I am a lot like an "Encyclopedia" for Apartments in the Clear Lake and surrounding Houston areas! It's True - I can typically quote the price for each property with the specials they are offering just off the "top of my head" and usually the square footage too - but of course I don't rely on that - I have a huge database with every property listed in complete detail that is updated constantly to offer you the fastest and most complete, service available! This is what I do - that is why I do just this, just apartment locating, I don't sell homes, list homes or lease homes, I am the "Apartment Expert" - available to help you, whenever you need it, whether it is that you need to move today, or within the next few months, fast free and ethical caring agent with the capability to email you, fax you, simply tell you over the phone, or meet you in my office with the best deals I can find to meet your needs!
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Read Excerpts from reliable sources regarding Apartment Living versus Home Ownership; Employment in and Around Houston and the Clear Lake Area; New Construction and Developments Environmental and Housing for the Houston, Clear Lake Area here on
"HOT" TOPICS
Report: Houston growing faster than any other U.S. city
Houston has added more people during the last decade than any of the nation's other 366 metropolitan areas, according to the analysis of the 2000 and 2010 U.S. Census released Tuesday by Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research.
Houston No. 2 U.S. city for young adults starting career Houston Business Journal
Date: Monday, June 20, 2011, 2:50pm CDT
Texas has become the country's mecca for young job seekers, with Austin and Houston as the hub.
Texas placed three cities in the Top 5 among metro areas offering the widest range of opportunities for men and women getting started in their careers, according to a new On Numbers report from American City Business Journals. Researchers compiled the rankings from various U.S. Census Bureau data. Houston Business Journal - October, 2011
Apartment development is set to surge in Houston and around the country, and that business opportunity has both veteran and new multifamily builders shopping for project sites.
The multifamily market is poised for a building resurgence, experts say, for a number of reasons:
• The last two years of decreased construction have created a lack of supply
• Institutional investors are flocking to apartment development because it costs just as much to acquire an existing complex as to develop a new one
• Changes in the banking industry have made it more difficult for people to buy single-family houses without a 20 percent down payment
• The estimated 76 million Echo Boomers, the children of Baby Boomers, are entering the prime renting age of 18 to 34
• As the recession ends, more people will move out of their parent’s house or opt to live without a roommate. Between 200,000 to 300,000 new apartment units are typically built each year in the United States, while another 100,000 to 125,000 older units are demolished. But only 50,000 to 75,000 units were built in 2009, and the same number in 2010. The number of units delivered in 2011 could be similar, as it takes time for developers to ramp up construction efforts.
“This is the first time I’ve seen the supply as low as it is,” said Patton, who has overseen development of 12,000 apartment units over the last 13 years. “We don’t think we’ll be able to meet the apartment demand over the next three years with the apartment supply.” The number of multifamily units built last year was the lowest it’s been since the end of World War II, experts say. “It will take a while for the industry to catch up with demand,” said Stacy Hunt, an executive director with apartment manager, owner and developer Greystar, based in Charleston, S.C., but originally founded in Houston.
The Case Against Homeownership
Digested From "The Case Against Homeownership"
Time (09/06/10) by Barbara Kiviat
For decades, government officials, lenders, Realtors, and many others have idealized the act of buying a home to the point where so many of the downsides have been ignored. This overarching mentality caused lending standards to slip dramatically during the bubble years, allowing many Americans to put far too much of their income into paying for their housing. At the same time, the homeownership craze contributed to the hollowing out of cities, fed America's overuse of energy and oil, and kept renters out of the best neighborhoods. Case in point, of the 186 towns and cities within 50 miles of Boston, 34 currently prohibit apartment communities and other forms of multifamily housing. Another 81 allow them on less than 10 percent of the available land. Now, as the nation labors to rebound from the worst housing bust since the Great Depression, TIME magazine reports that the time has come for America to rethink how realistic the expectations of homeownership are
Read here why you need an apartment locator such as myself to help you find the best deal!
