Pittsburgh Multifamily Report – Spring 2021
During a recent 12-month stretch, the metro’s rent growth rate has roughly mirrored the national average.
Pittsburgh rent evolution, click to enlarge
Pittsburgh’s multifamily market continues to face its share of challenges, though the metro is showing some signs of recovery. Rents were up 0.3 percent on a trailing three-month basis through February, exceeding national growth. Working-class Renter-by-Necessity rents expanded by 0.3 percent, as demand continued to grow for lower-cost units across the metro.
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The metro’s economy took a significant hit over the past year, with job losses totaling 86,300 in the 12 months ending in December. Unemployment stood at 6.6 percent in December, slightly leading the national rate of 6.7 percent. Pittsburgh’s diversifying economy could prove to be a driver of long-term growth, however technology firms raised nearly $1 billion in the metro last year, according to an Ernst & Young and Innovation Works report.
Pittsburgh sales volume and number of properties sold, click to enlarge
While multifamily transactions in the first two months of 2021 totaled only $15 million, last year’s volume of $245 million was a nearly 5 percent increase from 2019, despite challenges brought about by the pandemic. Pittsburgh’s low price points may drive additional investment due to growing renter demand for lower-cost units. Some 3,000 units were under construction in February, with more than one-third breaking ground in 2020. Though deliveries slowed last year, we expect an uptick in 2021 with more than 1,000 units slated to come online by the end of summer.
