August 21, 2026
Apartment vacancy declined as demand absorbed part of the construction wave, while concessions fell again in July and rents reaccelerated across more markets; however, South-region oversupply continued to pressure rents and create sharply different outcomes among metros. Multifamily starts and completions both fell in July, development confidence weakened with the occupancy outlook, and investors faced a cap-rate-driven value reset despite more plentiful bank debt options and a 30% increase in large CRE sales. Locally, D.C.-area rents remained flat while the region posted one of the country’s highest concession rates, Kimco sold a Pentagon Centre high-rise for $211 million, and a 376-unit, three-building redevelopment of Gaithersburg’s former missile site advanced with new details.