The Apartment Industry and Residents Contribute $3.4 Trillion to the National Economy

 A new study commissioned by the National Apartment Association (NAA) and the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) offers a detailed look at the economic contribution to the national economy by renters and the apartment industry. 


The report indicates that 328,000 new apartment homes are needed each year to meet demand, but producing that housing requires new approaches to development, more incentives, and fewer restrictions.

Recent apartment construction has contributed more than $150 billion to the national economy and created 752,000 jobs.

Areas with high to moderate barriers to new apartments include Seattle and Portland.

Comparison - Seattle vs. Portland Metro (Survey Data)

Total Apartment Homes | 356,000 vs. 178,600

Total Annual Economic Contribution | $34.4 billion vs. $32.2 billion

Total Jobs Supported | 101,800 vs. 160,100

Total Apartment Residents |   679,700  vs. 345,200

Apartments Built Before 1980 | 40%  vs. 41%

Highlights from the report include:

• All four sectors of the industry have posted very strong growth, punctuated by the construction industry ramping up to meet the unprecedented demand for apartments this cycle – reaching a height of 346,900 completions in 2017, up from 129,900 in 2011.
  
• Previous research by Hoyt Advisory Services found that we need to build an average of 328,000 apartments per year at a variety of price points to meet existing demand, which would bring continued economic activity. This number of multifamily completions has only been surpassed twice since 1989.
  
• Hoyt research also found that a significant portion of the existing apartment stock will need to be renovated in the coming years, boosting spending in the renovation and repair sector.
  
• The combined contribution of apartment construction, operations, renovation, and resident spending equals $3.4 trillion per year, or more than $9.3 billion daily. 

“The apartment industry’s contribution is one that has grown in recent years, fueled by increased rental demand overall as population and employment growth continue and renting becomes a preferred tenure choice for millions of Americans,” said Eileen Marrinan, Managing Director of Eigen 10 Advisors, which partnered with Hoyt. 

“Construction is still moving ahead, as there’s a need for additional apartments in many states. And, due to an abundance of aging stock, there’s a growing need for renovations and improvements on existing apartment buildings. Construction and renovation/repair will provide a sizable boost in jobs – and the economy – nationwide, and will continue to be a hefty contribution to the country’s economy for decades,” said NMHC President Douglas M. Bibby. 

“The multifamily industry is an economic engine powering the economy very significantly at the national, state and local levels,” said NAA President Robert Pinnegar. “This clearly illustrates the tremendous positive impact our apartments have on the communities they serve.”

This study provides data to back up the assertion that the apartment industry contributes to national, state and local tax economies. Tax payments associated with apartment operations, as well as tax payments by apartment residents, contributed $408.9 billion to the national economy. These taxes support schools, improvements to local infrastructure, and other critical services in communities across the country. 

Additional information can be found at http://www.weareapartments.org.