Where Big Money Gets Spent on Apartment Construction

Between 2000 and 2016, developers spent more than $10 billion on apartment construction in more than half of the country's largest cities.

1 minute read

April 18, 2018, 9:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Texas Downtown

BalloonDude / Shutterstock

According to a new report by Apartment List, developers spent a total of $27.6 billion between 2000 and 2016 to construct new apartments in the city of Dallas.

That total puts Dallas third on the list for the value of apartment building in that time, behind New York City ($64.9 billion) and Los Angeles ($28.4 billion).

Another key finding, quoted directly from the report: "The share of new residential spending going to multifamily construction has increased in all of the 25 largest metros, in some cases drastically."

For more recent data on housing construction, Laura Kusisto reports on new data from the U.S. Department of Commerce (paywall) finding that single-family construction slowed in March, while multi-family picked up the pace. 

Tuesday, April 17, 2018 in Dallas News

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

U-Haul truck on road with blurred grassy roadside in background.

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?

Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

March 27, 2025 - Alan Mallach

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

People sitting and walking in plaza in front of historic Benton County Courthouse in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners

How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.

March 28, 2025 - Emily McCoy

Two white garbage trucks stopped on New York City street.

How the ‘Direct Vision’ Design Approach Saves Lives

Designing large trucks to ensure better visibility for drivers can reduce fatal crashes and improve workplace safety.

30 minutes ago - Smart Cities Dive

Rendering of proposed greenway design for downtown San Diego street.

San Diego Swaps Parking Lane for Kid-Friendly Mini Park

The block-long greenway will feature interactive play equipment and landscaping.

April 7 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Oil well on hilltop in Los Angeles with city neighborhoods in background.

Tracking the Invisible: Methane Leaks From LA’s Neighborhood Oil Sites

Environmental advocates are using infrared technology to monitor and document methane leaks from neighborhood oil sites, filling regulatory gaps and pushing for stronger protections to safeguard community health and the climate.

April 7 - LAist