Housing Gloom Doesn't Extend to Apartments
Digested From "Housing Gloom Doesn't Extend to Rentals"
Wall Street Journal (03/21/11) by Kelly Evans
Later this week, the government's index of home prices is expected to register its seventh decrease in eight months. At the same time, economists anticipate new home sales in February will post a monthly increase of only 2 percent coming off of January's almost 13 percent dip. As a result, the rental housing market is heating up. Reis Inc. recently reported that average U.S. apartment vacancy rates declined to 6.6 percent in 2010 from 8 percent the year before. Monthly rents, meanwhile, climbed 2.3 percent. Developers are making moves to take advantage of a possible multi-year rental housing boom. Equity Residential CEO David Neithercut notes that it is "very good to be in the apartment business today." Indeed, occupied apartments increased by nearly 58,000 in the last three months of last year -- the largest gain for that period in a decade. Green Street Advisers, meanwhile, notes that such factors as population growth and a decline in the U.S. homeownership rate to 65 percent could generate approximately 4.5 million new renter households over the next five years -- a level of demand that "will far outstrip supply" through 2015, the firm's researchers note.
Double-Digit Rent Increases Possible
Digested From "Renew Your Lease - Rents Could Rise 10 Percent"
CNN Money (03/17/11) by Les Christie
Double-digit rent hikes may be coming soon, as apartment vacancy rates have dipped below the 10 percent mark in many markets. Demand is increasing, according to Rent.com President Peggy Alford, who predicts the vacancy rate will hover at a mere 5 percent by 2012. In the most popular rental housing markets, prices could jump as much as 10 percent, a sharp change from the recession when many Americans could not afford to live on their own. Chris Macke, a real estate analyst with CoStar, says apartment developers may not be able to keep up with this heightened demand, which will force prices upwards. Alford adds, "There's been a shift in the American Dream. We're learning from our surveys that a huge proportion of people are choosing to rent." Still, there is one factor that could rein in rent increases: the huge number of foreclosed homes that could hit the market over the next few years.
BAHEP supports NASA decision for next deep space transportation system
Published 05/25/2011 from Clear Lake Today
BAY AREA, HOUSTON, Texas -- NASA has reached an important milestone for the next U.S. transportation system that will carry humans into deep space. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden announced today that the system will be based on designs originally planned for the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle. Those plans now will be used to develop a new spacecraft known as the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV).
"We are committed to human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit and look forward to developing the next generation of systems to take us there," Bolden said. "The NASA Authorization Act lays out a clear path forward for us by handing off transportation to the International Space Station to our private sector partners, so we can focus on deep space exploration. As we aggressively continue our work on a heavy lift launch vehicle, we are moving forward with an existing contract to keep development of our new crew vehicle on track."
Lockheed Martin Corp. will continue working to develop the MPCV. The spacecraft will carry four astronauts for 21-day missions and be able to land in the Pacific Ocean off the California coast. The spacecraft will have a pressurized volume of 690 cubic feet, with 316 cubic feet of habitable space. It is designed to be 10 times safer during ascent and entry than its predecessor, the space shuttle.
"This selection does not indicate a business as usual mentality for NASA programs," said Douglas Cooke, associate administrator for the agency's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate in Washington. "The Orion government and industry team has shown exceptional creativity in finding ways to keep costs down through management techniques, technical solutions and innovation.
Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership (BAHEP) President Bob Mitchell commended the decision.
Houston High Rise Living – It’s The Alternative, Unique Style of Rentals Available
In urban areas where real estate is at a premium, apartment communities are building up — not out — in high-rise buildings. Usually located in downtown areas close to the hustle and bustle of metropolitan life, high-rise apartment communities offer residents many conveniences.
The following features are some of the most unique attributes of high-rise apartment living that you’re bound to encounter if you rent in one of these urban communities.
