Share(Updated September 2016)
Thinking about investing in multi-family property? Apartment buildings, condominiums, rental housing... all of these can be lucrative investments. Or they can be disastrous money pits. In this field guide you will find articles discussing the basics of investing in multi-family properties, market trends, and property management tips. (C. Dodge, Information Specialist)
E — EBSCO articles available for NAR members only. Password can be found on the EBSCO Access Information page.
The Basics
Multifamily Outlook 2016pdf, (Freddie Mac, Feb. 2016).
Multi-family residential, (Wikipedia, Feb. 24, 2013).
Multi-Family Properties: The Basics, (Realty Times, Mar. 24, 2009).
Multifamily Housing, (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, n.d.).
What is MULTIFAMILY HOUSING?, (The Law Dictionary, n.d.).
Top Ten Tips for Landlords
- Screen potential tenants using a written rental application
- Document the important facts of the agreement with a written lease
- Establish a fair system of setting, collecting, holding, and returning security deposits
- Stay on top of maintenance and make repairs when requested
- Provide secure premises
- Provide adequate notice before entering the rental space
- Disclose environmental hazards
- Choose and supervise your property manager carefully
- Purchase liability and other property insurance
- Try to resolve disputes with your tenants without lawyers and lawsuits
Source: Top Ten Tips for Landlords, (NOLO, n.d.).
Landlord Investment Tips
- Have a property management firm screen your tenants
- Require that your tenants have renter's insurance
- Make sure your property is protected for vandalism due to the tenant not taking care of the rental
- Make sure you have insurance that covers you for fair rental loss
- Make sure you have adequate limits of liability
Source: Landlord Beware: Advice to Protect You and Your Investment, (Realty Times, July 18, 2005).
Trends
Luxury 348-Unit Multifamily Community Sells for $72.5 Million in Hot San Fernando Valley Market, (Multifamily Biz, Sept. 22, 2016).
Banks Slow Multifamily Lending Even as GSEs Step on the Gas, (CoStar Group, Aug. 24, 2016).
New Apps to 'Virtualize' Apartments of the Future, (Multifamily Executive, July 26, 2016).
Deal or No Deal: Can Airbnb and Multifamily Firms Work Together?, (Multifamily Executive, Feb. 24, 2016).
Top Five Multifamily Investment Markets, (National Real Estate Investor, Feb. 18, 2016).
Strong Demand from Baby Boomers to Continue to Drive Multifamily Home Construction, (National Association of REALTORS®, Sept. 22, 2015).
Multifamily Energy Retrofits Bring Big Savings, (REALTOR® Magazine, Sept. 4, 2015).
The Top 5 Underserved Multi-Family Markets, (Commercial Property Executive, June 22, 2015).
Investing in Multi-Family Property
NMHC 50 List Highlights Unrelenting Nationwide Demand for Apartments, (National Multifamily Housing Council, Apr. 6, 2016).
Fannie and Freddie Reward Affordable Housing Properties, (National Real Estate Investor, June 23, 2015).
The Case for Investing in Multifamily Housing, (Institutional Investor, May 27, 2015).
Six Reasons Why Investing in Multi-Family Housing is a Smart Move, (Cash Flow Diary, Oct. 2014).
Buying a Multi-Family Investment Property, (Reality Times, Aug. 20, 2014).
Due Diligence: Purchasing Multi-Family Investments, (REIClub, June 20, 2014).
Don't Rule Out Multifamily Investments, (REALTOR® Magazine, May 2014).
Property Management
Tips for Transitioning Apartment Communities into Operational Brilliance, (Property Management Insider, Aug. 1, 2016).
Top 9 Property Management Blogs You Should be Reading, (Updater, May 22, 2016).
How to Start a Property Management Company, (Buildium, Oct. 15, 2013).
How To Manage Your Multifamily Property Manager, (Theresa Bradley-Banta Real Estate Consultancy, n.d.).
Multi-Family Property Management, (Landlord Station, n.d.).
