investment property: Urban Renters: Who Are They - 06/22/11 02:44 PM
Gen Y They passed boomers to become America’s largest generation, Gen-Yers, now 15 to 32 years old will dominate and define residential demand for real estate as did the Boomers before them.The Urban Land Institute commissioned an online survey to discover their preferences  because this next waves needs is mandatory knowledge for owners and buyers of real property.  About 4.3 million Gen Yers turned 22 in 2010 and will exceed 4.5 million in 2012 and 2013. For at least ten well over 4 million Americans will turn 22 each year, producing solid apartment demand. Whether they will hold a bias towards rentingover … (0 comments)

investment property: Freddie Mac Weekly Update: Mortgage Rates Fall With Economic and Housing Reports - 04/28/11 01:13 PM

30-year fixed-rate mortgage:averaged 4.78 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending April 28, 2011, down  from last week when it averaged 4.80 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.06 percent.The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage:  this week  averaged 3.97 percent with an average 0.7 point, down  from last week when it averaged 4.02 percent.  A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 4.39 percent.  Five-year indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages ARMs: averaged 3.51 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point ,  down from last week when it averaged 3.61 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 4.00 percent .One-year Treasury-indexed ARMs: averaged … (0 comments)

investment property: Multi Family: A Recovery In Place - 03/30/11 11:45 AM
 
Multi FamilyA Recovering Market
 
We all know whats happening to the single family home markets. Over supply and shadow inventory and the subsequent price declines will continue until fear is overcome and inventory is soaked up. 
The kinds of issues that led to a boom bust in housing did not take place with multi family. There was no build out leading to over supply and the lender market was much more rationlized. Little of the kind of lending that led to so many foreclosures, ultimately driving home prices down. 
Lack Of Supply In The Rental MarketFrom 1997 to 2006, multifamily … (0 comments)

investment property: Multi Famiily Rentals Improve - 12/18/10 09:14 AM

The demographics
Renter demographics Who Are They People Needing Flexibility Renting can provide more flexibility, greater convenience and lower costs than buying a home. As a result, certain households are more likely to rent than own, including young singles starting out, families relocating to a new metropolitan area, recent immigrants to the United States, and low-income household In Transition such as a change in job or marital status. For example, over 60 percent of households that moved in 2003 because of divorce or separation chose to live in a rented unit. Relocating For owners who are relocating, rental housing … (2 comments)

investment property: San Francisco Apartment Rent Recovery - 12/12/10 10:57 AM
San Francisco investment properties are bottoming. According to Jay Greenberg, in an SFAA magazine article, San Francisco has seen positive sales numbers this year. Rent rates have also been getting stronger in the city. Im a firm believer that well paying jobs and the reverse commute busses provided by the tech sector, are a big part of why rentals are up and property is on the rebound. Greenberg points out that interest rates are low, rent rates are increasing and cash flows are improving. Following is a synopsis of Greenbergs review of apartment sales: Chart Source National Real estate Investor 5-9 … (0 comments)

investment property: Apartment Sector: The First One Out - 12/07/10 02:14 PM
This is the one real estate area that seems to be looking up. There is no question thatapartments really scream when it comes to actual performance and renewed investment confidence, says Hessam Nadji, managing director of research and advisory services at Marcus & Millichap. The apartments sector is leading the recovery. Nationally, apartment vacancies declined 20 basis points during the first half to reach 7.8%, setting the stage for rent growth.
Demographics: The rental sector is the one area that that is looking like its in a recovery. Residential housing was t was over built and overbought, while rental properties barely … (0 comments)

investment property: National Apartment Survey: Rental Property The Better Investment - 11/03/10 10:46 AM
A Recent Survey National Real Estate Investor and Marcus & Millichap 55% of all respondents to the survey believe that now is the time to buy apartments. Owners are beginning to see improvements in vacancy rates and rent rates are rising. We are coming off a low low bottom, but there is improvement. The study shows that 41% (31% in 2009) of owners responding to the survey think rent rates will improve over the next year and 70% feel that this is the time to buy.
FinancingLooking up 34% believe that institutional lenders are increasing their lending volume, 28% see an … (0 comments)

investment property: Apartment Sector: San Francisco Vacancy Rates Are better - 10/27/10 11:40 AM
National vacancy rates have dropped sharply and rent rates have increased. The national vacancy rate fell to
 7.2% from 7.8%. Renters are still price sensitive and shunned higher rents, but were optimistic enough to sign one year leases.
San Fracisco vacancy rates coming in around 5%. However, even though rents are beginning to rise again, we are certainly not seeing the higher rates we were getting before the collapse. Personally, I think we can thank the reverse commuters working for Google, Apple, Ebay and Genentech.
Vacancy rates and rent rates for large apartment buildings and rents are turning up and many investors … (0 comments)

investment property: San Francisco Apartment sector Looking Up - 10/27/10 11:30 AM
San Franisco sales volume is up in the second half, partly due to lower interest rates.
The multi family sector is generall divided into 5-9 units and 10+. Here are some basic stats from Jay Greenburg (Alain Pinel) and the San Francisco Apartment Association. Following is a look at average costs and sales volume over time. You can see that apartment property is beginning to come back from the trough, although its off from its 2008 highs. Larger units (10+) are harder to sell simply because they outprice many buyers due to size. I have read, but do not know, that … (0 comments)

investment property: Board of Supervisors Passes Seismic Retrofit Program - 07/05/10 07:57 AM
Soft Story Retrofit
Not Yet a Mandate
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors recently passed a program to incentivize voluntary seismic retrofits. Buildings built before May 21, 1973 that are 3 or more stories and five or more residential units are the focus of the program. 43 to 85% of these wood-frame buildings would be red tagged in a 7.2 earthquake. About 58,000 people and 2000 business are live and work in soft story structures. The city will offer owners:1. A stream lined permit process2. zero permit fees if owners voluntarily retrofit their buildings 3. An exemption from mandated retrofitting for … (0 comments)