Power Tools for Property Managers

It is important to have a plan to protect a business before natural disaster strikes. FEMA's website contains a variety of information in PDF format to prepare businesses, property managers, and professional contractors for unfortunate events such as floods, earthquakes, and more. Furthermore, these how-to sheets include estimated costs for most preventive measures listed, as well as other sources of information for further education. Yet another noteworthy resource on the website is a full-text PDF guide titled, "Are you Ready?: An In-Depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness."

Posted on October 24 at 02:18 PM | Permanent Link | Add a Comment (0)

The largest apartment complex in Manhattan, Peter Cooper Village/Stuyvesant Town, was sold to Thishman Speyer in a joint venture with BlackRock Realty for $5.4 million. More than 11,000 units, spread over 80 acres was sold by MetLife, one of the nation's top insurers. Residents in the rent-stabilized apartments fear that under new ownership, affordability will be a thing of the past. Yet according to City Councilman, Dan Garodnick who resides in the complex, said "the thousands of tenants will work to ensure that its homes remain middle-class, and fight attempts to convert rent-stabilized apartments into luxury, market-rate ones."

Posted on October 17 at 02:46 PM | Permanent Link | Add a Comment (0)

According to Energy Star, commercial buildings use 20 percent of all U.S. drinking-water supplies and cutting that amount by 50 percent would save 2 trillion gallons of water per year. The EPA's answer to this is WaterSense, a new program introduced in recent months which "identifies products and services that save water without compromising performance."

WaterSense is currently in the test phase and efforts are focused on irrigation systems and residential toilets. Commercial plumbing fixtures, sterilizers, and other large water sources are next on the agenda. Similar to EnergyStar, WaterSense will offer a recognizable label of both commercial and residential products and services that "perform at least 20 percent more efficiently than their counterparts." Learn how you can conserve water now by viewing WaterSense's efficiency tips for the home, as well as businesses.

Posted on October 10 at 10:36 AM | Permanent Link | Add a Comment (0)

During difficult economic times, private student housing is proving to be very lucrative. While commercial and mortgage REITs are reliant upon the business cycle, college enrollments usually remain steady, and may even increase if individuals pursue advance degrees or return from the workforce to boost marketable skills. Austin, Texas-based REIT American Campus Communities (which owns and manages 38 properties in and around college campuses, and provides management and leasing services for other owners at 15 additional student housing properties) has "generated $26 million in cash flow over the past four financial quarters from operations on review of $105 million." AAC's net income totaled $4.86 million.

Posted on October 4 at 11:34 AM | Permanent Link | Add a Comment (0)