Don’t cut your marketing budget in a recession
Most companies reduce spending in recessions, especially on marketing items that may be easier to cut (certainly relative to payroll). Right now, advertising agencies are struggling to stay afloat, and Google and Facebook are...
The benefits of laughing in the office
I asked my red-faced boss whether my laughter had embarrassed him. “It is pretty loud,” he muttered under his breath.
Later that evening, I castigated myself. I lay awake, wondering how many other times my...
Market disrupter
Whether you subscribe to GenFlux (those who seek constant disruption) or hold to the adage that history repeats itself ad infinitum (the future is found in the past), we as owners and managers, even...
Just say no to criminals
After witnessing an odd commotion at her neighbor's home, a resident in a southwest apartment community promptly dialed 911. From the witness' description and a subsequent police check, the FBI and ATF were called...
And the beat goes on
Brad Pitt toured the construction site of a house in New Orleans that is based on the winning design in a competition he launched to help the area recover from Hurricane Katrina. Wearing khaki...
Knocking the rust off the Rust Belt
Investments into one of the nation’s poorest zip codes in the Rust Belt are fueling an historic preservation and mixed-use redevelopment project on three blocks in Erie, Pa.’s downtown core, setting a national standard...
The state of being
I certainly have.
Even as someone who believes this is but a touchstone for something much grander, it's still hard to think of not being here. Not having a voice in the lives of my...
Negative leverage: The Fed’s gift to apartment investors
The Federal Reserve’s inflation of the money supply and interest rate manipulation distort capital markets through, among other things, the creation of asset bubbles. As the cost of borrowing decreases and cheap money floods...
From property management to prosperity management
The latest figures for average annual turnover of residents in the multifamily sector is 55 percent. In other words, more than half of property owners’ inventory is on the market all of the time....
The power of leasing remains with integrated media
"First quarter results showed that our Apartment Guide print buys were generating leads, and drew even stronger results when combined with other Internet-based products. In combination, they are our number one source of leads....
The passive-aggressive boss
If you’re struggling with the effects of your boss’s toxic personality, you aren’t alone. According to Mental Health America’s examination of over 17,000 employees across 19 industries, 64 percent of employees don’t feel their...
Am I the only techie against net neutrality?
No, I am not a paid shill for the cable industry. I am no fan of Comcast or any other ISP I’ve ever had the “pleasure” of dealing with. I’m skeptical of large corporations...
The American Dream loses its luster
In fact, the percentage of departing renters opting for homeownership also reached some historic lows in Q4 2011 and multifamily REITS like Camden Property Trust are reaping the rewards.
"We continue to benefit from incredibly...
The highlight of my career
Interviewing Donald Trump was a highlight of my publishing career. The Trump brand is one of the most luxurious in the world. His multifamily properties are legendary. In the AP interview, we focused on...
Bubble trouble?
The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas identified signs of a “brewing U.S. housing bubble” in March. Though the sharp increase in home prices in itself does not indicate a bubble, the report said, there...
