Rental Housing Finance Survey

Purpose

To provide current and continuous measure of financial, mortgage and property characteristics of multifamily rental housing properties in the United States.

The survey provides information on the financing of multifamily rental housing properties with emphasis on new originations for purchase, refinancing, and loan terms associated with these originations. In addition, the survey includes information on property characteristics, such as number of units, amenities available, rental income and expenditure information.

Analyses based on the RHFS data will help advise the executive and legislative branches in the development of multifamily housing policies, especially those pertaining to financing multifamily housing for target groups, such as low-income families and individuals and the elderly.

The data can also be used by businesses and other private entities involved in multifamily development, ownership and management to obtain detailed information on the financing options used by similar entities in the United States, and to obtain benchmark information on capital and operating expenditures, rental income, and the structure and design of these properties. Furthermore, researchers and policymakers can use these data to address various issues affecting their communities.

Key Topics

Multifamily financing, ownership patterns, origination, mortgages on properties, units and buildings on properties, units on property by bedroom count and housing for low-income families and individuals.

Respondents to the Survey

Owners or property managers of multifamily rental properties provide responses to the survey questions.

Sposoring Agency and Legal Authorities

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sponsors the survey under the authority of Title 12, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 1701 z-1, 1701 z-2(g) and 1701z-10a. The U.S. Census Bureau conducts the survey under the authority of Title 13, United States Code, Section 8 and is subject to the strict confidentiality requirements as specified in Title 13 U.S.C., Section 9.

Periodicity

The national survey is conducted biennially between January and May in even-numbered years. Metropolitan surveys are usually conducted once the national survey is complete in even-numbered years. The schedule is subject to adjustment based on feedback from respondents and budget constraints.

Release of Results

Tables from the survey data and public use micro-data files are released approximately 12 months after data collection.