The U.S. multifamily market stabilized in the second quarter of 2025, with strong renter demand offsetting a slowing construction pipeline. Net absorption reached 268,000 units in the first half of the year, marking the third-highest performance for the first two quarters of a year on record.

Parks Associates' research reveals that 13% of U.S. apartment residents live in properties with in-unit smart amenity packages, with 77% of amenity-fee-paying residents reporting higher satisfaction than 68% of those without such fees. The study highlights smart technology as a baseline expectation for renters, driving operational efficiency and ROI for property managers.

A report reveals that private equity firms own over 10% of U.S. apartment units, with Blackstone as the largest owner. The analysis highlights geographic concentration in states like Texas and Florida, rising rent pressures, and Blackstone's assertion that housing supply-demand imbalances drive rent increases.

The article discusses investment-grade preferred stocks offering high yields, focusing on two examples: Athene Holding Ltd.'s preferreds with up to 7.6% yields and Carlyle Capital Income Fund's term-preferred with 8.6% yield. It highlights preferreds' benefits, including steady income, low volatility, and tax advantages, while analyzing financial details and market positioning.

The apartment sales market saw a 7% increase in sales volume to $7.5 billion in February, with individual asset sales growing by double digits for five consecutive months. Cap rates rose 20 basis points year-over-year, with garden apartment cap rates at 5.6% and mid- and high-rise at 5.4%. While portfolio and entity-level sales fell 45% due to no major deals, individual sales remained robust. Economic uncertainty could affect the market later in the year. Apollo Global Management announced a $1.5 billion acquisition of Bridge Investment Group Holdings, which will boost sales numbers in future months.