DEFINING SUCCESS: How Owners Achieved Strong Multifamily Sale Outcomes in 2025
The multifamily owners who achieved strong sale outcomes in 2025 do not credit their success to perfectly timing the market. Instead, their results were driven by preparation, clear expectations, and defining what success meant to them. While transaction volume across the Puget Sound remained below peak levels, consistent patterns emerged among the deals that traded smoothly and at favorable pricing.
First, the successful seller executed on a long-term strategy to raise rents to market well before selling rather than making last-minute rent adjustments. They managed rent increases proactively, paid close attention to timing and notice requirements, and put their building on the market with rents at market or within 10% of market. In today’s more regulated and cautious environment, in-place rents carry far more weight than theoretical upside, which led to higher sale proceeds for these proactive owners.
Second, successful sellers developed a realistic understanding of value in today’s market. Rather than anchoring expectations to peak-cycle pricing, they aligned their pricing strategy with how buyers are underwriting risk and returns today. This allowed them to position their properties competitively and avoid prolonged marketing periods that often erode their leverage. Additionally, owners remained flexible on deal structure, not just price. By prioritizing certainty of closing and overall deal terms, they were able to navigate the transaction process with minimal hiccups, ultimately leading to a successful closing.
Most importantly, owners who clearly defined what a successful sale meant to them achieved the strongest outcomes. While the multifamily market has pulled back from its 2021 peak, owners continue to execute successful sales because they are focused on what the transaction accomplishes for them and their families. Whether the goal is freeing up time and energy, reallocating equity into a different investment vehicle, or reducing overall risk, owners who anchored their decision to life circumstances rather than price alone consistently left the closing table satisfied.
At Paragon, the Platt-Urquhart-Douglas team works with owners to think beyond today’s market and plan for the long term. We’re always happy to have a straightforward conversation about what makes sense for your property.
If you would like to know more about 1031 exchanges, want to know the market value of your investment property, or would like a referral to a tax, legal, or 1031 exchange professional, please feel free to reach out to anyone on the team: Brian Platt at Brian@Paragon-REA.com, (206) 251-8483; Michael Urquhart at Michael@ParagonREA.com, (425) 999-6650; Ben Douglas at Ben@ParagonREA.com, (206) 658-7247; or Rowan Davis at Rowan@Paragon-REA.com, (206) 406-9105.