Survey of Market Absorption of New Apartment Buildings

The Department of Housing and Urban Development conducts this survey in order to determine if the supply of rental housing is keeping pace with current and future needs. Additional information such as asking rent (or price for condominium unites) and number of bedrooms is also collected. We will now also asking availability of assisted living for "senior" (55+ restricted) buildings. The Survey of Market Absorption (SOMA) provides the data necessary to measure the rate at which new rental apartments and new condominium apartments are absorbed; that is, taken off the market, usually by being rented or sold, over the course of the first 12 months following completion of a building. The data are collected at quarterly intervals until the 12 months conclude, or until the units in a building are completely absorbed. The survey also provides estimates of certain characteristics, including asking rent/price, number of units, and number of bedrooms. The survey provides a basis for analyzing the degree to which new apartment construction is meeting the present and future needs of the public.

The latest form for Survey of Market Absorption of New Apartment Buildings expires 2026-09-30 and can be found here.