Four Factors for Planning a Post-Pandemic Multifamily Amenity Renovation

By Mary Cook, Mary Cook Associates As a commercial interiors firm, a question we hear a lot recently is “Are multifamily developers renovating amenities because of the pandemic?” The answer is a bit more nuanced than a straight “yes” or “no.” No, entire amenity floors are not being ripped out and re-thought in direct response to changes stemming from the pandemic. But yes, long-term lifestyle trends are emerging from the pandemic that should be a factor when redesigning amenity …

March 30, 2021Features, Heartland Feature Archive, Multifamily

Matching Americans to Jobs Will Be Key to Economic Recovery, Says Economist

DES PLAINES, ILL. — When reflecting on the future of the economy and its recovery, sometimes it’s good to look back. For instance, one of the lessons learned from the pandemic of 1918 was that people will make up for lost time, says Scott Brown, chief economist for Raymond James. “That’s one of the reasons we had the Roaring ’20s.”Brown’s remarks came during the opening session of CORFAC International’s virtual spring conference on Wednesday, March 17. Brown hosted an …

March 19, 2021Features, Heartland Feature Archive

General Contractors Look Forward to Possible ‘Tsunami of Projects’ as Backlog Dissipates

With light emerging at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel thanks to the rollout of a vaccine, general contractors are confident of an uptick in business activity in 2021 following a year in which many projects were put on hold. But that optimism is clouded slightly by the high cost of materials, particularly lumber. Michael Sullivan Jr., CEO and founder of Des Plaines, Illinois-based Peak Construction Corp., says his company is prepared to absorb more of the rising costs this year than it did in …

February 16, 2021Features, Heartland Feature Archive

Pandemic Puts Outdoor Amenities, Middle Markets into Multifamily Spotlight

The impact of COVID-19 on the multifamily sector may not have been as severe as its effect on the retail or office asset classes, but there are still many ways that those professionals active in the multifamily space adapted to pandemic-driven changes. Some of these adjustments, such as virtual apartment tours, are likely permanent.Here are four pandemic-related trends expected to influence the multifamily sector in 2021, according to a roundup of Midwest-based real estate …

January 5, 2021Features, Heartland Feature Archive, Multifamily

Cleveland, Milwaukee & St. Louis Multifamily Forecasts Indicate Case for Caution

In earlier research, we found that investors may find advantageous risk and reward tradeoffs during the pandemic in often overlooked Midwest secondary markets. For the most part, average rent and occupancy metrics in these markets continued to rise throughout the summer, recession notwithstanding. Together, their inviting cap rates, rising NOI and low historic income volatility form a fairly compelling investment predicate.We also found that positive performance attributes were not limited …

November 19, 2020Content Partner, Heartland Feature Archive, Lument, Midwest, Missouri, Multifamily, Ohio, RED Capital Group, Wisconsin

Slow and Steady Wins the Race: The Case for Multifamily in Cincinnati and Detroit

Investors favor multifamily markets with brisk population growth and meaningful barriers to entry. But can a case be made in turbulent times for slow-growth Midwest cities characterized by weak entry barriers?View higher resolution version of chart above here.Midwest metro areas with relatively healthy demographic growth — Columbus, Indianapolis and Kansas City come to mind — have posted constructive performance trends during the pandemic recession so far, particularly with respect …

November 12, 2020Content Partner, Heartland Feature Archive, Lument, Michigan, Midwest, Multifamily, Ohio, RED Capital Group

Secondary Midwest Markets: Investor Refuge or Flavor of the Month?

More than a few column inches in multifamily media this year were dedicated to the implications of coronavirus on the housing preferences of renter households. Many theorize that the pandemic is leading householders to reexamine their attachment to urban life and consider suburban alternatives that offer larger floor plans, better schools, free parking and unit access without an elevator ride.Available data suggest there is something to this notion. Occupancy and rent in core urban …

November 5, 2020Content Partner, Heartland Feature Archive, Indiana, Lument, Midwest, Missouri, Multifamily, Ohio, RED Capital Group

The Twin Cities: An Unlikely Shelter in Turbulent Multifamily Markets

The Minneapolis metropolitan area made plenty of headlines in 2020, and much of the news wasn’t good. The social fabric was frayed, and property damage estimated at between $250 million and $500 million ensued.On the surface, the Twin Cities appear unlikely sources of stability and relative safety for multifamily investors, and yet market performance and property value trends have so far proven resilient in the face of adversity. In comparison to many of the primary markets and its …

October 27, 2020Content Partner, Heartland Feature Archive, Lument, Midwest, Minnesota, Multifamily, RED Capital Group

Investors Seek Safe Harbor in Chicago’s Apartment Market

Multifamily investors prefer to concentrate capital in the primary markets. Although prices are steep and cap rates low, the gateway cities offer private equity and institutional buyers the young, affluent tenants, economic diversification, deep trough of performance data and property market liquidity that can’t be found in smaller cities. Gateway cities offer these assets…until they don’t.The pandemic recession has turned the usual way of looking at things upside down. At least for …

October 14, 2020Content Partner, Heartland Feature Archive, Illinois, Lument, Midwest, Multifamily, RED Capital Group

COVID-19 Continues to Put Tenant-Landlord Relationships Under Microscope, Say Kansas City Retail Webinar Panelists

KANSAS CITY, MO. — The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to highlight the importance of strong tenant-landlord relationships, particularly in the retail sector. Tyler Enders, co-owner of local Kansas City shop Made in KC, works with roughly 10 different landlords and has experienced a variety of different approaches to the COVID-19 conversation.“Some local landlords have been very communicative and have come to us with a creative solution. Others have been responding late and are bogged …

September 22, 2020Features, Heartland Feature Archive, Kansas, Midwest, Missouri, Retail