The number of distressed apartment properties continues to grow into 2026.
In January, issues compounded in Denver, where two properties with Freddie Mac loans entered servicing. In Houston, Rao Polavarapu’s Falls Apartment Group saw another property, Falls of West Oaks, face financial issues.
The numbers also back up reports of mounting distress in the apartment sector. Multifamily saw the second-largest increase in commercial mortgage-backed securities delinquencies among real estate sectors in January, with its rate rising 30 basis points to 6.94% month over month, according to a report from data firm Trepp. The multifamily CMBS special servicing rate moved 6 bps higher MOM to 8.14% in January.
Financial issues are especially apparent at the class C level, where rising costs and falling rents hammered property owners.
“Where you've got occupancy at 85% and economic occupancy at 78% and the loan is coming due, I think the lenders are going to say the gig is up,” said Chris Nebenzahl, vice president of rental research at Irvine, California-based John Burns Research & Consulting. “Either sell and get what you can, or we'll take the keys back.”
As more owners lose their properties, Multifamily Dive will be covering the situation. Here, we round up the problem loans that have surfaced around the country since January 2023. Please check this page for regular updates.
