June 2010 Table of Contents

Multifamily Apartment Firms Remain Committed to Green Despite Economy Read more

As the economy was collapsing back in 2008, Greg Mutz and his leadership team had to make an important decision. Like everyone else in the housing industry, the team at Chicago-based AMLI Residential was concerned with having to right-size headcounts, extend maturities, defend its balance sheet, and decide whether to shut down, or at least slow, its development and construction spigot. Read more

It’ll be years before technology and green meet in a way that seismically changes the apartment industry. Read more

Affordable developers who meet the Enterprise Green Communities Criteria can expect an eight-year ROI. Read more

Phoenix-based multifamily builder and owner operator Alliance Residential sees development deals beginning to pencil out in coastal markets. Read more

As results begin to stream in from the multifamily REITs’ first-quarter earnings reports, the picture that is beginning to emerge indicates a full-fledged recovery—at least for the public apartment firms. Just look at the numbers. Read more

Independent living is the one segment of the seniors housing industry having a tough time these days, with occupancy rates in the high-80 percent range. And that has investors eyeing the space with hopes of achieving some of the best opportunistic returns within the multifamily spectrum. Read more

Most years, apartment owners and brokers would be doing somersaults if they enjoyed year-over-year sales increases of 50 percent. This year, a report from New York-based research firm Real Capital Analytics saying that sales volume jumped $15.4 billion in the first quarter of 2010—a 50 percent increase over the first quarter of 2009—was met with muted optimism. Read more

In the past few months, Ed Lange, executive vice president and chief operating officer at San Francisco-based BRE Properties, has been noticing an interesting trend at some of his properties. “San Francisco is beginning to stabilize,” he says. “We’re seeing the return of the one-bedroom unit. It may not visible in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' numbers, but in the Bay Area and San Jose, I think some venture capital money is being spent.” Read more

In a report released April 15 updating a 2008 survey on how multifamily technology executives allocate their budget dollars, the Washington, D.C.-based National Multi Housing Council (NMHC) finds spending on outsourcing has nearly doubled, comprising 23.63 percent of apartment IT budgets in 2009, compared to only 12.6 percent in 2008. Read more

Class A multifamily housing fundamentals in Orlando remain stable, even as the city emerges from the recession. Read more

A two-unit apartment building in an infill Birmingham, Ala., neighborhood goes for LEED Gold. Read more

How the iPad and tablet PC technology will impact apartment marketing and sales. Read more

Solar products cut energy costs for multifamily owners and residents alike. Read more

Emory Roth's San Remo in Central Park West resonates grandeur and elegance. Read more