on a national and local level. I highly recommend you download and read these reports.
Apartment Market Research Articles and Videos By City
For online apartment market research for individual metro areas and cities visit Property Management Insider. You’ll find:
- Videos and articles on nearly 100 metro markets and,
- Apartment market reports by metro for thirty cities.
Caveat: Once you determine which city you will invest in be sure to study the specific submarkets within that city. For an excellent article on how to get submarket level data read Should You Hire a Commercial Broker When Buying Apartment Buildings?
Learn more:
5 Unusual Ways to Find Investment Properties
When Is a Good Time to Invest in Apartment Buildings?
How to Study Your Rental Market and Outperform Your Competition
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wow there is so much information that you provide.being a new investor this is the place to be in learning the basics of buying apartment buildings thanks mark
My pleasure Mark. Thanks for visiting!
~Theresa
Great resources that you pooled together here! Starting with the high level macro economics is essential before spending more time identifying micro markets. The IRR Viewpoints and Marcus & Millichap reports are a great place to start one’s research.
Thanks OB!
Great having you stop by. One thing I really like about the IRR reports is that you can download reports from previous years. Always nice to see historical market data!
Theresa
Hi Theresa –
Sincere thanks for collating this information. It hits on the exact kind of data I need to expand my portfolio..and in the most informed way possible. I own Multifamilies in Chicago in the submarkets of Lincoln Park, Wrigleyville and Evanston. But so much available inventory in Chicagoland targets cash buyers. So I’m looking to alternate markets. Anyway, do you ever do speaking engagements in Chicago??
Hi Doug,
It’s my pleasure. Glad to hear my article helped. I have no speaking engagements lined up in Chicago but feel free to take me up on my free strategy call. I’d love to hear more about your properties and your search for new markets. I’d be delighted to offer any help that I can!
Thanks so much for your comment,
Theresa
I am learning about investing in Apartments. So I would like to receive all you have to offer in this field, if possible.
Thank you
David, congratulations on your new endeavor! You’re certainly in the right place. My website has hundreds of how-to articles on investing in multifamily real estate! Also, you might want to check out our Fast Start Program and our free Resources.
I also offering mentoring on multifamily investing. I’d be happy to schedule a strategy call.
I wish you all the best on your investment.
Theresa