CBRE: Apartment going-in cap rate expansion slowing (2024)

Table of Contents
Dive Brief: Dive Insight: FAQs

Dive Brief:

  • When the Federal Reserve began raising interest rates last year, it threw the multifamily sales market into a tailspin as buyers and sellers searched for consensus on property values. However, a new report from commercial real estate services firm CBRE indicates that the market may be stabilizing, at least for prime assets.
  • In Q1 2023, the average going-in cap rate, which is based on the first year of net operating income at the property purchase price, increased 23 basis points to 4.72%, “marking the first significant quarterly deceleration in cap rate expansion since the Fed began its latest round of rate hikes,” according to CBRE. In the preceding three quarters, cap rates rose 39, 36 and 38 bps.
  • Exit cap rates, used to estimate the resale value of a property at the end of the holding period, haven’t increased as dramatically, rising 87 bps since Q1 2022 compared to 136 bps for going-in cap rates, according to CBRE. A positive spread has persisted between going in and exit cap rates, but it has declined to a very thin 27 bps.

Dive Insight:

In addition to stabilization for going-in cap rates, CBRE said that other metrics, such as unlevered internal rate of return targets and rent growth, decelerated in Q1.

Rent growth expectations have declined over the past two quarters in prime apartment deals, according to CBRE, and the types of markets driving rent growth have changed. Gateway markets like Boston and New York City, which fell behind other metros earlier in the pandemic due to outmigration, now have higher rent growth expectations. CBRE said the average for rent growth assumptions is 3%. “As markets stabilize, rent growth assumptions likely will drift lower but eventually settle near the long-run average,” it said in the report.

Among the 15 major markets tracked by CBRE, Austin, Texas, had the lowest risk requirements on an underwriting basis for the sixth consecutive quarter. Each market posted higher going-in cap rates between Q3 and Q4 2022, but five had no additional expansion in Q1. Only two markets had no movement in exit cap rates in Q4 2022. However, in Q1 2023, 10 metros posted no movement.

CBRE expects “underwriting assumptions for prime multifamily assets will likely peak in the second half of 2023.” Additionally, it said stabilization in interest rates should lead to an increase in activity from buyers, sellers and lenders.

“Everybody just needs to know what the rules of the road are,” Kyle Draeger, senior managing director of multifamily debt and structured finance at CBRE Capital Markets, told Multifamily Dive in an earlier interview. “And nobody knows what those will be until the Fed stops raising rates. Once you get stability and once the Fed says they’re going to take their foot off the gas, you can get an understanding of where interest rates are going to be.”

CBRE isn’t alone in predicting that activity should pick up when the Fed signals a stop to interest rate hikes. Anne Olson, CEO of Minot, South Dakota–based REIT Centerspace, also thinks “people are going to need to know where the ceiling is, or at least generally where the ceiling is on interest rates” before the sales market comes back.

The recent failures of Signature Bank and Silicon Valley Bank could delay that process. “I do think some of these recent failures and what’s been going on the last 30 days are going to delay it a little bit,” she said.

Click here to sign up to receive multifamily and apartment news like this article in your inbox every weekday.

Filed Under: Capital, Transactions

CBRE: Apartment going-in cap rate expansion slowing (2024)

FAQs

What is the cap rate for CBRE 2023? ›

In Q1 2023, the average going-in cap rate, which is based on the first year of net operating income at the property purchase price, increased 23 basis points to 4.72%, “marking the first significant quarterly deceleration in cap rate expansion since the Fed began its latest round of rate hikes,” according to CBRE.

What happens to property value when cap rate increases? ›

The interrelationship of NOI, cap rate and property value means that a property's value can be determined using the NOI and the cap rate — property value equals the NOI divided by the cap rate. A higher cap rate will therefore result in a lower property value, NOI being equal.

What is the cap rate trend for CBRE? ›

Most notably, CBRE forecasts that the federal funds rate likely will exceed 5% in 2023, falling to about 2% by 2025. In short, we believe that both interest rate hikes and cap rate expansion will peak later this year and should decrease in 2024.

