The U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have released new summary tables and public use files from the 2024 Rental Housing Finance Survey (RHFS). The survey gathers data on the financial, mortgage, and property characteristics of residential properties in the United States that include at least one rental unit.
According to the Census Bureau, “The RHFS provides measures of financial, mortgage and property characteristics of U.S. residential properties with at least one housing rental unit. It is the only data source that provides a comprehensive picture of mortgage financing for all types of rental properties.”
The survey collects a range of information, including property value, purchase price, year built, year acquired, number of buildings, number of rental units, and details about recent improvements or upgrades. It also examines rental status and monthly rents for residential buildings, as well as any commercial use within these structures.
Additional data points cover how properties are managed and owned, benefits received from various government or nongovernmental programs, and detailed mortgage characteristics such as the number of mortgages on each property, loan amounts (original and outstanding), and payment frequency.
Data collection for this HUD-sponsored survey took place between June and November 2024. The RHFS is recognized as the only resource offering a full view of mortgage financing across all kinds of rental properties.
Further information can be found on the Rental Housing Finance Survey (RHFS) webpage: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/rhfs.html
