The Best Free Sources of Multifamily Construction Data in 2025

The Best Free Sources of Multifamily Construction Data in 2025

Accessing reliable and up-to-date multifamily construction data is crucial for industry professionals. Here are some reputable free sources to consider:

1. U.S. Census Bureau

Housing Vacancies and Homeownership Reports: These annual reports provide statistics on housing vacancies, including data at the metro area and state levels. Historical tables date back to 1956, offering insights into housing inventories, rental and occupancy rates, and construction spending.

2. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

HUD USER: Established by HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research, HUD USER offers over 800 documents, including reports, data sets, and a bibliographic database. Many materials can be downloaded for free, covering topics like housing market conditions and policy development.

3. American Housing Survey (AHS)

Conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau and funded by HUD, the AHS is the largest regular national housing sample survey in the U.S. It provides data on various housing aspects, including apartments, single-family homes, and mobile homes, as well as information about the households occupying them.

4. Commercial Real Estate Brokerage Firms

Research Reports: Major firms like CBRE, JLL, and Cushman & Wakefield publish free market research reports on multifamily housing. These reports often include data on vacancy rates, rental rates, market trends, and construction activities.

5. Industry Publications

Urban Land Institute (ULI): ULI publishes magazines such as Urban Land and Multifamily Trends, which provide insights into multifamily housing developments, trends, and best practices.

While these free resources are valuable, they may have limitations in data granularity or timeliness. Paid services like CoStar, Yardi Matrix, or Real Capital Analytics offer extensive databases on multifamily construction projects and market analytics.

Additionally, local government websites and planning departments often provide data on building permits and upcoming construction projects, which can be valuable for understanding regional multifamily development trends.