Market Report
Columbus Multifamily Market Report
1Q 2026
Investor Confidence Holds as Columbus
Navigates More Tempered Economic Expansion
Industrial project delays could weigh on near-term renter demand. Since the pandemic, Columbus has seen a steady inflow of capital, particularly in the technology sector. This has fueled higher-paying jobs, pushing household income growth to rank among the top 10 nationally and second highest in the Midwest in 2025. Major corporate expansions, including Intel’s semiconductor facility, the Honda-LG EV battery plant, and Anduril’s Arsenal-1, have been central to this momentum. However, this growth is slowing, as Intel’s Ohio One project has been delayed to 2030, and Amazon and Google’s data center expansions in New Albany are facing growing scrutiny from residents. These uncertainties could soften renter demand in the short term, contributing to a modest uptick in the metro’s vacancy rate this year. Meanwhile, near-term deliveries are concentrated in the Downtown-University area and Far East Columbus near Reynoldsburg. As a result, urban areas are expected to post slightly higher vacancy — around 6 percent — while suburban submarkets remain tighter, with rates below 4 percent.
TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE
