How apartment firms spend their Information Technology (IT) dollars has changed considerably in recent years, according to a new report from the National Multi Housing Council (NMHC), Information Technology Investment Bench-marking Survey: A 2008-2009 Comparison.

Office property performance in the Portland market will weaken further in 2010 as the metro recovers from high unemployment levels and three consecutive years of office-using job losses, according to the 2010 National Office Report by Marcus & Millichap, the nation’s largest real estate investment services firm. While local
Class A properties traditionally outperform Class B/C assets, the vacancy rate spread between these sectors narrowed from 620 basis points in 2007 to below 300 basis points in 2009.

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced recently that14 housing authorities in Idaho, Oregon and Washington state will receive a total of $1,031,549 to protect the rental assistance provided to families currently participating in HUD's Housing Choice Voucher Program.
These agencies are among nearly 600 that will receive additional funding because they had additional leasing or experienced other unforeseen circumstances in 2009. HUD estimates this funding will keep almost 130 families across the Region in affordable housing.

By Clifford A. Hockley, President
Bluestone and Hockley Real Estate Services

In the 2009 Oregon legislative session tenant advocates were able to limit the number and extent of fees that are charged by landlords. These fee modifications took effect on the 1st of January 2010.
One of the fee’s that was eliminated was the pet fee. In response to this fee change, landlords reviewed their policies and made adjustments to offset the costs involved with renting to tenants with pets.

By Eric Torkelson Managing Partner LaPorte & Associates

Premise liability is a landlord’s Achilles’ heel - and it can be a game changer.
Without insurance, one claim could very well end your rental property management days. These days, with verdicts routinely reaching into the millions -even tens of millions, if your insurance policy has exclusions or pay-out limits you may not be as secure as you think.
To limit the risk of a premise liability claim, and to keep your premiums manageable, consider this:

Landlord Liable for Condition of Rental Property

By Thomas C. Lawson, CFE, CII

There’s an old adage out there that is due for a revision. “The more things change, the more they stay the same” is actually no longer true in the context of that inescapable business dark cloud known as the “lease default, investment-gone-south, and/or bad debt.”
In financial circles these days, instead of hearing the instruction “go out and collect our money,” we hear all too often “if you can’t collect it, find a way to write it off!” Quite a change from old school thinking!

DENVER – While the retail vacancy rate in Denver will continue to rise in 2010 due to inventory expansion and weak retail spending in the suburbs, the local economic outlook is improving, according to the 2010 National Retail Report by Marcus & Millichap, the nation’s largest real estate investment services firm. Job growth will resume, supported by relocations.