News & Trends

Two publications recently named Utah-based Real Property Management, a full-service property management company as a best brand in their industry, according to a release.

Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500, known as the world's first, best and most comprehensive franchise ranking, recognized Real Property Management for the seventh consecutive year, acknowledging its exceptional performance in areas including financial strength and stability, growth rate and brand power.

An investment group has purchased the Après Apartments, a 408-unit multifamily property located in Aurora, Colorado, an eastern suburb of Denver, according to a release.

Inland Real Estate Acquisitions, LLC bought the apartments located at 1503 South Galena Way, which consists of 17 three-story buildings with 196 one-bedroom and 212 two-bedroom units. Community amenities include a recently renovated clubhouse, fitness center, resident lounge, two swimming pools and a pet park. Units feature walk-in closets, a washer and dryer, fireplace and a private balcony or patio.

What were the 8 ways the rental housing market changed in 2017, and what can we learn heading into 2018?

The folks at RentCafe have put together a report that looks at the rental housing trends in 2017 and analyzed rents from the 250 largest cities

The average multifamily rent in the U.S. stood at $1,359 in December, unchanged from November but a 2.5% year-over-year increase for rents, according to a survey of 121 markets by Yardi Matrix.

Strong demand, the economy’s solid footing and a robust job market offer encouraging signs that growth will continue in 2018.

Rents were down 0.3% in the fourth quarter, which is only the second negative quarter of growth nationally since the second quarter of 2010 (rents also fell 0.2% in the fourth quarter of 2016).

“Although the results are somewhat negative compared to recent history, what’s notable is how consistently strong the market has performed during the entire recovery,” Yardi Matrix writes in the report.

Portland Tenants United founder Margot Black is resigning her leadership post with the organization after a black activist accused the group of "white supremacy," according to a report in Willamette Week.

 Portland Tenants United  has organized protests the last two years at the annual awards ceremony of a Portland property management association with pickets showing up at the event and carrying signs.

The Grace Hill training tip of the week focuses on how Fair Housing Laws apply to social media posts and property management.

By Ellen Clark

 Social media is a great tool for marketing in the multifamily industry to help build strong connections and community with your customers, but did you know Fair Housing laws apply?

When you share information in print or in person you may be aware of the Fair Housing issues, but are you watching all of your social media posts as closely?

The same rules apply. You are responsible for complying with anti-discrimination and anti-harassment laws, no matter what form of communication you are using.

The Salt Lake Home Show opens Friday at the Mountain America Expo Center featuring Anthony Carrino and John Colaneri of HGTV’s Kitchen Cousins and Aubrey and Bristol Marunde of HGTV’s Flip or Flop Vegas. The will appear on the design stage at the Home Show this weekend, according to a release.

The show runs from Friday through Sunday, January 7 at the Mountain America Expo Center, formerly South Towne Expo Center.

Movers are heading to the Mountain West and Pacific Northwest as those locations dominate where people are moving to, according to a new study.

Among the Mountain and Pacific Northwest, Oregon dominates all states. As a region, the Mountain West continues to increase in popularity with 54 percent of moves being inbound. The West is represented on the high-inbound list by Oregon (65 percent), Idaho (63 percent), Nevada (61 percent) Washington (59 percent), and Colorado (56 percent). 

Utah population growth is continuing and shows a shift in the sources of population growth which is putting a strain on the state's rental housing, according to a report from the Utah Population Committee at the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah.

Economic expansion is drawing migrants to Utah and continuing to put pressure on the housing market and rental markets in the state.

“Historically natural increase has been the mainstay of the state’s growth, a product of high birth rates and low death rates. Utah, along with the nation, has had gradual long term increases in median age and declines in fertility,” the report says.

Predictions for housing and property management are things a property manager or landlord rarely have the time to look at. So here is a quick guide from the folks at Buildium.com that looks at 7 predictions for 2018. The start of a new year is the perfect time to pause and reflect on the larger forces at work in the real estate and housing world  impacting your job.

“We know that you don't have the time to find out what hundreds of experts have to say about the 2018 real estate market. That's why we did it for you—and we’ve boiled down our extensive research into 7 quick predictions to help you prepare for the challenges you can expect to face,” Buildium.com writes.