Tim Blackwell is a long-time publishing and printing executive in the Dallas/Fort Worth area who writes about the multifamily housing and transportation industries. He has contributed numerous articles to Property Management Insider, and worked as a newspaper reporter in the D/FW area. Blackwell is president of Ballpark Impressions, and publishes the Cowcatcher Magazine. He is a member of the Fort Worth Chapter/Society of Professional Journalists.
Light-emitting diode or LED lights have been evolving at a rapid pace since becoming mainstream about a decade ago. The market was expected to reach $30.5 billion in 2016, up from $25.7 billion the previous year. Today, lighting pros say that LED efficiencies are improving, lasting longer and will continue to replace other lights in[…]
A few years ago, building efficiencies were not top of the list for clients who sought new designs for multifamily dwellings. However, that has changed. The need to lower building costs by trimming the apartment fat is more pronounced at a time when renter demand has soared. In the past, multifamily projects with long corridors[…]
The arrival of fall means that your residents will likely be spending more time outdoors for cookouts, quiet conversation and general relaxation. In southern climates, patios made from concrete and decorative stone and pavers have proven to withstand weather and traffic during every season, making their installation preferable at apartments. Traditionally, wooden decks have required[…]
Automation has its place in business and multifamily today. Busy workplaces and lifestyles require a little digital help when real, live, breathing humans can’t get to the phone or digital device. But not everything should be reduced to a digital series of commands or questions before narrowing down to an answer, place or resolution. At[…]
A fact of multifamily is that apartments have to make ongoing investments to stay competitive in today’s market. A renovation or value-add strategy can align an older property to better compete with a newer community down the street, even one in a higher class. Community-wide overhauls of flooring, cabinets and appliances refresh units to attract[…]
Apartment operators shouldn’t assume that today’s preferred renter amenities are defined by the regions where they operate. The 2017 National Multifamily Housing Council/Kingsley Renter Preference Report unveiled in October suggests apartment residents around the country have some very distinct favorites that don’t necessarily jive with where they live. The bi-annual report, which drew 272,000 responses[…]
The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) that measures builder’s confidence fell three points in September after hurricanes battered the Texas coast, Louisiana and Florida. The rating for newly built single-family homes fell to 64 on the index, down from 67 in August. While the index does not include apartment homes,[…]
While it’s just a blip, apartment home and lease fraud is now being measured on the Federal Trade Commission’s identity theft and fraud radar. Three years ago, identity fraud or theft related to the lease housing industry first showed up on the agency’s annual Consumer Sentinel report. The number of complaints − albeit just a[…]
The most widely used refrigerant cooling today’s apartments, which appeared to be on the chopping block, is getting a stay of execution, at least for now. In early August the United States Court of Appeals ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency cannot force manufacturers to replace refrigerants like R-410A that emit hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). The news[…]
Since arriving in the information technology world almost four decades ago, outsourcing has evolved into a key business practice across many industries. It’s no longer the butt of jokes, like when EDS and IBM set wheels in motion in the 1980s for companies to hand off internal routine computer maintenance and administration to overseas work[…]
Earnings matter. This is as true in energy, industrials and consumer staples as it is in real estate...
Congratulations! You have a fantastic product. Newsflash! Your competitor has a fantastic product, t...
Multifamily owners will sometimes find themselves non-compliant because of a misinterpretation of th...
An automated vending machine generating $2,500 in weekly revenue is most likely not selling just can...
When it officially stamps hoarding as a disorder in May, the American Psychiatric Association will c...
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