Cost of living: Apartment construction costs for 2019

Homeownership isn’t what it used to be. Many young professionals, families, and retirees are turning to apartments for their convenience and affordability. Demand is far outpacing supply, and the imbalance is growing.

According to analysis completed by the National Multifamily Housing Council, the National Apartment Association, and Hoyt Advisory Services, the U.S. will see a demand for an additional 4.6 million apartments by 2030. That’s more than 400,000 new apartment homes per year that must be planned and built.

RSMeans data from Gordian features more than 100 building and infrastructure models, including models for apartment buildings ranging from modest one-story complexes fit for a neighborhood side-street and those for a 24-story behemoth that belongs in a bustling city center. The table below shows the cost per square foot for constructing apartment buildings in 10 of the cities with the highest search volume on apartments.com.

RSMeans data from Gordian can be localized to more than 970 locations. For more detailed information on predictive cost data, square foot models, or construction cost data, visit rsmeans.com/bdandc.

The Real Estate Roundtable, a group including major real estate firms such as Brookfield Properties, Blackstone, Empire State Realty Trust, Starwood Capital, as well as multiple major banks and CRE professional organizations, recently sent a letter to President Joe Biden on the implications of remote work within the federal government.

Multifamily Housing | Jan 9, 2023

New York City advances plan to build 500,000 new housing units

After New York Mayor Eric Adams announced a “Moonshot” plan to build 500,000 new housing units over the next 10 years in early December, he moved quickly to jumpstart the process.

1930 Broadway in New York City, where Glenwood Management first installed CarbonQuest's system. Photo courtesy CarbonQuest

Sustainability | Jan 9, 2023

Innovative solutions emerge to address New York’s new greenhouse gas law

New York City’s Local Law 97, an ambitious climate plan that includes fines for owners of large buildings that don’t significantly reduce carbon emissions, has spawned innovations to address the law’s provisions.

Fire and Life Safety | Jan 9, 2023

Why lithium-ion batteries pose fire safety concerns for buildings

Lithium-ion batteries have become the dominant technology in phones, laptops, scooters, electric bikes, electric vehicles, and large-scale battery energy storage facilities. Here’s what you need to know about the fire safety concerns they pose for building owners and occupants.

Multifamily Housing | Dec 29, 2022

San Jose is largest U.S. city to abolish minimum parking for new housing

San Jose, Calif., recently became the largest U.S. city to strike down minimum parking requirements for new housing development. The city reversed zoning devised in the 1950s that reputedly gave it the worst sprawl of parking space in northern California.

Codes and Standards | Dec 29, 2022

New York City multifamily owners concerned over fires caused by e-bikes

In 2022, there have been nearly 200 fires and six deaths in New York City caused by lithium-ion batteries used in mobility devices such as electric bikes and scooters.