Industry Voices

Revital Gadish, CEO, Qira

— By Revital Gadish, CEO, Qira — More than a third of Americans rent their homes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. As such, the political landscape is evolving to fit their needs. An influx of new laws and proposed legislation has ensued, aimed at increasing transparency and fairness and avoiding financial hardship for tenants. Much of the ensuing legislation is focused on security deposits. The strictest of the bills bans security deposits entirely, while others are capping the amount landlords can charge as a security deposit. So far, Texas, …

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The Bowline in Champlin, Minnesota

The 160-acre Mississippi Crossings site in Champlin, Minnesota, was a thriving commercial district in the early part of the 20th century. From the 1980s until the early 2000s, however, the area had been in decline for many years and was mostly known for its dilapidated commercial buildings, according to the City of Champlin. After a few redevelopment efforts started and stalled, the city entered into a development agreement in 2019 with Greco to be master developer of 12 acres within the Mississippi Crossings site. Greco is a Minneapolis-based commercial developer, …

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WildHorse Creek in Chesterfield, Missouri

— By Erick Hartzell, project director, Brinkmann Constructors — As the housing market generated uncertainty in a pandemic-driven economy, many individuals gravitated toward the stability and convenience of multifamily housing communities. Amid the rising demand, shifting consumer priorities urged developers and contractors to refocus on this subsector, allowing multifamily construction to boom.  Regardless of the steady influx of multifamily developments, demand remains prominent. As contractors work to meet the demand, there are several significant challenges to be aware of, including a lack of qualified labor, a rise in material prices, …

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Kristi Nootens, managing director and co-head at CP Capital US

Kristi Nootens, managing director and co-head at CP Capital US, a real estate manager specializing in multifamily investments, sat down with Multifamily Affordable Housing Business (MAHB) to discuss the role of women in the industry and how the market may develop as we progress into the second half of 2023. On Women in Real Estate MAHB: Tell us about yourself and your journey. Nootens: My journey to commercial real estate started in large part because both of my parents worked in the industry. My dad was a mechanical engineer who spent a lot …

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Revital Gadish, CFO/COO, Qira

— By Brian Ball and Revital Gadish, co-CEOs, Qira — Much of the news about property technology (proptech) concerns the physical features of apartment buildings — for example, appliances such as smart thermostats that save energy and money, or keyless entry and monitoring systems that are more convenient and secure. However, proptech also addresses intangible concerns, such as the societal push to give more power to renters in their relationships with owners and managers. The sector is rethinking how renters pay security deposits and monthly rents in ways that support …

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Estrella Vista in Emeryville, California

Despite many regional and federal efforts, there is a staggering deficit of over seven million affordable and workforce housing units, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC). For many, this can seem like an insurmountable challenge. However, housing professionals and developers able and willing to navigate the sector’s many nuances have the opportunity to do good while doing well, tapping into insatiable demand while building out their long-term pipelines. Recognizing the Scope of the Problem Location is the most important factor for many builders when searching for and …

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A chart depicting national disasters across the U.S. Texas has the most disasters.

— By Marc Hershberg, Topaz Capital Group — The multifamily industry has grown massively over the past decade. Total transaction volume was up 250 percent from 2012 to 2018, the biggest year on record. For many, 2020 or 2021 were their best years yet. Even when faced with multiple headwinds in 2022 that included ongoing supply chain disruptions, rising inflation and interest rate hikes, the overall resiliency of commercial real estate was on display. Now, however, we are faced with more economic uncertainty than we’ve experienced in the past 15 …

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A white single-family home with black accents.

— By Adam Wolfson, CEO and CIO, Wolfson Development Co. — The nation’s decades-long housing shortage and the recent rise of the build-to-rent (BTR) sector are inextricably linked. Although some may debate that one is caused by the other — or at least made worse —  the important point is that the BTR industry was born out of the housing crisis. The socioeconomic implication of homebuying versus renting may inspire an interesting debate, but it’s not germane to the essential fact that the United States does not have enough housing to …

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Pull quote from Tammy Estes

The boundaries between work and personal time are becoming increasingly blurred. But, as Thomas Edison once said, “Time is really the only capital that any human has and the only thing he can’t afford to lose.” Apartment owners and operators need to provide environments that support the way their tenants choose to spend their time living and working today. The concept of work-life balance has taken on new meaning because of the constant connectivity provided by mobile devices, laptops, streaming services, voice assistants, gaming and video calls — all combined …

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Parkside Terrace, a two story brick multifamily building with white balconies overlooking a small green lawn and hedges.

— By Sylvia Crawford, Senior Director of Marketing Strategy and Planning, Arize — Nationwide, the average apartment rent increased by 14 percent last year, and by as much as 40 percent in cities like Austin and Miami, according to The Washington Post. Renters with low- and moderate-income levels are struggling, as the demand for accessible housing is growing faster than inflation. For years, proptech has primarily been leveraged in luxury homes and high-rises, as only Class A property owners could justify investing in these devices. Meanwhile, Class C properties have traditionally shied away from implementing …

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