Inland Empire Multifamily Report – August 2024
Many metrics are in lockstep with national averages.
The Inland Empire’s multifamily market rebounded in the second quarter of 2024, posting sustained rent growth, up 0.4 percent on a three-month basis through June, to $2,140. Meanwhile, the U.S. average advertised asking rent rose 0.3 percent, to $1,739. The occupancy rate in stabilized properties marked a 50-basis-point decline year-over-year through June but remained healthy at 95.0 percent, above the 94.5 percent U.S. figure.
In the 12 months ending in April, the Inland Empire’s employment market expanded 1.4 percent, on par with the U.S. rate. This was the equivalent of 21,000 jobs. Three sectors lost 11,500 jobs combined—trade, transportation and utilities, leisure and hospitality and manufacturing. Meanwhile, gains were led by education and health services (18,700 jobs) and government (12,000 jobs). The unemployment rate stood at 4.3 percent in May, trailing the 4.0 percent U.S. rate and outperforming California’s 5.2 percent, according to preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Notable projects underway in the metro include the Epicenter Master Plan and Eastvale’s downtown and civic center.
During the first half of the year, developers delivered just 554 units and, as of June, the pipeline had 8,388 units under construction. Meanwhile, investment activity totaled just $177 million, for a price per unit that decreased 1.3 percent year-to-date, to $253,290, well above the $180,183 U.S. average.
