San Diego Multifamily Report – February 2022
The city now sports one of the tightest rental markets in the U.S.
San Diego rent evolution, click to enlarge
San Diego’s multifamily market rebounded last year, sustained by strong demand paired with limited inventory expansion. This has led rents to rise 1.1 percent on a trailing three-month basis through December 2021, to $2,370. Meanwhile, occupancy increased to 97.8 percent as of November, up 1.5 percent year-over-year, signaling one of the tightest rental markets in the country.
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San Diego sales volume and number of properties sold, click to enlarge
The unemployment rate in San Diego improved to 4.6 percent in November, a 340-basis-point improvement since January, according to preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The employment market gained 61,600 jobs in the 12 months ending in October, accounting for a 5.4 percent expansion, 10 basis points above the U.S. rate. The leisure and hospitality sector led gains (26,400 jobs), but it’s the professional and business services and biotech sectors that are likely to continue driving growth. Announced company expansions include Apple, Google, Amazon and Walmart Labs.
Developers delivered just 2,797 units in 2021, marking the second-slowest year in a decade. Another 8,154 units were under construction going into 2022. Meanwhile, transaction volume marked a new high, surpassing $2.7 billion last year, with investors most interested in value-add opportunities. Consequently, the average price per unit slid 5.4 percent year-over-year, to $313,236.
