Notice2025-17260
Request for Information on the Uses of Survey of Market Absorption of New Multifamily Apartments (SOMA) Data
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 9, 2025
Issuing agencies
Housing and Urban Development Department
Abstract
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is evaluating current needs for data from the Survey of Market Absorption of New Multifamily Units (SOMA). As part of this evaluation, HUD is soliciting information from the public on uses of SOMA data and other comments or concerns about the SOMA.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 172 (Tuesday, September 9, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 172 (Tuesday, September 9, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 43468]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-17260]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
[Docket No. FR-6556-N-01]
Request for Information on the Uses of Survey of Market
Absorption of New Multifamily Apartments (SOMA) Data
AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and
Research, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
ACTION: Request for information.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is
evaluating current needs for data from the Survey of Market Absorption
of New Multifamily Units (SOMA). As part of this evaluation, HUD is
soliciting information from the public on uses of SOMA data and other
comments or concerns about the SOMA.
DATES: Comments are requested on or before November 10, 2025. Late-
filed comments will be considered to the extent practicable.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments responding
to the specific questions in this Request for Information as well as
any other concerns about the SOMA.
1. Electronic Submission of Comments. Interested persons may submit
comments electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>.
2. Submission of Comments by Mail. Comments may be submitted by
mail to the Regulations Division, Office of General Counsel, Department
of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW, Room 10276,
Washington, DC 20410-0500.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Carter, Director, Housing and
Demographic Analysis Division, Office of Policy Development and
Research, 451 7th Street SW, Room 8222, Washington, DC 20410-0500,
telephone number 202-402-5873 (this is not a toll-free number). HUD
welcomes and is prepared to receive calls from individuals who are deaf
or hard of hearing, as well as individuals with speech and
communication disabilities. To learn more about how to make an
accessible telephone call, please visit: <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/telecommunications-relay-service-trs">https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/telecommunications-relay-service-trs</a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The purpose of the Survey of Market Absorption of New Multifamily
Units (SOMA) is to provide data on the rate at which different types of
new rental apartments and new condominiums/cooperative apartments are
absorbed, that is, taken off the market, usually by being rented or
sold, over the course of the first twelve months following completion
of a building. The SOMA uses the Survey of Construction (SOC) as its
sampling base. It provides data on the time between completion and
rental or sale of new multifamily units and data on rents, sales
prices, and size of apartments rented or sold. It is an indicator of
how multifamily construction responds to consumer demand. SOMA data,
tables, and documentation can be found here: <a href="https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/soma.html">https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/soma.html</a>.
II. Specific Information Requested
HUD is soliciting information from the public on uses of SOMA data
and other comments or concerns with the SOMA. HUD is interested in all
comments relevant to the SOMA. We are especially interested in
receiving input from interested parties, including government policy
makers, academic researchers, and SOMA data users, on the questions
outlined below.
1. What important data in the SOMA do the public use to analyze
current absorption of multifamily housing units and/or forecast
absorption of multifamily housing units?
2. Are there concerns related to reducing the scope of, or
eliminating entirely, the SOMA?
3. Is there current SOMA content that is no longer relevant or has
limited usefulness? Is there content that should be added to the SOMA?
4. Are there private sector data sources that provide comparable
information to the SOMA?
5. Are there any other concerns about included or missing content
in the SOMA?
John Gibbs,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and
Research.
[FR Doc. 2025-17260 Filed 9-8-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 9, 2025.
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