What does 7.5% cap rate mean? ›

A 7.5 cap rate means that you can expect a 7.5% annual gross income on the value of your property or investment. If your property's value is $150,000, a 7.5 cap rate will mean a yearly return of $11,250.

What is a good cap rate in 2023? ›

Generally, the higher the cap rate, the higher the risk and return. Market analysts say an ideal cap rate is between five and 10 percent; the exact number will depend on the property type and location.

Does CBRE give bonuses? ›

Based on 42 current employees, 57% said they receive an annual bonus at CBRE.

Is cap rate expansion good or bad? ›

It represents the expected annual rate of return if the property was purchased with cash. Cap rate expansion – higher cap rates- happens when market conditions are poor or uncertain and generally leads to falling property prices. Cap rate compression – lower cap rates – is the opposite.

Why is a rising cap rate bad? ›

It indicates that a lower value cap rate corresponds to better valuation and a better prospect of returns with a lower level of risk. On the other hand, a higher value of cap rate implies relatively lower prospects of return on property investment, and hence a higher level of risk.

Do real estate investors want a higher or lower cap rate? ›

What's a good cap rate? It varies from investor to investor and property to property. In general, the higher the cap rate, the greater the risk and return.

Is CBRE a good investment? ›

CBRE Group has received a consensus rating of Buy.

What is the outlook for cap rates? ›

With interest rates expected to peak later this year, the end of cap rate expansion may be in sight for most asset types. CBRE forecasts that the federal funds rate will likely exceed 5% in 2023, falling to about 2% by 2025.

What is going in cap rate in real estate? ›

The going-in cap rate is the property's projected first-year NOI divided by the purchase price of the property. If the terminal capitalization rate is lower than the going-in rate, it usually means that the property investment was profitable.

Is 20% a good cap rate? ›

However, aside from large funds and institutional investors willing to park capital at low 4% to 8% cap rates, most frontline individual investors and real estate pros are seeking opportunities that can offer 10% to 20% cap rates.

What cap rate is too high? ›

In real estate, a low (less than 5%) cap rate often reflects a lower risk profile, whereas a higher cap rate (greater than 7%) is often considered a riskier investment. Whether an investor deems a cap rate “good” is a direct reflection of whether or not they think the investment's return matches to the perceived risk.

Is 15% a good cap rate? ›

This is because the formula itself puts net operating income in relation to the initial purchase price. Investors hoping for deals with a lower purchase price may, therefore, want a high cap rate. Following this logic, a cap rate between four and ten percent may be considered a “good” investment.

Why is lower cap rate better? ›

It's generally better to have a lower cap rate than a higher one. A lower cap rate implies that the property is more valuable and less risky due to type, class, and market. While a higher cap rate offers investors a higher return, that property investment typically has a higher risk profile.

Why are cap rates going up? ›

Despite strong real estate fundamentals, higher borrowing costs and uncertainty around monetary policy are forcing cap rates upward. In some instances, industrial and multifamily cap rates are below current borrowing costs.

What is the multifamily lending outlook for 2023? ›

The most recent RealPage and Yardi forecasts for 2023 indicate rent growth of 2.6% to 2.9%, whereas they were between 3.1% to 3.6% during the third quarter of 2022.

How much does CBRE match 401k? ›

401(k) employer match at 66.67% of your contribution, for a total of 4% match on up to $150,000 of your eligible pay.

Does CBRE give raises? ›

Yearly, 3%.

Does CBRE have unlimited PTO? ›

The Highly Compensated Employee PTO program offers unlimited PTO.

Do cap rates rise when interest rates rise? ›

Higher borrowing costs

This is because the higher the cost of borrowing (brought upon by higher interest rates), the smaller the debt an income-generating property can service. This, logically, leads to a fall in property prices which increases cap rates.

Do higher cap rates mean prices are dropping? ›

Cap rate compression occurs when cap rates decline which, as valuations rise, which is a positive for REPE investors. In short, falling cap rates imply rising prices for a stream of income, an ideal scenario for commercial real estate investors, because it results in price appreciation and higher total returns.

