Jacksonville Multifamily Report – Fall 2020

The metro's average rate was up nearly 1 percent in the third quarter, significantly outperforming the national trend.

Jacksonville rent evolution, click to enlarge

Jacksonville rent evolution, click to enlarge

Months into economic volatility, Jacksonville’s multifamily sector showcased resilience in the face of ongoing challenges. Rents felt the initial shock of the pandemic, but July and August proved strong for the metro’s rental market, as rates began to improve. As of September, the average price was up 0.8 percent to $1,140 on a trailing three-month basis, bucking nationwide trends. Meanwhile, the average U.S. rate was up only 0.1 percent to $1,463.

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Mirroring national currents, COVID-19 has taken a toll on the metro’s hospitality sector, which was down 11,900 jobs in the 12 months ending in July. However, reopening efforts boosted the local labor force as well as hotel occupancy levels, which were close to 55 percent as of October, according to the CEO of Visit Jacksonville. Meanwhile, Amazon plans to add 500 jobs through its $106 million Imeson Park fulfillment center—slated to open in 2021—further underpinning the metro’s path to recovery.

Jacksonville sales volume and number of properties sold, click to enlarge

Jacksonville sales volume and number of properties sold, click to enlarge

As of September, 5,027 units were under construction in the metro. While development was deemed essential during safer-at-home orders, developers added only 1,950 units to inventory in the first three quarters of 2020. Transaction activity was down, as well, with only $533 million in multifamily assets trading in 2020 through September—a 43 percent decline compared to the same interval last year.

Read the full Yardi Matrix report.