Field Guide to Multi-Family Property

(Updated December 2006)

Have you ever thought about investing in rental property? Apartment buildings, condominiums, rental housing...all of these properties can be lucrative investments. Or they can be disastrous money pits!!! Below are several suggestions covering not only investing in multi-family properties, but also what to do with the property once it's yours. (K. Swanson, Information Specialist)

Contents: 

Trends  |  Investing in Multi-Family Property  |  Property Management  |  Useful Websites  |  Books, eBooks & Other Resources


Landlord Investment Tips

  screen tenants

  require renter's insurance

  protect property from vandalism

  have fair rental loss coverage

  obtain adequate limits of liability

Source: Landlord Beware: Advice to Protect You and Your Investment, (Realty Times, July 18, 2005).


Trends

The Ever-Evolving Apartment , (Buildings, Aug. 2006). Q

Top 10 Multifamily Trends
, (National Real Estate Investor, Jun. 2006). Q

Multifamily Demand Map
, (Journal of Property Management, Jan/Feb 2005). Q

With Residential Home Sales Correcting, Builders Look to Growing Multifamily Market, (Realty Times, Oct. 26, 2006).

Apartment Market Rediscovery
, (National Real Estate Investor, Sep. 2006). Q

Multifamily Market Divergence Spawns Condo Bargains
, (Realty Times, Aug. 30, 2006).

Local Landlords Move Into Faraway Markets; As Many Hot Areas Cool Off, Real-Estate Investors Seek to Cash In on Rising Rents in Other States, (Wall Street Journal, Jun. 14, 2006). Q

Is the Apartment Market Back?, (Mortgage Banking, Apr. 2006). Q

Rents Rise, Vacancies Drop as Apartments Join the Boom
, (Wall Street Journal, Nov. 30, 2005). Q

Apartments and Condo Operators Represent More Than a Billion-Dollar Market
, (Rough Notes, Nov. 2005). Q

Peeking Into Multifamily Housing
, (Community Banker, Feb. 2005). Q

Big Changes May Await Property Managers, (REALTOR® Magazine Online, Nov. 13, 2006).

Hi-Tech Rent Calculators, (National Real Estate Investor, Jun. 12, 2006).

Apartment Properties Offer Utility Programs
, (Realty Times, Apr. 13, 2006).

When You Screen Tenants, Make Sure the Law is on Your Side, (Realty Times, Feb. 13, 2006).

More Apartment Landlords Are Likely to Face Disability-Access Suits
, (Wall Street Journal, Nov. 16, 2005). Q

National Apartment Association, (www.naahq.org, 2005).

National Multi Housing Council
, (www.nmhc.org, 2005).

Multifamily Housing, (HUD, July 7, 2006).

Multifamily Financing
, (FannieMae, Sept. 7, 2006).

Multifamily Housing
, (KnowledgePlex, 2006).

Underwriter's Toolbox
, (Banks Channel Publishing LLC, 2004).

Multi-Housing News
, (www.multi-housingnews.com, 2006).


Books, eBooks & Other Resources

eBooks.realtor.org

The following ebooks and digital audiobooks are available to NAR members:

The Complete Guide to Real Estate Finance for Investment Properties: How to Analyze and Single-Family, Multifamily, or Commercial Property (Adobe eReader)

The Complete Guide to Buying and Selling Apartment Buildings
(Adobe eReader)

Every Landlord's Legal Guide
(Adobe eReader)

Every Landlord's Tax Deduction Guide
(Adobe eReader)

Books, Videos, Research Reports & More

The resources below are available for loan through Information Central.  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 Central at 800.874.6500 for assistance.

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

Every Landlord's Tax Deduction Guide
, (Chicago, IL: Nolo, 2005). HD 1394 F53

Field Guides & More

These Field Guides and other resources in the Virtual Library may also be of interest:

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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 to 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.

 

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