Investar USA – Why Workforce Housing Will Continue to Produce the Biggest Multifamily Returns

Workforce housing investment may be the smartest strategy going into 2019. According to a report by the United States Commercial Real Estate Services, workforce housing has outperformed other multifamily asset classes by a substantial margin. The following article from Investar USA discusses the reasons behind the growth of workforce housing. Investar USA is currently focused on real estate investment in the Southwestern U.S.

Luxury multifamily buildings are the most popular assets among experienced real estate investors, yet they might not be the most profitable, or the most secure. Workforce housing, also known as Class B or affordable housing, may deliver the greatest potential for long-term returns. Here are a few reasons why workforce housing could offer the best ROI for all levels of investors.

Affordable housing will always be in demand.

The demand for workforce housing is high, and likely to get higher. There are currently more than 13.5 million rental households classified as workforce housing, and the exodus of people from high-cost regions like California isn't diminishing. States and cities are increasingly offering tax benefits and other incentives to increase the number of workforce housing units.

Communities prefer the renovation of existing buildings to the construction of new ones.

Value-add investment may be the tactic of choice for cautious investors. The demolition of older apartment buildings for new luxury units has been a controversial strategy in markets like Los Angeles – developers have been accused of cannibalizing potential workforce housing opportunities and driving lower-income residents out of their own communities. As a result, community activism has been on the rise, and developers find themselves navigating protests and lawsuits, while their project timelines become indefinite.

The renovation of workforce housing preserves older buildings, improves conditions for renters, and helps neighborhoods and communities maintain their identities.

U.S. wage growth has been slow.

While job diversity is increasing, wage growth has stagnated in the past decade. This has driven the volume of renters ever higher, since families are increasingly unable to purchase homes outright. This high volume of renters has created a high demand for affordable rental units.

Workforce housing is increasingly positioning itself as an attractive investment, and a value-add strategy could present a superior ROI. With the workforce housing shortage projected to continue through 2019 and beyond, smart investors will recognize that this may be the year's greatest investment opportunity.

Investar USA specializes in revitalization projects throughout the Southwestern United States.

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