Competition for multifamily assets is fierce. While there are already a lot of investors competing for deals, a new group of buyers is showing up to the offering table: first-time real estate investors. On Transaction Talks panel at RealShare Apartments, David Harrington, EVP and national director at Matthews Multifamily Advisors, said, “We are seeing an influx of people that have never owned an investment property, but they have capital that they want to place.” He wasn't alone. The panelists—which included moderator Joshua Luchs, first VP of Investments at Marcus & Millichap; Otto Ozen, EVP at The Mogharebi Group; Jeff Burns, managing director at Walker & Dunlop; Jonathan Nikfarjam, managing principal of multifamily investment sales at Coldwell Banker Commercial Advisors El Segundo Office; and Chad Sanderson, principal of business development and acquisitions at the Bascom Group—agreed that there are more new players entering the market.

“We have seen a lot of new money enter the market,” Nikfarjam said on the panel. “I have definitely worked with a lot of new buyers, and that is someone that needs some handholding.” Sanderson added that 20% of assets sold in the last 12 months have gone to new buyers, and agreed that they need more handholding. “There is a lot more handholding, and so you need a great broker,” he said.

In addition to new buyers, the panelists are also seeing more activity from foreign buyers.