Download the 2026 Multifamily Annual Report

Welcome to Building Design+Construction’s fourth Multifamily Annual Report. Every year since 2023, the editors of BD+C have consulted with dozens of leading multifamily design and construction firms, industry economists, developers, and other market experts to publish this comprehensive report on emerging trends, innovations, opportunities, and obstacles in the $115 billion U.S. multifamily construction market. The 2026 Multifamily Annual Report includes four sections (six reports in all) that cover the top 10 trends in office-to-residential developments, luxury rental housing, and market-rate rental housing; the 2027 market outlook for multifamily construction; exclusive research on trending and emerging amenities and design features for multifamily housing developments; and 19 innovations from multifamily design and construction firms.

- David Barista, Editorial Director
- Quinn Purcell, Managing Editor
- Robert Cassidy, Contributing Editor
- Novid Parsi, Contributing Editor

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MEET THE EXPERTS
The BD+C editors connected with more than 75 multifamily market experts for this special report. Meet our contributors and sponsors.

SECTION 1
2027 MULTIFAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK
Top construction economists and multifamily experts share their take on the current and future states of the $115 billion U.S. multifamily construction market.
By Novid Parsi, Contributing Editor

SECTION 2
MULTIFAMILY SUBSECTOR TRENDS
Top 10 Trends in Office-to-Residential Developments
Vacant office space is being transformed into more than 90,000 apartment units in cities across the country.
By Robert Cassidy, Contributing Editor

Top 10 Trends in Market-Rate Rental Housing
To compete in the current climate, multifamily developments are finding ways to distinguish themselves from the pack.
By Novid Parsi, Contributing Editor

Top 10 Trends in Luxury Rental Housing
Luxury properties are moving toward an experience-based model, designed to provide invisible comfort and a full live-work-play lifestyle.
By Quinn Purcell, Managing Editor

SECTION 3
EXCLUSIVE RESEARCH
Stadium Pools, Airbnb Units, Robot Package Delivery: Explore What's Next in the Multifamily Amenities War
In-unit washer/dryers and entertainment spaces like pools and lounges are most in-demand when it comes to amenities and features in multifamily housing developments, but emerging offerings like package delivery centers, co-working spaces, and stadium pools are growing in importance, according to our 2026 Multifamily Amenities Survey. 
By David Barista, Editorial Director

SECTION 4
INNOVATIONS ROUNDUP
19 Innovations and Ideas in the Multifamily Market for 2026
We asked leading multifamily sector firms to report their single-biggest innovation from the past 12 months. Here is a collection of our favorite multifamily innovations for 2026.
Compiled by David Barista, Editorial Director