Convenient city location
Perhaps the most appealing and unique attribute of high-rise living is location. High-rise apartments are typically located in very desirable metropolitan areas, close to work places, art and culture, entertainment, and shopping. Living near a city’s hot spots is appealing to active apartment dwellers, and the possibility of either walking or taking public transportation is a bonus, as well. For example Houston’s Metro Lite Rail, is perfect for city dwellers, particularly for employees or contractors for the Medical Center and Montrose and Museum Districts, River Oaks and many other inner loop locations. In many cities, urban high-rise apartment dwellers do not need cars and can therefore do away with this major expense and hassle – but in Houston, you need a car! It’s a big, incredibly large city and to be able to see everything, and get to everywhere you want to get to, Houston is a city that was built with the thought that everyone must have their own transportation to truly enjoy it!
On-site retail stores
One of the many unique attributes of urban high-rise apartments is the presence of retail shops on the bottom level of the building. These retailers often include businesses like a grocery store, coffee shop, dry cleaner, or salon — all very useful places for residents to have convenient access to.
State of the Art, Fully Equipped Fitness Centers
While gyms or fitness centers are becoming standard amenities in more and more garden style apartment communities, they are also a common feature of high-rise apartment living. Luxury garden style apartment properties offer the same upscale, fully equipped fitness centers as in the luxury high rise property, and some are offering pilates, yoga, and a trainer with regularly scheduled workout sessions. . A typical high-rise apartment building gym is large enough to feature free weights, nautilus machines, and cardio equipment. Luxury apartment buildings, both garden style and high rise apartment buildings are now offering extended services such as a towel service, a sauna, or an on-site massage therapist, with some even having IPod Docks, in addition to several flat screens for entertainment while working out.
Pre-installed telecom services
Another of the unique attributes of high-rise living is the prevalence of pre-installed hook-ups. In an effort to offer convenience to tenants, high-rise buildings often are pre-wired for easy set-up of technology like surround-sound television and wireless Internet. All you have to do is move in and plug in your devices, and your phone, Internet, and cable all work together seamlessly. Be aware that the cost of this convenience may be bundled into the price of rent so you won’t pay additional, separate utility bills for these services. Most newer garden style newer built properties are being built with multi-wired options for phone and high speed internet but not including these in the rent, at an additional charge as you choose..
Wide variety of units including angled layouts and lofts
Another common feature of high-rise apartment living is a wide variety of rental unit types. A typical high-rise building will offer several floor plans, starting with smaller units like one bedroom or studio apartments and expanding to include spacious luxury units like a penthouse suite or loft space — unique spaces that you wouldn’t find in a mid-rise or low-rise building. For apartment searchers, the number of floor plan options is a bonus because a wider variety of units may be available at any given time.
Drawbacks of high-rise apartments
While the long list of convenient urban apartment features may make high-rise living sound ideal, there are a few drawbacks. Privacy, for instance, is sometimes an issue in high-rise apartment living. Because so many residents are living in such close quarters, it’s not uncommon to hear nearby noise on occasion. Add in the regular city noise coming from traffic and the street below, and high-rise living is most certainly bound to be a bit less peaceful than life out in the ‘burbs. Another notable drawback of high-rise apartment living is often the price point. Because of the many conveniences a high-rise apartment building offers residents, the price tag is often on the higher side. With elite luxury services, concierge and maid services, fully equipped lavish fitness centers, internet cafe's, elaborate conference or meeting rooms, pre-wired cable, modem, multiple phone line hook-ups, etc., high-rise rents can sometimes cause sticker shock. Location, Location, Location – being the most expensive, and the most attractive is usually what is causing the higher rental price, whether it’s on the water, or on the Metro Lite Rail, or in the downtown Houston area, most attractions such as museums, fine dining, major employers, Houston's world renowned Texas Medical Center, and contemporary Houston night life, steps away! Location is a key ingredient to making any high-rise the more favorable choice to rent!
For many renters, however, the extra luxuries and conveniences of high-rise living more than justify the price. You may find that, despite drawbacks, high-rise apartment living is one type of alternative apartment rental that suits you perfectly. Call me today to find out where you get the most bang for your buck!