Tips for Buying and Managing Multi-Family Real Estate, (Fidelity Bank, n.d.).
How Do I Manage a Multifamily Housing Complex?, (SFGate, n.d.).
Useful Websites
Marketing and Leasing: Multifamily Properties, (Realtor.org). — NAR’s education matrix.
Multi-Housing News — Provides current news and statistics about the multi-housing industry.
National Apartment Association — A trade association for the apartment housing industry.
National Association of Residential Property Managers® — A trade association for residential property managers.
National Multi Housing Council — Provides a forum for insight, advocacy and action for members and the community.
Property Manager — Sells property management software, and shares perspectives and best practices to help manage your property management business.
Books, eBooks & Other Resources
eBooks.realtor.org
The following eBooks and digital audiobooks are available to NAR members:
The Complete Guide to Buying and Selling Apartment Buildings (Adobe eReader)
The Complete Guide to Real Estate Finance for Investment Properties: How to Analyze and Single-Family, Multifamily, or Commercial Property (Adobe eReader)
Complete Landlord and Property Managers Legal Survival Kit, (Kindle, OverDrive, Adobe eReader),
The Complete Real Estate Encyclopedia, (Adobe eReader)
Every Landlord's Legal Guide (Adobe eReader)
Happy About Apartment Management: 30 Years of Expert Tips and Advice on Multifamily Property Management (Adobe eReader)
Insiders Tips to Operating a Successful Property Management Company, (Adobe eReader).
Multi-Family Millions: How Anyone Can Reposition Apartments for Big Profits, (Adobe eReader).
Opportunities in Property Management Careers, (Adobe eReader).
Property Management Kit for Dummies®, (Adobe eReader)
Rich Dad's Advisors®: The ABC's of Property Management, (Kindle, OverDrive, Adobe eReader).
Streetwise Landlording & Property Management, (Kindle, OverDrive, Adobe eReader).
What Every Landlord Needs to Know: Time and Money-Saving Solutions to Your Most Annoying Problems (Adobe eReader)
Books, Videos, Research Reports & More
The resources below are available for loan through Information Services. Up to three books, tapes, CDs and/or DVDs can be borrowed for 30 days from the Library for a nominal fee of $10. Call Information Services at 800-874-6500 for assistance.
Principles of real estate management, (Chicago, IL: Institute of Real Estate Management, 2011). HD 1394 In7rm
The completeLandlord.com ultimate real estate investing handbook, (Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2009). HD 1382.5 L49
Buy it, rent it, profit! : make money as a landlord in any real estate market, (New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 2009). HD 1394 C39
7 Secrets to Successful Apartment Leasing: Find Quality Renters, Fill Vacancies, and Maximize Your Rental Income, (Chicago, IL: McGraw-Hill, 2006). HD 1384 C91
Every Landlord's Legal Guide, (Chicago, IL: Nolo, 2006). HD 1394 St4e
Complete Guide to Buying and Selling Apartment Buildings, (Chicago, IL: John Wiley & Sons, 2005). HD 1377 B46
Practical Apartment Management, (Chicago, IL: Institute of Real Estate Management, 2005). HD 1394 In7pr Ed. 5
The New No-Nonsense Landlord: Building Wealth with Rental Properties, (New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2003). HD 1394 J76
Field Guides & More
These field guides and other resources in the Virtual Library may also be of interest:
Field Guide to Breaking into Commercial Sales
Field Guide to Commercial Green Buildings
Field Guide to Commercial Property Management
Field Guide to Complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Field Guide to Effects of Low-Income Housing on Property Values
Field Guide to Green Property Management
Field Guide to Inclusionary Zoning
Field Guide to Investing in Real Estate
Field Guide to Zoning Laws & Ordinances
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The inclusion of links on this field guide does not imply endorsement by the National Association of REALTORS®. NAR makes no representations about whether the content of any external sites which may be linked in this field guide complies with state or federal laws or regulations or with applicable NAR policies. These links are provided for your convenience only and you rely on them at your own risk.