Articles

Five Advantages of Adding Fannie Mae Green Rewards to a Multifamily Loan

Since the Fannie Mae Green Rewards program launched in 2015, green financing has become a mainstay of commercial real estate. In addition to reducing the environmental impact of multifamily housing, the Green Rewards program creates a triple bottom line with increased cash flows, higher quality housing, and lower energy and water usage. With a high upside and little downside, the program is well worth multifamily borrowers’ consideration.

Articles

CRE Solutions for a Greener Planet Build Momentum

From California wildfires to rising sea levels to Florida hurricanes, the direct and indirect risks of climate change have grown in recent years, making a more substantial impact on the multifamily sector. As the need for sustainability becomes increasingly apparent, lawmakers and lenders have advanced programs and policies that show “going green” is a win-win.

Current Reports

Affordable Housing Trends Report Spring 2024

As housing costs spiral, rental affordability has become a more urgent issue, burdening a greater number of Americans. Arbor’s Affordable Housing Trends Report Spring 2024, developed in partnership with Chandan Economics, examines the major policies and programs shaping the marketplace at a time when overdue federal funding expansions have increased agency budgets.

Articles

What Is Driving Lifestyle Renter Demand?

Lifestyle renters — those who have the means to own but prefer to rent or are willing to pay more for apartments with amenities — have become a key driver of rental demand in single-family rental homes, build-to-rent communities, and other types of high-quality multifamily housing. With this small yet influential demographic growing, our research teams examine and explain the factors driving lifestyle renter demand.

Articles

Build-to-Rent Well-Positioned to Fill Housing Market Gap

With nearly one-fifth of multifamily properties now over 65 years old, it’s time to consider solutions for rejuvenating the rental housing stock in the U.S. While building rehabs are a tried-and-true solution, build-to-rent (BTR) is an alternative that is well-positioned to expand as Americans increasingly favor renting over homeownership.

Articles

U.S. Added 514,000 New Rental Households in 2023

In a year when inflation and elevated interest rates weakened affordability, the rental housing sector strengthened and expanded. An analysis of newly released U.S. Census Bureau Housing Vacancies and Homeownership data shows the number of rental households climbed in 2023.

General: 800.ARBOR.10

FREDDIE MAC®

Value-Add Loan

• Offers short-term, cost-effective financing for modest property upgrades ($10,000 to $25,000 per unit)
• Enhanced to improve property financing for rehabilitation work
• Competitive pricing; lower execution costs
• Interest-only and uncapped floating-rate loan
• Non-recourse and “one-stop shopping” for upgrades and permanent financing

Terms
  • Three years with one 12-month extension based on the borrower’s request and one optional 12-month extension based on Freddie Mac’s discretion
  • Floating-rate loan with full-term interest-only; no cap required
  • Standard 12-month lock-out with option for longer or shorter lock out based on borrower’s preference; borrower may pay off the loan at any time after the expiration of the lock-out period but must remit an exit fee of 1%; the exit fee will be waived if the loan is refinanced with Freddie Mac
  • Acquisitions and refinances; not assumable
  • Loan documentation at origination will include the Value-Add Rider, which will detail the terms/requirements of the rehabilitation
  • Escrows will include real estate taxes, insurance, and replacement reserves
  • 15% cash equity generally required
  • For longer-term ownership, cash-out is available provided a Completion Guaranty on budgeted improvements in an amount at least equal to the cash-out in place
Upfront Fee Standard 0.5% of loan amount nonrefundable upfront fee subject to adjustment depending on loan terms
Eligible Borrowers
  • Developers/operators with experience in multifamily property rehabilitation and in the local market with sufficient financial capacity
  • 1.5x the standard minimum net worth and liquidity requirements for guarantors
Eligible Property Types
  • Properties with no more than 500 total units in good locations
  • Well-constructed properties requiring modest repairs
  • Market laggards that require capital infusion and new/improved management
  • Real-estate owned properties in receivership that are capable of improved performance
  • Seniors housing, student housing and manufactured housing communities are not eligible
Amount
  • Maximum loan-to-purchase / loan-to-value (LTV) ratio: 85%
  • Minimum amortizing debt service coverage ratio (DSCR): 1.10x – 1.15x depending on market
  • Sizing based on a 7-year sizing note rate
  • Appraisal must include as-is and as-stabilized values; underwriting must support a 1.30x DSCR and 75% LTV based on as-stabilized value supported by the appraisal
  • Standard Freddie Mac underwriting based on as-is income and expense
  • Refinance Test not required
  • No pro-forma underwriting of future performance
Rehabilitation
  • Rehabilitation must commence within 90 days of loan origination and be completed within 33 months
  • Acceptable budget of $10,000 per unit to $25,000 per unit
  • Budget can be adjusted by as much as 20% without additional approval; 50% of the budget should be spent on unit interiors
  • Completion Guaranty or rehabilitation escrow required
  • Borrower/Servicer reporting required
At Loan Maturity/Refinance
  • Final engineer review of work completion and quality is required
  • Refinance with Freddie Mac with no exit fee; otherwise 1% applies
  • Freddie Mac will re-underwrite the loan according to then-current credit policy parameters
  • One-year borrower extension option is available for a 0.5% extension fee, assuming no event of default
  • Additional Freddie Mac extension option is available thereafter with a 1% extension fee
Fees Standard fees apply, including application fee and good faith deposit.

V020623

Request a Quote

Fill out a simple form and an expert loan originator will contact you shortly.