Multifamily Production Index shows improvement in Q1
The Multifamily Production Index (MPI), a leading indicator for the multi-family market released by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), has recorded an index level of 51 -- its highest reading since the third quarter of 2005 -- up from 49 in the fourth quarter.
The MPI measures builder and developer sentiment about current conditions in the multi-family market on a scale of 0 to 100. This is the seventh consecutive quarter that the index has increased.
The MPI provides a composite measure of three key elements of the multi-family housing market: construction of low-rent units, market-rate rental units and “for-sale" units, or condominiums. Any number over 50 means that more respondents report conditions are improving than report conditions are getting worse. In the first quarter of 2012, the MPI component tracking builder and developer perceptions of market-rate rental properties recorded an all-time high of 69, while low-rent units dipped to 53. For-sale units increased to 37, which is the highest reading for this component since the fourth quarter of 2005.
"In spite of continuing difficulties in the capital markets, it appears that new construction is underway,” said W. Dean Henry, president of Legacy Partners Residential in Foster City, Calif., and chairman of NAHB’s Multifamily Leadership Board. “This is certain to help satisfy some of the pent up demand that has occurred over the past several years."
The Multifamily Vacancy Index (MVI), which measures the multi-family housing industry's perception of vacancies, dropped to 31, the lowest recording since the the index was set up in 2003. With the MVI, lower numbers indicate fewer vacancies. The MVI has decreased considerably in the last three years, after peaking at 70 in the second quarter of 2009.
“Multi-family construction continues to be a bright spot in the overall housing market,” said NAHB chief economist David Crowe. “However, as indicated by the MVI, demand for apartments is now quite high, and production is still very low in a historic context and in the context of what we project is necessary to meet long-term demand.”