Viking Capital Newsletter: May 2025

Viking Capital Newsletter: May 2025

In today’s economic climate, wealth isn’t built by simply saving—it’s built by making your money work smarter. As inflation chips away at idle cash and volatility disrupts traditional assets, more investors are shifting their focus toward real estate strategies that emphasize stable cash flow, tax efficiency, and long-term value creation.

At Viking Capital, we’re committed to helping our investors stay ahead of the curve—not by chasing headlines, but by aligning with fundamentals. One of the clearest signals we continue to follow?

Migration trends.

We continue to focus on high-growth metros with:

  • Consistent net in-migration that reflects long-term population growth, not short-term spikes
  • Inflows of high-income residents relocating from more expensive metros, driving demand for quality rental housing
  • These migration indicators help us identify where the future is headed—so we can invest where demand is durable and upside potential is strongest
  • Family-friendly suburbs and lifestyle cities where population growth is paired with strong schools, amenities, and livability
  • Markets with limited new multifamily development, where supply remains constrained even as demand rises
  • Submarkets in the path of growth, benefiting from regional expansion, infrastructure investment, and employer relocation
In this episode of Wealth Unfiltered, we’re breaking down why investing beats saving. Perfect for first-time investors and young professionals, we cover key concepts like traditional vs. alternative investments, inflation’s impact on savings, dollar cost averaging, and strategies for building wealth and passive income.
Best Ways to Grow Your Money: Why Investing Beats Saving
As always, if you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to our Investor Relations Team. 

Onward & Upward,

A major tax bill just passed the House—and if it clears the Senate, it could have a big impact on your multifamily investments.

Here’s what matters to you:

✅ 100% Bonus Depreciation Returns (2025–2029)

Viking leverages this to accelerate year-one write-offs for investors, reducing taxable income and boosting after-tax returns—now extended through 2029 under the proposed bill.

✅ Higher SALT Cap Deductions
The state and local tax cap would jump from $10K to $40K for joint filers. That’s real relief if you’re investing from a high-tax state like NY, CA, or NJ.

✅ Standard Deductions Increase
Married couples get a bump to $26K. More income shielded from the IRS, and more room for your investments to compound.

✅ Tax Rates Locked In
The top tax rate stays at 37%, avoiding the spike to 39.6% that was coming when TCJA expired. That adds certainty to your long-term planning.

✅ 1031 Exchanges Stay Safe
No changes here—which means you can continue deferring capital gains and rolling profits into your next deal without taking a tax hit.

If this bill passes as written, your investment dollars could go even further. We’ll keep tracking it closely and continue structuring deals to maximize these potential benefits.

As many developers across the country hit pause on new projects due to market uncertainty, Viking Capital is moving forward with confidence—not because we’re ignoring the risks, but because we planned ahead and secured our position early. The latest national housing data reveals a unique opportunity: a shrinking supply pipeline, fewer competitors, and a rare window for new, well-positioned developments to outperform.

Market-Wide Slowdown in New Supply

  • Permitting activity is pulling back, with multifamily permits for 5+ unit buildings falling 4.4% month-over-month in April.
  • The active pipeline is thinning—units under construction are down 20.2% year-over-year.
  • Deliveries are also slow, down 1.7% YoY, meaning fewer new units will hit the market in the near future.

This paints a clear picture: developers are pumping the brakes, and new inventory is not keeping pace with long-term demand—especially in high-growth areas like Phoenix’s northwest suburbs.

Developers Are Playing Defense

  • Concerns over construction costs, interest rates, and tariffs are causing delays and deal re-evaluations.
  • While some developers report minimal price changes so far, uncertainty is enough to stall new starts.
  • This cautious environment is thinning the pipeline for 2025–2026 deliveries.

Because Viking Capital acted early—locking in the land, permitting, strategy, and team—we’re able to confidently move forward while others hesitate.

Net migration in 2024 across major Sun Belt markets may have cooled from the record highs of 2021–2023—but that’s not a sign of weakness. It’s a return to normal after an extraordinary surge. Every major metro in the region still saw higher net migration in 2024 than the average from 2010–2019, proving that the long-term growth story remains strong. For accredited investors, this matters. Migration drives demand—and demand drives returns. The Sun Belt continues to offer one of the most compelling cases for long-term commercial real estate investment.

Here’s why:

  • Strong Demographic Trends: Continued population growth across key metros like Dallas, Phoenix, Atlanta, and Tampa
  • Sustained Renter Demand: These cities rank in the top 20 for consistent rental demand and high occupancy
  • Business & Job Growth: Pro-business policies and expanding job markets attract both corporations and workers
  • Affordability & Lifestyle Appeal: Lower cost of living, warm climate, and quality of life drive long-term in-migration
  • Investment Resilience: Despite short-term fluctuations, long-term fundamentals continue to support rent growth and appreciation

Commercial real estate is a long-term strategy—and in the Sun Belt, the path forward is still paved with opportunity.

Viking Capital supports wellness programs for both property employees and tenants, ensuring safe, healthy living environments, and adopting sustainable practices to reduce our ecological footprint.

These initiatives improve quality of life and cultivate a culture of care that drives long-term success. Hearing the testimonial from the wellness coordinator at one of our properties truly warms our hearts, as it highlights how these efforts are mutually benefiting both the people who live and work in our communities. It’s a reminder of why we are committed to our “People, Planet, Profit” philosophy, which focuses on fostering a balanced, thriving ecosystem for all involved.