Renting a Apartment Home a Better Deal Than Buying in Much of U.S. Digested From "Renting a Home a Better Deal Than Buying in Much of U.S."
Investor's Business Daily (12/29/09) P. A1; by Norm Alster
More Americans, even those who are well off, are opting for rent payments over mortgage payments during the current economic climate. Center for Economic and Policy Research co-director Dean Baker says the latest data indicates that in 13 areas of the United States, house prices are 18 times or more rental costs. San Jose has the highest ratio of home prices to annual rental costs, with ownership of a below-average house likely to cost nearly $2,000 more than renting a comparable two-bedroom unit. Other areas that are bargains for renters include the Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, Conn., area; San Francisco-Oakland; Seattle; and the New York metro area. Nonetheless, experts say it will likely be renters -- particularly those who have savings and do not need to sell a house first -- who will lift the housing market out of the doldrums. Andrew Gerringer, managing director of development for Prudential Douglas Elliman in Manhattan, states, "The reality is that renters are some of the best potential buyers."
The New American Dream Home May Be a Rental Digested From "American Dream 2: Default, Then Rent"
Wall Street Journal (12/10/09) P. A1; by Mark Whitehouse
Americans' increasing willingness to abandon homeownership may actually be clearing the way for an economic recovery. Due to a rare confluence of factors -- most notably, mortgages far exceeding home values and bargain-basement rents in many markets -- a growing number of families are concluding that the new American dream home is actually a rental. To this end, some are leaving behind their homes and mortgages, while others are simply stopping payments altogether until the bank kicks them out. This, in turn, is freeing up cash to use in other ways, such as trips and eating out more. Studies show that the U.S homeownership rate has charted its steepest decline in over two decades, falling to 67.6 percent as of the end of this year's third quarter from a 69.2 percent peak just five years earlier. Credit firm Experian and consulting firm Oliver Wyman project that "strategic defaults" by homeowners who can afford to pay are likely to surpass 1 million this year, which would be more than quadruple 2007's level. Deutsche Bank Securities analysts estimate that approximately 21 million U.S. households will end up owing more on their mortgages than their homes are worth by the end of next year. If just 20 percent of those households defaults, the losses to banks and investors could top $400 billion. On the positive side, massive debt relief can help offset the pain of rising joblessness and put more money in consumers' wallets.
Forget the American Dream, Many Figure It's Better to Rent - Digested From Press (10/09/09)
For thousands of people throughout Southwest Florida and elsewhere, the American dream of homeownership has lost some of its luster amid the foreclosure crisis. Earlier in the year, the National Foundation for Credit Counseling released survey results showing nearly 50 percent of all American adults no longer view homeownership as a reliable means of building wealth. In addition, 31 percent of respondents said they don't expect to ever be able to own a home. Several property professionals are weighing in on the trend. Foundation spokeswoman Gail Cunningham observes that more Americans are preferring to rent, rather than buy. She states, "For the people who have gone through foreclosure, it is going to take years for them to rebuild their credit scores, and there will still be a real fear of getting twice burned. And it doesn't necessarily have to have happened to you. We all know someone who has gone through it." Joe Gyourko, professor of real estate at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, cautions that the widely held expectation that everyone should own a home too often leads to people reaching beyond their means. Looking at specific markets, Southwest Florida Apartment Association Executive Director Trish Barton notes that local apartment occupancy is more than 80 percent currently -- a bit lower than owners and managers would like, but still up from earlier in the year. Barton remarks, "They are not having to offer as many incentives -- free first month's rent and things like that -- as they were."
Renting Versus Owning
"I have a million-dollar view for the price of an apartment. I get a gym and don't have to pay. If I sign a year's lease, it includes parking, and I don't have to pay. And you have all the restaurants and places to go downtown."
