US Multifamily Loan Balances Surge 53% Since 2019

Key Takeaways

• US multifamily loan balances rose 53% from Q1 2019 to Q1 2026, the fastest percentage growth among CRE asset classes.

• Core commercial and residential categories each added over $440B in balance sheet debt, while multifamily gained $229B.

• Growth patterns highlight shifting risk exposure and changing priorities across bank loan portfolios amid broader lending volatility.

Bank Lending Exposures Reshaped

According to the Commercial Observer, CRED iQ reported that US bank real estate loan balances hit $6.14T in Q1 2026, marking a significant evolution in the composition of CRE and residential debt since 2019. Multifamily lending posted the highest percentage increase, but the largest absolute gains occurred in core commercial and residential categories. These shifts underscore a realignment of risk and focus within US bank real estate portfolios as lending priorities adapt to evolving market conditions...

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RSK: You can decipher yourself but basically Banks are heavy into CRE loans including multifamily, yet home lending is the largest yet multifamily surges.