05/14/2026
One of the biggest shifts in multifamily over the past few years has been the impact of rising interest rates, especially on floating rate debt.
Many properties were financed with bridge loans because they offered more flexibility than traditional agency debt through Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae. Unlike fixed-rate financing, floating rate debt moves with the market.
That became a major issue when rates increased rapidly.
Properties that were originally financed around 4% interest rates suddenly faced borrowing costs closer to 6.5% or 7%. In many cases, that increase severely reduced or completely erased cash flow.
This is part of what has created distress across portions of the market.
As debt costs rise, property values can compress, equity can evaporate, and some owners are forced to refinance, sell at a discount, or restructure altogether.
At the same time, these conditions are also reshaping the market.
The difference between fixed-rate agency debt and shorter-term floating rate debt has become hard to ignore, and operators today are placing far greater emphasis on debt structure, cash flow durability, and long-term risk management when evaluating opportunities.