Most Used Property Management Software in the Industry

Michael Levy, author of 50 Interviews: Successful Property Managers posted a very helpful and insightful series of articles comparing the pros and cons of  different Property Management Software used within the industry after examining a discussion posted by the “Property Management Professionals” group on LinkedIn.

SUMMARY for Yardi Software:
The majority of those who mentioned Yardi were very complimentary of the product.

Most felt that Yardi is very user friendly, easy to use, has great functionality, and that the company provides great customer service. However, there were several who indicated they felt the software was too expensive. Of those comparing products with Yardi, a number of them preferred Yardi over AMSI, MRI, OneSite, Peachtree, and Spectra. And some preferred Appfolio, Caliber, OASYS, Peoplesoft, Property Clerk, QuickBooks, and Rent Magic over Yardi. [Read More]

SUMMARY for Appfolio Software:
The majority of those who mentioned AppFolio were very complimentary of the product.

Most felt that AppFolio is easy to learn, easy to use, highly intuitive as a web-based system, and has very comprehensive functionality. In addition they commented on the good data migration they provide from other property management packages. Several people also talked about their excellent customer service and support. However, there were also comments from a few people regarding some bad customer support experiences and also with some functionality issues. Of the few people that compared AppFolio with other products, almost all of them preferred AppFolio over Promas, Propertyware, QuickBooks, Rent Manager, Tenant Pro, and Yardi. [Read More]

SUMMARY for MRI Software:
Of those that are currently using MRI or have used it in the past, it was fairly evenly split between those that liked it and those that didn’t.

Of those that liked MRI, most mentioned ease of use as a key advantage for the product. Of those that did not like the product, they indicated that it was not user friendly and was expensive. Of the few people that compared MRI with other products, some preferred OneSite, Rent Magic, and Yardi over MRI. However, some preferred MRI over Timberline. [Read More]

SUMMARY for OneSite Software:
Of those that are currently using OneSite or have used it in the past, most liked (or loved) it, but there were also a few that had some issues with it.

Of those that liked OneSite, most mentioned ease of use and it’s functionality as key advantages for the product. Of the few that did not like the product, they indicated that it was complicated, not easy to setup, and their customer support was not very good. Of the few people that compared OneSite with other products, some preferred AMSI over OneSite. However, some preferred OneSite over Timberline and MRI. When compared with Yardi, some preferred Yardi and others preferred OneSite. [Read More]

SUMMARY for QuickBooks Software:
Of those that are currently using QuickBooks or have used it in the past, most liked it because it is inexpensive, simple, and reliable for small property management companies.

For those looking for a more robust product that will support larger, growing companies, QuickBooks might not be the best solution. [Read More]

SUMMARY for Buildium Software:
Of those that are currently using Buildium or have used it in the past, almost everyone liked (or loved) it.

Most mentioned customer service & support, ease of use, and low cost as key advantages for the product. One of the only negative comments was that for large apartments it might not be sufficient because the reporting is not good enough for most owners that have large complexes.

Of the few people that compared Buildium with other products, some preferred Rent Manager over Buildium. However, some preferred Buildium over Promas and Yardi. [Read More]

SUMMARY for Rent Manager Software:
Of those that are currently using Rent Manager or have used it in the past, almost everyone liked (or loved) it.

Most mentioned customer service & support, ease of use, and very reasonable cost as key advantages for the product. There were very few negative comments about Rent Manager as a property management solution. Of the few people that compared Rent Manager with other products, several of them preferred Rent Manager over Yardi, Tenant Pro, AppFolio, and Buildium. [Read More]

SUMMARY for Propertyware Software:
Of those that are currently using Propertyware or have used it in the past, many liked it for its ease of use and very reasonable cost.

And at the same time, there were also some that were not as pleased with the software. [Read More]

SUMMARY for Tenant Pro Software:
Of those that are currently using Tenant Pro or have used it in the past, many of them like the software.

Most mentioned ease of use and user friendliness as key advantages for the product. There were very few negative comments about Tenant Pro as a property management solution. However, cost was mentioned by some of the people as one of the negatives for the product.

