Real Estate Forum: Is Infill Tapped Out?

Real Estate Forum magazine's quarterly multifamily update discusses the fact that much land available for urban infill is quickly disappearing.  Investors now appear to be shifting to suburbia and secondary and tertiary markets with fewer barriers to entry and lower price per pound.  Read the full story.

National Apartment Association Provides Long List of Fixes and Concerns to Congress

The National Apartment Association and Multi Housing Council (NMHC) federal policy and regulatory issues for 2013 are topped by financial issues -- including housing finance reform. 

“We need at least 300,000 new apartments each year just to keep pace with the demand, but only 130,000 apartment homes were built in 2011,”  says the NMHC.  "Without access to capital in all markets at all times or certainty in the tax code, we lack the ability to keep pace with the tremendous need for new apartments across the country.”

Other items on the list include:

• A federal guarantee for multifamily mortgages whether or not the government-sponsored enterprises continue in their present state.
• Tax reform.  The report urges reforms that won’t damage the development in the rental housing industry. 
• Immigration reform.  This is a key concern since issues such as border security, employment eligibility verification and documentation for illegal immigrants working and living in the U.S. effects apartment owners as well as the economy’s growth and recovery. 
• Telecommunications
• Data Privacy and Breach Notification
• Fair Housing and the ADA
• Bed Bugs
• Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
• Section 8 Voucher Reform
• Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Utility Adjustments
• Violence Against Women Act
•  Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Fair Market Rents
• Terrorism Insurance
• National Flood Insurance Program
• Dodd-Frank Regulation and Compliance
• Multifamily and Health Care Mortgage Insurance Programs
• Low-Income Housing Tax Credit
• Tax Incentives for Energy-Efficient Commercial Buildings and Multifamily Retrofits
• Unionization
• Criminal Background Checks
• Lead-Based Paint
• EPA Regulation of Stormwater Runoff from Existing Properties
• Clean Water Act Expansion
• Green Building Labeling
• National Green Building Standard
• Energy Efficiency Incentives
• Appliance Efficiency

Download the full 14-page report from the HFO Market Research Library.

HFO Adds Tyler Johnson as Partner

Portland, OR – HFO Investment Real Estate is pleased to announce the addition of Tyler Johnson as a partner.

Tyler has been working in commercial real estate for over a decade.  His career began in the San Francisco Office of a national company and his transaction experience included the sale of office buildings, shopping centers, student housing developments, LIHTC and multifamily investments across the country.  

Tyler has brokered over $125 million in transactions for a wide range of clients including institutions, private equity clients, banks and governmental agencies.   Since 2010 Tyler has been working in Portland where he quickly established himself as one of the best apartment brokers in the market.    His prior awards include “Top 5 Portland Broker” and “Top Apartment Broker” for 2011 and 2012.

“We are delighted to have Tyler joining as a partner broker,” said HFO co-founding Partner Tim O’Brien.  “Tyler is a true team player that brings hard work, integrity, in-depth knowledge and history with apartments to HFO’s clients.”

Tyler holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Oregon.  He is also an active member of the University Club and the Multnomah Athletic Club.

HFO Investment Real Estate is an investment brokerage firm with a focus exclusively on apartment properties in Oregon and Washington. HFO provides a regional and national selling platform with a unique insider’s knowledge of local apartment markets. This complete attention on apartment investments enables HFO’s clients to make better investment decisions.  HFO Investment Real Estate: All Apartments - All the Time(sm).  Learn more at www.hfore.com.

Portland Apartment Market Puts Up Q1 Rent Growth of 3.9% [Video]

Portland’s apartment market remains one of the best in the country for annual rent growth and occupancy. And neither the moderately large volume of new supply nor the spike in single-family home sales notably weakened Portland’s apartment market fundamentals.

Portland Rent Growth 2012-2013 = 5.9 Percent

Real Facts reports that among the western states, the top seven metro areas for rent growth were:

1. Boulder Colorado - 10.9%
2. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA - 7.6%
3. Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, C) - 7.2%
4. San Jose -Sunnvale-Santa Clara CA 7.2%
5. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue WA 6.3%
6. Austin-Round Rock TX - 6.1%
7. Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton OR-WA - 5.9% = $54/month

The Portland Business Journal today said "Job gains in the tech sector helped drive up apartment rates in the first quarter in key markets, including Portland."

See all of HFO's exclusive apartment investment property listings here.

Tiny Apartments in Seattle Facing Big Backlash

The Associated Press reports that Seattle is leading the nation in building hundreds of tiny apartments the size of a parking space. Now neighbors are complaining and pushing for a moratorium, saying that 150-200 square foot units crowd too many people together, don't encourage people to put down roots and circumvent the design review process. Read More.