Multifamily & Affordable Housing Business: How did each jurisdiction define the moratoriums in California? Did it vary? Ring: The eviction moratoriums began in California during the outbreak period of COVID-19. The immediate response from state and local governments was to prevent landlords from evicting non-paying residents via an ‘emergency order’ declaration. Each jurisdiction settled on their own methodology and created a near-impossible set of rules for landlords who operate in multiple cities. Often, a county had a set of rules, the city had a set of rules, and the state …
Industry Voices
— By Jack Swoboda and Ross Piermarini, co-founders, SymmetRE — We are living in a unique moment. A transition period. The advancements made in artificial intelligence (AI) in the past year have put a massive spotlight on the technology. Practical use cases that were once a dream are now becoming a reality. Before we dig deeper into the effects AI can have within commercial real estate, it is important to first define the types of technologies we are talking about. The term “artificial intelligence” gets thrown around pretty freely these …
— By Peter DiCorpo, COO, Brook Farm Group — The multifamily sector has been on a tremendous run for more than a decade, attracting record levels of new construction and capital and generating strong rent growth that has occasionally reached into the double digits. However, given the recent economic and market headwinds, some might conclude that this notable level of activity is over, but that is not the case. Instead, there are clear signs that this sector is poised for long-term growth and will continue to deliver solid returns for …
— 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, …
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, …
— 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, …
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 …
— 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 …
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 …
— 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 …