Of the few people that compared Tenant Pro with other products, several of them preferred Tenant Pro over QuickBooks. Others preferred Yardi, AppFolio, and Rent Manager over Tenant Pro. [Read More]

SUMMARY for Timberline Software:
The feedback on Timberline was quite mixed. In particular, several people mentioned how Timberline was not very user friendly. [Read More]

What has your experience been with the Property Management Software you are currently using?

Would-Be Sellers Become Reluctant Landlords

NPR has an interesting article regarding the challenges facing those who are having so much difficulty selling their property that they are reluctantly turning to leasing.

In this sagging economy, homes can sit on the market for weeks or months. So, would-be sellers often move on, and instead of handing the keys over to new owners, they hand them to tenants. Sometimes that goes well — sometimes not.

“This is the new reality,” says Chicago Realtor Frank Maguire. “Our market is, you might sell your home or you might not. There’s a whole world of people who are unintentional landlords.”

Unintentional, accidental, reluctant, never-in-the-world-thought-they-would-be-a-landlord landlords. That’s the fate of many a homebuyer trying to sell these days.

Sometimes it works out well. Maguire’s next-door neighbor, Paul Williams, is a good example of this trend. Williams, along with his wife and young daughters, rent a home in Rogers Park on Chicago’s far north side. A job change brought them to the area.

They also own a two-bedroom bungalow in Oakland, Calif., that they bought at the height of the housing boom.

“We bought it at just over $500,000,” Williams says, “and the last appraisal was at $260,000.”

Once they heard that appraisal, Williams says, he and his wife decided not to sell but instead to rent their home to a friend of a friend.

“I’d owned rental property before and had almost a problem every month, and so was not very excited about the idea of becoming a landlord again,” he says. “But we’ve been very fortunate to have a great tenant, knock on wood. Thus far it’s been very uneventful.”

There has been a big jump in the number of single family homes shifting into the rental market since the country’s housing boom started to bust.

Eric Belsky with Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies says during the boom years between 2001 to 2005, about 700,000 single-family homes became rentals. The latest survey tracking housing units from 2005 to 2009 showed a significant increase.

According to Belsky, 2.3 million single-family homes “flowed from having been owned to being rented, and they’re not just being offered for rent, but they’re actually occupied by renters.”

In some areas, condominiums are the big market. Sellers still often test the market first and put their condo up for sale in hopes of getting a good deal. Many end up renting their units, says Ron Abrams with the Chicago Association of Realtors.

“The good news for the owners or the reluctant landlords has been that the rental market has been so good, they’ve been able to cover pretty much all their expenses and just been able to basically go on with their lives,” Abrams says.

Of course, some condo associations don’t allow rentals or have certain restrictions.

And sometimes it just doesn’t turn out so rosy.

“My first time being a landlord turned into a nightmare,” says Jeanette Masterson, who admits that if she knew then what she knows now, she may never have become a landlord. “The only thing I knew was that if something was broken, I would have to fix it. I just assumed that everyone would be a good renter. I approached it in a very naive fashion.”

For about three years, Masterson lived in a two-bedroom condo that she bought for $173,000. After she married, she moved into her husband’s larger condominium.

“Originally my condo was on the market for eight or nine months — a lot of showings, no offers,” she says. “After we weren’t able to sell it, we decided to rent it out to bring in some income to help cover the two mortgages that we now had together.”

The rent covered Masterson’s mortgage and assessments. The tenants paid all of the utilities. They called often for small things, and then wanted to break their lease. It turned into a legal quagmire and a battle over the security deposit.

When the saga came to an end, Masterson tried again to sell her unit. It stayed empty for almost a year. A real estate agent helped her find a property management firm, which rented the condo right away.

They’re still losing about $600 a month, but at this point, Masterson says, they’re just trying to minimize their loss and they’re able to do it with a lot less stress.

“I’m not on pins and needles everyday wondering if I’m going to get a call about something stupid,” she says. “Again, as a landlord that’s something I had to accept, but now I don’t have to worry about it, having a property management company working for us, managing my condo.”

Masterson says her best advice to accidental or reluctant landlords is to be prepared, because it’s not easy. [NPR]

Do you have any other advice or tips to give to accidental or reluctant landlords?

Beware: Caller ID Spoofing

We at Mavi had a rather unfortunate run-in with the malicious practice known as spoofing. Someone with no relation to our business had been receiving harassing, scam-related phone calls that showed up on her caller ID with our business number. However, no one from our company had been making calls. Our number was being falsely displayed through a practice known as spoofing.