In a time of declining house values, rising foreclosures and uncertainty about jobs, many who may have jumped into the housing market in a better economy are content to rent instead. Some view renting as more of a longer-term option instead of merely a steppingstone to home ownership. Others simply want the flexibility of being able to move without having to sell a house in a tough market.
In a survey by apartment listing site, half the nearly 2,000 respondents said they rent because it is a more affordable living option than home ownership, with its taxes, repairs and interest that gobbles up the lion's share of a monthly payment in the early years of a mortgage. More than a third of those who responded to the September 2008 survey said they have been renting for a decade or more. And the listing service is seeing an increase in interest from families, with the number of online searches for units with three bedrooms or more up by about 7 percent this spring.
"A lot of people are choosing to rent over home ownership because it affords them a more affordable living option while allowing them to live the kind of lifestyle they want," said a spokeswoman for the apartment listing site. "Renting allows people to live in top neighborhoods where they may not be able to afford to purchase a home."
Excerpt taken from Article onfrom the Baltimore Sun,September 13, 2009
How to Find Handicap-Accessible Housing
Digested From "How to Find Handicap-Accessible Housing"
San Francisco Chronicle (09/13/09) P. H4
Asked if there are there any laws that require landlords to create handicap-accessible units for disabled tenants, officials with Project Sentinel note that under the fair housing laws, multifamily complexes with four or more units that were built for first occupancy after March 13, 1991, must meet specific accessibility guidelines, including reinforced walls for grab bars, and doors must be accessible and usable by individuals with disabilities. Assistance can be found at accessibleapartments.org, a site maintained by the National Apartment Association, which provides tenants a way to search for accessible housing. Another option is for the tenant to make modifications to a unit himself, with proof of disability, but at the tenant's own expense. The tenant would be required to remove the modifications if the landlord requires removal once the property is vacated.
The Money Side of Moving
How to Get the Best Apartment Deals
"Of course I am going to find the best deals possible while staying within your price range, and with the amenities that you are requesting if at all possible", however these are some helpful things to consider - and once I know what you want, what you are accustomed to and what you are expecting for your money, I can be much more helpful. Chances are, rent is one of the biggest expenditures in your budgets. Finding great apartment deals with lower rent can do a lot to put more money back in your pocket. How can you find the best apartment for the lowest rent? Read these tips and keep them in mind when I am emailing you the list - be sure to always OPEN up the MEMO sections in your apartment package, that is where I will put the lowest possible monthly rental amount, with any and all specials for lease terms included. If you just look at the "listed prices", you will not be seeing the REAL ACTUAL PRICES, with any possible specials that I have found for you!
Know what you want
These days, many new apartment communities come with a huge amount of possible amenities, from dry-cleaning pick up to on-site massage therapists, some of which are completely free. Though many extras are purely elective luxury, others can save you commute time and money, so choose to pay for services that you would be using outside of your community anyway. An on site gym, for instance, saves you membership fees elsewhere and allows you to work out any time of day or night, without having to get in your car. Likewise, having access to the community swimming pool gives you fast relief on a hot day, with a chance to meet your neighbors just like Free Internet Cafes, which almost all apartments offer now, are a great way to meet your neighbors and have a free cup of Java! Garages are typically an extra charge, but some come with the price, already included, if you have a pet, be sure to let me know so I can find the most "pet friendly" communities where you and your neighbors may have something already in common.
Be flexible
Sometimes, apartment communities offer a bargain on rent and amenities though their location is less than central. If you are a person who likes to stay in for the night once you’ve returned from work or school, you don’t necessarily need to live in the center of things. Consider whether being a little further from the city hub might be made up for, in square footage and amenities in the suburbs.
New construction
Oftentimes, newly built apartment properties offer especially enticing move-in deals, because they have to fill a certain number of units to begin repaying their bank loans.
Sometimes a property can offer a number of different floor plans with the same number of bedrooms, but with some subtle differences, such as a better view or a bit more or less square footage, let me know if you would like to live in a brand new community where you might be the 1st resident to have ever lived in that particular unit!
