2026 is shaping up to be the transitional year many apartment industry pros hoped that 2025 would be, as it closed out with flat rents and macroeconomic uncertainty.

Many markets are still absorbing high levels of apartment deliveries from recent years, and some expect the declining supply will allow rents to increase this year. Despite strong ongoing demand for apartments though, high unemployment, low consumer confidence and the federal immigration crackdown are casting shadows.

Still, industry experts think that capital should be more attainable and costs should go down this year, though getting projects off the ground will be a heavy lift. Nonetheless, recruiters expect that hiring for multifamily executives will pick up as firms gear up for an aggressive approach in 2026.

Read on for more about the biggest challenges and opportunities multifamily pros see this year.