Green building (also known as sustainable building or environmental building) is the practice of increasing efficiency of buildings and their use of energy, water and materials, and reducing the building impacts on the environment and human health*. Research is increasingly demonstrating that when buildings are designed and operated with their lifecycle impacts in mind, they can…

When you get ready to sell your property, there are a number of things to consider before listing.  Who will market the property, how much to sell for, how and where to market the property, just to consider a few.  Selling a property is a time consuming and tedious project therefore, consider the following questions before…

If there is one thing I’ve learned in the multi-family industry, it is vital to have a quality resident retention plan in place in order to maintain a high occupancy. If your customers are pleased with you after they move in and stay that way through their lease term, they are more likely to remain…

Retailers and Industry continue to move into our area. Investors are looking intently at our region. There are numerous projects in the works. Why are we enjoying this prosperity? For one, the real estate dollar goes a long way in our area compared to other areas around our region. For another, Atlanta sprawl moves closer…

Despite the softening economy and turmoil in the capital markets, investors continue to have confidence in the U.S. commercial real estate industry.  In a survey showing that one in five investors expect the economy to be stronger in 2008, the majority still want to invest more funds into commercial real estate.  Concerns about financing will…

A recent study showed that consumers spend over 1.2 Million hours each month looking online for apartments. Just as in any other industry, the technology is the way of the future in Apartment Leasing.  More and more consumers that are coming through our doors already know exactly what the community has to offer.  It is…

As you all know, the commercial real estate business has experienced tough times.  Financing to purchase a commercial investment has been very difficult or nonexistent.   Recently, we interviewed several Middle Georgia banks offering commercial financing.  The rules of the game have not really changed, they have just been enforced.  You may remember what you did…

In my articles in the past newsletters I have discussed topics such as office vacancies and occupancy, valuing properties and key commercial terms to name a few.  Most of the time I come up with the different subjects from questions from my clients.  So suffice to say that is the same with this article.  When…

Own’er-ship n. – Of or belonging to oneself or itself.  The one or ones belonging to oneself.  To have or possess. To confess : acknowledge.  own up. In my early adult life, a very wise dear friend once shared with me that no matter what road I chose to take in life to always take…

The Bibb County apartment market continued to be active in 2008 and the first quarter of 2009, albeit considerably slower than 2007.  The capital crunch caused lenders to adopt more stringent lending standards or stop completely making loans.  The loan to value dropped to 75-80% and actual NOI was used to arrive at the value…