Break down the deal
You may find offers such as “first month free!” or even better. I will spell this out for in the MEMO sections, I will pro-rate the free rent offered over the mandatory lease term to get your lowest possible monthly rent! THERE ARE GREAT SPECIALS going on right now and I will find them for you! The location and amenities in the prospective community are also to be considered - remember they can save you money too, gym, internet charges, etc.
HUNT FOR AN APARTMENT OFF SEASON!
Since spring and summer are the busiest rental seasons, you may have more bargaining power when the temperatures drop. Fewer apartment seekers means landlords who might be more willing to bargain. So if you have a choice of when to begin your hunt, hold out for the cooler months.
Be prepared
Come prepared with all of your financial and employment information, rental history, even letters of recommendation if you can get them. It’s much easier to negotiate with your prospective landlord if you are ready to seal the deal then and there.
5 Myths About Home Sweet Homeownership Debunked Digested From "5 Myths About Home Sweet Homeownership"
Washington Post (11/15/09) by Joseph Gyourko
The article seeks to debunk five of the most common myths associated with owning a home. The first is that housing is a great long-term investment. The article's author, who is the chairman of the real estate department and the director of the Zell/Lurie Real Estate Center at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, writes: "Between 1975 and 2008, the price for houses of comparable quality and size appreciated an average of about 1 percent per year after inflation. You would have earned well over 2 percent per year after inflation had you invested in Treasury bills over the same period. And you would have earned even more on riskier investments." The second myth explored concerns the federal homebuyer tax credit and whether it makes buying a house more affordable. Gyourko states, "Just because you got an $8,000 tax credit toward the purchase of a home doesn't mean that you actually saved $8,000. In areas where there is strong demand for housing and the supply of new housing is limited -- including the Washington metro region -- tax credits may result in the bidding up of home prices." Third, Gyourko dismisses the notion that homeownership is good for society because owners typically make better citizens. He insists that there is no overwhelming evidence that higher homeownership rates make for better societies. Three European countries -- Austria, Germany and Denmark -- all have ownership rates in the low 40 percent range. This is well below the 68 percent ownership rate in the United States, he points out, "but those countries don't appear to be suffering a shortage of civic-mindedness. The fourth myth that Gyourko seeks to debunk is that it's safe to buy a home with a very low down payment. In fact, homeowners can see their careers affected by not being able to move. Gyourko writes: "One of the great virtues of American society has long been our willingness to relocate and follow opportunity. But now, many families are going to be stuck in declining parts of the country, unable to take advantage of better labor market conditions elsewhere." Finally, Gyourko argues again the widely held belief that owning a home is cheaper than renting one because you save on rent. Home maintenance and upkeep eliminates a lot of that savings.
For Generation Y, American Dream Becomes an Apartment in the City Digested From "For Generation Y, American Dream Becomes an Apartment in the City"
Journal Times (Wis.) (03/02/10) by Bill Glauber
Generation Y, roughly characterized as those individuals born between 1980 and 2000, are showing different habits than their parents when it comes to homeownership and where they want to live. John McIlwain, a senior resident fellow with the Urban Land Institute, says Gen Y will be renting "far longer than past generations," especially since they have witnessed the mortgage meltdown. Many other considerations factor into this ongoing trend, such as economic restrictions like high unemployment and debt from college loans. Many people in this age range simply don't have the resources to get started on homeownership right away, so rentals and apartment sharing will be common in the short and medium term until they look to buy homes and settle down. "It's only a good investment if it fits in that lifestyle you're leading at that time," says 26-year-old Milwaukee renter Clarissa Mankus. "I'm not ready to sacrifice certain things, like travel and graduate school." However, many people just prefer the urban lifestyle to owning a house in the suburbs. As a group, twenty somethings and recent college graduates anticipate higher job turnover and getting married later than their parents, so they like to have flexible living arrangements in lively, urban areas.
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