As market conditions change, many leasing consultants are eager to use rent concessions and other incentives to entice people to rent at their communities. Yet even when there are few vacancies, it’s hard to break the habit of readily promoting a “bargain,” rather than the value received for the price. The following concern was recently brought to my attention by a property management company:

Can’t attend the 2013 NAA Education Conference & Exposition in San Diego, or are going to miss a great session? Don’t despair—you still can enjoy the best education sessions in the apartment industry, including video!

NAA and NMHC unveiled a new integrated campaign targeting policymakers on May 6.
Titled “Apartments. We Live Here,” the campaign utilizes print, radio and digital ads, direct mail and an informational storytelling website experience. It highlights the 35 million apartment residents building their lives and the $1.1 trillion economic contribution the industry and its residents add to the economy each year.

Qualifying prospective renters can seem especially challenging when you must establish their eligibility to rent based upon income. While it is necessary to determine if callers and visitors can qualify to rent at your community, coming right out and asking someone for their annual income can be perceived as an invasion of privacy. (Would you like a total stranger to ask: “How much money do YOU make?”) Recently the following question on this subject came up:

Everyone in the property management business knows certain times of the month are exceptionally busy. Even managers and leasing people who are experts at scheduling will occasionally get “double booked” or swamped with “drop in” visitors. Being able to handle more than one thing at a time and to do so graciously, is just part of the job description in this industry. Here is a question that came up at a leasing seminar:

Have you been considering whether or not to build mobile websites for apartments you manage?
You can’t afford to wait any longer.

A major survey of 1,500 renters published a few months ago by Apartment Finder revealed that 40% of apartment hunters used a mobile device for their last apartment search. What really stood out was that 85% of those who did not use a mobile device this time around said they would consider using a mobile device in their next search.
This means that 91% of all apartment shoppers are likely to use mobile devices during the next apartment leasing cycle.

Demand for apartments has brought the developers back into the market. Albany and Corvallis have a number of new construction project either proposed or permitted for this coming year.
Albany has a vacancy factor under 5% and currently Corvallis is reporting “negative” vacancy with waiting list on many properties.
Albany Update
Albany currently has a 90-unit apartment complex permitted and ready for construction on 34th and Hill. There is a proposed 120 unit development in North Albany at North Albany Rd. and Hwy 20, near the North Albany Village retail center.

After a seven-quarter run, expansion moderated for apartment markets according to the National Multi Housing Council’s (NMHC) January Quarterly Survey of Apartment Market Conditions. For the first time since 2010, two of the four indexes – Market Tightness (45) and Sales Volume (49) – dipped below 50, though just barely. The two financing indexes show continued improvement for the 8th consecutive quarter, as the Equity Financing (56) and Debt Financing (57) Indexes remained above the breakeven level of 50.

Over 1,500 people attended the 28th Annual TRENDS Education conference and Trade show.
TRENDS is “THE” largest and oldest Northwest rental housing management and ownership education conference and trade show.
See the TRENDS website at www.trendsnw.com.
The 28th Annual TRENDS was held December 11th at the Washington Convention Center, Seattle. TRENDS is the longest running a continuously produced event at the Washington State Convention Center.

Here are few tips on how to increase the number of reviews you receive on Yelp and Google Places. These are very easy to use tips that can greatly improve the number of reviews.

Why is this goal of increasing your online reviews so
important?