The new products will be tagged M/PF-TWR National Multi-Housing Overview and Outlook and M/PF-TWR Multi-Housing Outlook XL. The first publication goes live on the Internet at the end of May, Greg Willett of M/PF Research tells GlobeSt.com. The roll-out will use Torto Wheaton's distribution system, he says.

The two companies will share in the revenue, but Willett's not saying who holds the majority interest or whether it's a 50-50 split. The alliance does not impact the firms' other products.

"We have been talking with Torto Wheaton Research for some time now on how we can work together to better serve the apartment industry," Bob Dilworth, M/PF Research president, said in a release.

The M/PF Research database contains more than 26,000 multifamily communities, with five million apartments in 58 metro markets, of which 24 have submarket data. Torto Wheaton's econometric expertise will enable forecasting of rents and occupancy for five to seven years out in major US markets. "In today's world, accurate information and forecasts are necessary to stay competitive and successful in multifamily investing," Raymond Torto, principal and managing director, said in a prepared statement.

MH Outlook will be available in PDF format while the Outlook XL will be produced in a Web-based Excel-based platform download. The products will have information on rents, vacancies and absorption and expert forecasts by Torto Wheaton, a CB Richard Ellis unit.