Retail properties had the highest capitalization rates in the United States in 2023, followed by offices. The cap rate for office real estate was **** percent in the fourth quarter of the year and was forecast to rise further to **** percent in 2024. Cap rates measure the expected rate of return on investment, and show the net operating income of a property as a percentage share of the current asset value. While a higher cap rate indicates a higher rate of return, it also suggests a higher risk. Why have cap rates increased? The increase in cap rates is a consequence of a repricing in the commercial real estate sector. According to the National NCREIF Property Return Index, prices for commercial real estate declined across all property types in 2023. Rental growth was slow during the same period, resulting in a negative annual return. The increase in cap rates reflects the increased risk in the investment environment. Pricing uncertainty in the commercial real estate sector Between 2014 and 2021, commercial property prices in the U.S. enjoyed steady growth. Access to credit with low interest rates facilitated economic growth and real estate investment. As inflation surged in the following two years, lending policy tightened. That had a significant effect on the sector. First, it worsened sentiment among occupiers. Second, it led to a decline in demand for commercial spaces and commercial real estate investment volumes. Uncertainty about the future development of interest rates and occupier demand further contributed to the repricing of real estate assets.

The largest owner of apartments in the United States was Greystar, an international developer and manager headquartered in Charleston, SC. In 2024, Greystar owned nearly 109,000 units. MAA, a Tennessee-based real estate investment trust, ranked second, with 85,000 apartments owned. Real estate investment trusts The majority of the largest owners of apartments in the U.S. are real estate investment trusts (REITs), which are companies who own (and usually operate) income producing real estate. REITs were created in 1960, when the Cigar Excise Tax Extension permitted investment in large-scale diversified real estate portfolios through the purchase and sale of liquid securities. This effectively aligned investment in real estate with other asset classes. In 2023, there were approximately 200 REITs in the United States with a market capitalization of 1.4 trillion U.S. dollars. Apartments in the United States The rental return for apartments in the U.S. has been steadily climbing in recent times, with the national monthly median rent for an unfurnished apartment steadily increasing since 2012. Over this period, apartment vacancy rates have been decreasing across the country, suggesting that demand outweighs supply. Accordingly, large-scale investment in apartments by REITs is likely to continue into the foreseeable future.