THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
The Package Rush Isn’t Over Yet
by Amber Hammond
The holidays are behind us but the boxes are not. As multifamily steps firmly into the new year, property teams face a new surge in package deliveries, driven by residents using gift cards and making more essential and practical purchases. A streamlined and efficient system for receiving and managing deliveries remains a top priority for residents and property managers.
Read the article in The Multifamily Journal
Multifamily Has a Role in the Human Trafficking Solution
by Stephanie Anderson
Human trafficking continues its post-pandemic surge, growing to a $99-million criminal enterprise with only a 1% rescue rate for victims. Traffickers have become more adept at utilizing technology to lure victims. Multifamily can help bring an end to this global tragedy.
Adapting to Residents’ Changing Lifestyle Preferences
by The Lease-Up
In the first Mission Success: Women in Multifamily podcast of the year, Village Green CEO Diane Batayeh and MHN Senior Editor Laura Calugar provide an in-depth analysis of residents’ changing lifestyle preferences and demographics. They also discuss how communities adapt.
MULTIFAMILY TECHNOLOGY
Key Technology Trends for Real Estate in 2024
by Christopher Yip
To help avoid some of the uncertainties that multifamily had to deal with in 2023, many owners are stepping up the use of technology. In addition to generative AI, they are embracing construction technologies to increase efficiency and lower costs, as well as deploying venture capital into emerging software companies that focus on the financial side of operations.
Read the article in Multifamily Executive
Naming Apartments for SEO and Intrigue
by Stacey Feeney
When owners and operators brand a community, they want something that will make them stand out from the crowd. The quest for uniqueness frequently results in obvious and common names that will get lost among the crowd. Names should tell a story and evoke feelings.
Read the article in Multifamily Insiders
Cushman & Wakefield Lean Into AI with Microsoft Partnership
by Emily Wishingrad
Cushman & Wakefield has formed a partnership with Microsoft to use three of the company’s AI tools. The developer joins a growing wave of commercial real estate developers that are beginning to fully embrace AI as a way to boost innovation and control costs.
Read the article in Bisnow
INDUSTRY NEWS
NMHC Survey Reveals Surge in Rental Fraud
by Christine Serlin
The growth in rents and the increase in evictions are a direct result of the increasing amount of document fraud perpetrated by residents and prospects. Technology is making it easier for people to falsify rental applications, pay stubs and other required documents. More than 93% of respondents to the National Multifamily Housing Council survey said they had to deal with some form of fraud in the past year.
Read the article in Multifamily Executive
Source of Income Laws on the Rise
by Ben Harrold
There are currently 18 states and more than 120 municipalities that have source of income protections on the books, which require private owners and operators to participate in the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program. The bureaucratic hurdles involved are making it cost-prohibitive for many owners.
Read the article in Apartment Advocate
Fed Stays Steady, Multifamily Cap Rates Keep Climbing
by Erik Sherman
There is hope that The Fed will begin the process of lowering interest rates, but unleveraged internal rate of return (IRR) targets, going-in cap rates and exit cap rates for prime multifamily assets continue to increase. The going-in cap rate in multifamily increased 170 basis points to 5.06% since the second quarter of 2022.
Read the article in GlobeSt