David Brickman sits down with Sam Zell
Freddie Mac Multifamily senior vice president David Brickman sits down with Sam Zell, chairman of Chicago-based Equity International. In their exchange, Zell discusses recent multifamily housing trends and what they mean for the industry’s future.
“This is a semi golden age for apartments,” Zell says, adding that the single most demographic issue is the delaying of marriage. It delays home-ownership, and promotes multifamily living situations, creating more demand. Home-ownership rates may drop to the 50 percent range in five years, he estimates, as more people adopt an urban lifestyle.
With home-ownership, overbuilding, and financial recovery leading the discussion, Zell remains pretty confident about the multifamily sphere for years to come.