Rents Inch Up, Occupancy Slips
Houston multifamily fundamentals moderated but were still healthy, according to the latest Houston multifamily market report. Demand kept up with supply and advertised asking rents posted a 0.2% year-over-year increase, to $1,355, as of May, which kept the metro among the more affordable U.S. markets. Meanwhile, the average U.S. advertised asking rent posted a 0.6% yearly improvement, to $1,733, closer to the pre-pandemic pace, as noted in the national multifamily report. The occupancy rate in stabilized properties in Houston lagged, dropping 90 basis points year-over-year as of April, to 92.5%.
In the 12 months ending in March, Houston’s employment market expanded by 2.7%, or 67,800 net jobs. This growth rate ranked third among major U.S. metros, behind Las Vegas and Austin. The jobless rate fell to 3.8% in April, slightly above the U.S. (3.9%) and the state (4.0%), but remained the area’s best figure since the onset of the pandemic. Of all sectors, only information contracted (-1,000 jobs). Education and health services (24,000 jobs) and government (19,500) led job growth. The largest sector—trade, transportation and utilities—added just 4,200 jobs during the period. However, Port Houston reported a 15% increase in volume in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the previous year.
This year through May, 7,392 units came online, with an additional 31,492 apartments under construction. Multifamily investment remained limited, with $707 million in assets trading during the first five months of 2024.
Read the full Yardi Matrix Houston Multifamily Market Report: July 2024
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