Should cap rate be higher than mortgage rate? ›

If the cap rate is greater than the interest rate, you'll generally come out ahead. If the cap rate is lower than the interest rate, you'll be relying on appreciation for your return, making it a riskier speculative investment.

Are high cap rate properties better investments? ›

Using market-adjusted cap rates to classify individual properties, they find evidence of a strong value effect in real estate: High-cap-rate properties exhibit higher returns, outperform on a risk-adjusted basis, and should be preferred by investors.

Do cap rates rise with inflation? ›

At face value, inflation can increase cap rates, thus driving down commercial real estate valuations. But, inflation also tends to drive NOI higher, which can have an offsetting effect on these decreased valuations.

Where are the best cap rates in us? ›

Top 8 Cities With the Highest Traditional Cap Rate
  • Greenwood, MS: 10.18 %
  • Spruce Pine, NC: 9.98%
  • Suwannee, FL: 9.97%
  • Presidio, TX: 9.79%
  • Saxonburg, PA: 9.67%
  • Alturas, CA: 9.14%
  • Sylacauga, AL: 8.98%
  • Waterville Valley, NH: 8.70%
Apr 5, 2022

Is 18 a good cap rate? ›

To summarize: high cap rates are great, but they can also point towards factors that increase the risk of an investment. A property with an 18% cap rate might need work, and might not be in a highly desirable area. Ask yourself, “Is this amazingly high cap rate stemming from high NOI, or low property value?”

Does a buyer want a higher cap rate? ›

Buyers usually want a high cap rate, or the purchase price is low compared to the NOI. But, as stated above, a higher cap rate usually means higher risk and a lower cap rate usually means lower risk.

What is a good cash on cash return? ›

A: It depends on the investor, the local market, and your expectations of future value appreciation. Some real estate investors are happy with a safe and predictable CoC return of 7% – 10%, while others will only consider a property with a cash-on-cash return of at least 15%.

Who is CBRE biggest competitor? ›

CBRE Group's competitors and similar companies include Mitie, JLL, Savills and Colliers International. CBRE Group is a real estate services and investment company.

Why is CBRE the best? ›

CBRE led the real estate sector on eight of the nine key performance attributes—financial soundness, global competitiveness, long-term investment, management quality, people management, service quality, use of corporate assets and social responsibility.

Who is the highest paid CBRE employee? ›

Salaries at CBRE Group range from an average of $54,599 to $135,353 a year. CBRE Group employees with the job title Project Management Director make the most with an average annual salary of $142,376, while employees with the title Client Services Coordinator make the least with an average annual salary of $51,867.

When cap rate goes down? ›

Capitalization rates are often used to reflect the risk of an individual investment from a market stand point. The lower the cap rate, the lower the perceived risk of a particular investment is and thus the higher the cost of the asset.

Is 7% a good cap rate? ›

Average cap rates range from 4% to 10%. Generally, the higher the cap rate, the higher the risk. A cap rate above 7% may be perceived as a riskier investment, whereas a cap rate below 5% may be seen as a safer bet. If a property has a 10% cap rate, you should expect to recover your investment in about 10 years.

How do you price a property based on cap rate? ›

The same formula can be used to calculate the purchase price if you have the Cap rate and NOI. To solve for the price, just rearrange the original formula to: Purchase Price = NOI / Cap Rate.

Does cap rate change every year? ›

Every year, as you finalize your building's annual net operating income, your cap rate calculations should change. Rent will change based on your lease terms and if there is any vacancy.

What is a cap rate for dummies? ›

The cap rate of a property is determined based on the potential revenue and the risk level as compared to other properties. Importantly, the cap rate will not provide a total return on investment. Instead, it will indicate an estimate of how long it will take to recover the initial investment in the property.

Is 10% cap rate possible? ›

For example, a 10% cap rate is the same as a 10-multiple. An investor who pays $10 million for a building at a 10% cap rate would expect to generate $1 million of net operating income from that property each year.

What is the cap rate on a lease? ›

Net lease capitalization rate (which is popularly shortened to simply, net lease cap rate) is a calculation used to measure the expected investment return on a net lease property investment.

