Richmond Multifamily Report – Spring 2021
On the heels of a very strong 2020, the metro's multifamily market has continued to outperform despite economic woes.
Richmond rent evolution, click to enlarge
Richmond’s economic anchors, diverse economy and relatively affordable cost of living compared to other East Coast markets has helped it withstand the pandemic’s blows. The metro displayed healthy fundamentals, with strong demand boosting rent expansion despite robust supply. Rents rose 0.3 percent on a trailing three-month basis through February, outperforming the U.S. rate by 20 basis points. The occupancy rate in stabilized properties increased by 100 basis points in the 12 months ending in January, to 96.3 percent.
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Richmond sales volume and number of properties sold, click to enlarge
The unemployment rate displayed a steady recovery path, dropping to 4.9 percent as of November in Richmond and to 5.1 percent in the Hampton Roads area. Job gains marked the third consecutive month of recovery, clocking in at -4.6 percent for the 12 months ending in December, outperforming the -6.8 percent national figure. Trade, transportation and utilities and financial activities gained 1,900 jobs combined. Professional and business services—Richmond’s third-largest sector—shrunk by 4.9 percent, but company expansions and relocations have been announced in the metro.
Developers brought online 1,426 units in 2021 through February, following a bountiful 2020 when 4,610 units were delivered, marking the best year of the decade. Meanwhile, transaction activity resumed in the third quarter—a trend that continued in 2021 with $252 million in multifamily assets trading through February.
