Freddie Mac Multifamily on Track to Exceed Affordable Housing Goals

According to a recent release by Freddie Mac, multifamily housing volume totaled over $49 billion, including $48.3 billion in multifamily financing and over $833 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity investments. 

According to its mission statement, which is approved by federal lawmakers, the company met its mission-driven affordable housing targets by supporting 423,177 affordable rental units across the country. 

The Freddie Mac data released today indicates that the company will achieve all of its 2023 Multifamily affordable housing goals set by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). 

In total, the FHFA set a goal for Fannie Mae to fund 50% of “mission-driven affordable housing” but far exceeded this number by funding 66% of production volume. More than 67% of goal-eligible units financed through loan acquisitions were affordable to low-income residents earning less than 80% of area median income (AMI) and more than 20% were affordable to very low-income residents with incomes no greater than 50% of AMI, surpassing both goals. In total, 92% of all units financed in 2023 were affordable at or below 120% of AMI. 

“In 2023, Freddie Mac Multifamily was proud to again surpass our ambitious affordable housing goals, despite significant headwinds facing the overall market,” said Kevin Palmer, head of Multifamily for Freddie Mac. “That is a credit to our team, our Optigo lenders and their borrowers. We continue to be focused on and driven by all aspects of our mission. In addition to supporting affordability, in a difficult market like this one, when other liquidity providers step back, Freddie Mac Multifamily remains a steady provider of market rate loans, helping to support liquidity and stability in all market conditions.” 

Freddie Mac achieved it’s “Duty to Serve” target in 2023 by fulfilling LIHTC equity investments; this means that Freddie Mac is poised to increase in LIHTC equity cap for 2024. Since 2018, Freddie Mac Multifamily has committed over $4 billion in LIHTC equity, ensuring nearly 30,000 units of affordable housing were created or preserved. 

According to Freddie Mac, in 2023, Freddie Mac Multifamily helped to create and preserve affordable rental housing by funding a record $2.6 billion in forward conversions, which supported more than 21,000 newly constructed or rehabilitated affordable units. In addition, Freddie Mac Multifamily issued new commitments to fund $2.3 billion in future years, supporting over 22,000 units that will be constructed or rehabilitated. The forward program enhances the supply of new and rehabilitated affordable housing by providing certainty of permanent financing, even in volatile markets. 

In addition, Freddie Mac Multifamily financed more than $13 billion in Targeted Affordable Housing in 2023, supporting nearly 108,000 rent-restricted affordable units. As Freddie Mac Multifamily works to advance resident-centered housing, 2023 marked a milestone in financing nearly 29,000 manufactured housing community pads with tenant protections that met or exceeded the standards laid out in its Duty to Serve Plan. 

Palmer added, “In a housing market where affordability continues to be a major impediment for consumers, our team financed more than 423,000 affordable rental units. We are proud of our ability to help hundreds of thousands of families live in a place they can call home.” 

Click here to learn more about Freddie Mac’s multifamily efforts.