Is 12 percent cap rate good? ›

A good cap rate can be anything between 4%-12%. If you are in a location with high demand and high costs like New York City or Los Angeles 4% may be considered a good cap rate. A lower-demand area like an area that is developing or a rural neighborhood might see average cap rates of 10 percent or higher.

What is a good cap rate on an apartment complex? ›

Generally, a cap rate of 8-10% is considered a good cap rate for a rental property, however, cap rates can vary significantly depending on the market and the type of property. For example, a cap rate of 6-7% may be considered good for a multifamily property in a high-demand market.

What is a good cap rate for multifamily? ›

Historically, a good cap rate for multifamily is over 4% and could be as high as 10%. That range comes down to the fact that several factors can influence a good cap rate and possibly make a low cap rate look better or a good one look worse than it is. Interest rates are an important factor in assessing cap rates.

What is the cap rate 2% rule? ›

This is a general rule of thumb that determines a base level of rental income a rental property should generate. Following the 2% rule, an investor can expect to realize a gross yield from a rental property if the monthly rent is at least 2% of the purchase price.

What is the cap rate for Q1 2023? ›

Despite suppressed transaction volume, only registering 31 transactions in Q1 2023 vs. 70 in Q4 2022, cap rates have remained relatively unaffected, only increasing three basis points in the same time frame, landing at 5.09% vs. 5.06% in the prior quarter.

What is the going in cap rate for commercial real estate? ›

According to First National Realty Partners, average cap rates by property class are: Class A: 4-8% Class B: 6-9% Class C: 7-10%

What is the future of the cap rates? ›

With interest rates expected to peak later this year, the end of cap rate expansion may be in sight for most asset types. CBRE forecasts that the federal funds rate will likely exceed 5% in 2023, falling to about 2% by 2025.

What will Fed rates be at end of 2023? ›

1) Interest-rate forecast.

We project a year-end 2023 federal-funds rate of 4.75%, falling below 2.00% by mid-2025. That will help drive the 10-year Treasury yield down to 2.25% in 2025 from an average of 3.5% in 2023. We expect the 30-year mortgage rate to fall from an average 6.25% in 2025 to 4% in 2025.

What will the Fed do with rates in 2023? ›

The Fed could hint at a pause

When Fed policymakers released their economic estimates in March, they expected to raise interest rates to a range of 5 to 5.25 percent in 2023.

Is a lower cap rate better? ›

A higher cap rate indicates that the expected returns from a property are riskier, and real estate investors will pay less for such property. A lower cap rate represents a less risky property, and an investor will be more willing to pay above the property value to receive a lower yield.

Does a lower cap rate mean higher value? ›

Cap rates generally have an inverse relationship to the property value. The lower the cap rate, the higher the purchase price and vice versa. Using a cap rate to value commercial real estate is similar to how investors use multiples when valuing stocks or other equities. The concepts are essentially identical.

How do you reverse cap rate? ›

Let's say, for example, another project returns the same NOI of $50,000 per year on a $500k investment. That's a cap rate of 10%. But, if they say the property will sell for double what it is now, that winds up being a reversion cap rate of 5% ($50,000 / $1 million = 0.05 * 100% = 5%).

Are rising cap rates bad? ›

Generally, a high capitalization rate will indicate a higher level of risk, while a lower capitalization rate indicates lower returns but lower risk. That said, many analysts consider a "good" cap rate to be around 5% to 10%, while a 4% cap rate indicates lower risk but a longer timeline to recoup an investment.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Tish Haag

Last Updated:

Views: 6189

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (47 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Tish Haag

Birthday: 1999-11-18

Address: 30256 Tara Expressway, Kutchburgh, VT 92892-0078

Phone: +4215847628708

Job: Internal Consulting Engineer

Hobby: Roller skating, Roller skating, Kayaking, Flying, Graffiti, Ghost hunting, scrapbook

Introduction: My name is Tish Haag, I am a excited, delightful, curious, beautiful, agreeable, enchanting, fancy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.