In general, spoofing occurs when a person or program disguises itself as another person or entity by falsifying data. This can be done through almost any means of communication – mailers or emails, for example – but it’s harder to identify verbal spam through phone calls, especially when it’s a real person on the other end of the line conning you.

In California this October, a woman was found guilty of using such software to impersonate a FBI agent in order to intimidate and scare a client. Others are using this technology in an even worse manner: the grandfather or grandma scam. It’s a heinous practice that targets the elderly into thinking that their grandchild is in trouble and needs money to be wired to them. The calls are placed to those who are often hearing impaired and have trouble distinguishing friend from foe. One scammer even managed to get $20,000 from a deceived grandparent.

Scammers can purchase programs to falsify their caller ID for under $50. You don’t need to be a computer wizard either. Spoofing your Caller ID is as easy as browsing the internet for a host of sites that offer the service. One of them, SpoofCard, offers a free trial of their service. All you have to do is call into their hotline, dial an access code/PIN number, your victim’s number and your desired fake caller ID. There are also a number of mobile phone apps that can be used directly from your Smartphone.

Last December, a bill was passed that made it become illegal “to cause any caller identification service to knowingly transmit misleading or inaccurate caller identification information with the intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully obtain anything of value….” Some use spoofing legitimately, such as doctors and police officers wanting to keep their private numbers untraceable, or large companies with multiple branches wanting to appear with the main company number.

Always be aware that seeing the caller ID is not a fail-safe protection against scam artists, so don’t be so quick to trust that you are really speaking with whatever pops up, especially if it’s your bank or other institution that would request your personal information, and anyone at all who requests you wire over funds. It’s also a good idea to keep a log of spoof calls you receive, and keep track of as much information as you can, such as the exact name and number, and who it was speaking to you. Then you can report it to the FTC either through their website FTC.gov or by calling 877-FTC-HELP.

Fun Halloween Recipes

Unless you live at an unpopular trick-or-treating locale and made the “mistake” of bulking up on goodies or are a high-level parent with access to your children’s closely guarded treasure trove of sweets, you probably don’t have as many Halloween treats as you did back in the good old days. While your figure may be thankful for removing the temptations, let’s be honest and admit that your fun-loving heart is yearning to be naughty. However, fret not, my sugar-fiending brethren. This is a delicious opportunity to whip up some simple, fun and most importantly scrumptious Halloween treats.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Salted and Other Caramel Apples

I love that the possibilities are so endless with caramel apples. Almost everything tastes better with caramel – nuts, chocolate, pretzels, crushed cookies … I could go on!

Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

These cookies are so wonderfully soft! Eating them feels like biting into pumpkin flavored clouds fluffed with cream cheese icing. Yum!

Homemade Candy Corn

Maybe it’s just me, but candy corn seems to always turn up tucked into the bottom corners of the candy jar like bad pennies months after Halloween. I’ve never been particularly enamored with this token Halloween sweet, or at least I wasn’t until I tried making them myself. Maybe the best seasoning was the simple, but oh-so-quaint fact that they are homemade – regardless, these suckers are addicting and delicious.

Halloween Whoopie Pies

You can never go wrong with a whoopie pies! I just don’t have enough excuses to make them year round. Luckily, you can stick some colored sprinkles on just about anything to make it seasonally relevant. I try to make sure these are (at the very least) double-stuffed with filling.

Hopefully you’ve been inspired to whip up something tasty for this Halloween. Have fun!

Ongoing Controversy Surrounds Short Term Rentals

In recent years renting privately owned homes and properties in residential neighborhoods for vacations, business stays, or housing swaps has been a popular option in lieu of a hotel room. However, rental laws don’t always allow for these sorts of transactions but that hasn’t been stopping the practice.  Both the Denver Post and  the Aspen Daily News have posted stories in recent days about the problems associated with these short-term vacation rentals – and why they might soon be made legal.

The biggest complaints about short-term rentals so far range from neighbors angry over noise, overloaded parking, and trash, to local property managers and owners of inns, bed-and-breakfast sites, motels and hotels worried about the competition.

These short-term rentals can also be unfair to those local business owners because when a rental property flies under the legal radar they don’t have to pay taxes or meet safety codes.

The flip side to the debate centers around property owners’ rights to utilize their properties.

It’s a heated and complex debate only made more confusing by the popularity of short-term home rental websites and home swapping websites.

What are your thoughts on this issue? Do you think legalizing short-term rentals in Colorado is a benefit to neighborhoods, property owners, and local business?

Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_18744003#ixzz1Vy5Wbs6x

Read more: http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/home/148699

Ways to Beat the Colorado Heat!

I sure do love the summer, but these 90° + days are scorchers! If you’re like me you are inside at work enjoying the great AC, but if you don’t have the luxury of AC at home, or you’re not at work, here are some great places where Denver residents can beat that heat!  These great ideas are from the Huffington Post.

Chatfield Reservoir: Head to the foothills for the swim beach on the west side of Chatfield. This 1,355-acre storage reservoir is also open to boating, water skiing, jet skis, wakeboarding and tubing. Restrooms are available; no lifeguards are on duty.
Open daily through Labor Day, 10am – 6pm; $8/vehicle
11500 N. Roxborough Park Road, Littleton; 303-791-7275 

Chatfield Reservoir

Water World: Boasting more attractions than any other American water park, you’ll have 46 adventures to enjoy in your quest to stay cool. Wally World and Big Top Family Fun Zone are available for the youngsters, but thrill the big kid in you with rides like The Revolution’s six-story drop or the dark and twisty tubes of Jet Stream.
Open daily through Sep. 5, 10am – 6pm; $31 – $36, discounts for local residents, mid-day rates available
1800 W. 89th Ave., Federal Heights; 303-427-SURF (7873)

Belleview Park: Find both shallow and deep water in the creek here, which cuts through the middle of the greenery. Kids, adults and a few canines can usually be found wading through the lazy stream any time of the day. Families can also check out the nearby playgrounds, petting zoo and miniature passenger train.
Open daily; free
5001 S. Inca Drive, Englewood

Aurora Reservoir: East of town you’ll find designated swimming areas at this 2,500- acre park complete with restrooms, changing areas and picnic shelters as well as a windsurf beach and scuba area. Non-motorized boating is also permitted along with boat rental options.
5:30am – 9pm (times vary/month); $10/vehicle
5800 S. Powhaton Road, Aurora

Confluence Park: Splash around in the Platte near Confluence Park, across from REI, for a cool water respite in the midst of downtown. Bring a tube or kickboard for playing in the swift water, but beware of kayakers testing their mettle.
200 15th St., at Water St.

Pirates Cove: This little south-metro gem offers  big water fun without big parking hassles or prices. Visit during the week for easy seating, short lines at the slides, and plenty of tubing room on the lazy river.

Pirates Cove

Daily through Aug. 14, 10am – 6pm, Aug. 20 – Sep. 5, open weekends, 10am – 6pm; $6.25 – $9.25, age 2 & under free, passes available
1225 W. Belleview Ave., Littleton; 303-762-COVE

Huffington Post, Thompson, Sheri L., 7/25/11

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/25/be-cool-denver-6-fantasti_n_908817.html

How Do You Know How Much Home You Can Afford?

I think most people know that right now might be a pretty good time to buy a new or first home. With some interest rates as low as 4.55% (for a 30 Year Fixed), & 3.69% (for a 15 Year Fixed) the option of buying over renting looks fairly positive (Bankrate.com).

However, how do we know how much we can afford? This article by Jason Hahn from Aol Real Estate gives us a few good tips on what types of loans you may be able to get to cost associated with new home buying.  This article gives us a the quick answer and the long answer on how to figure out what one can afford.

The Quick Answer

The rule of thumb is that most potential homebuyers can afford to buy a home that costs between two and two-and-a-half times their gross annual household income. So, for example, if a renter is looking to become a homeowner and this person earns $50,000 a year, they can afford a home that would cost between $100,000 and $125,000.

For those who can afford to put down a large down payment and have light debt loads or none at all, a buying a home up to four times their annual income might be reasonable. While this quick estimate offers a helpful lens through which to eyeball how much home you can afford, there are other ways to look at it, and they involve ratios, history and costs.

The Long Answer

It’s one thing to think about how much you might be able to spend on a home, it’s another to think about how much you’ll be allowed to. Or is it? Maybe the most complete, helpful way to assess what you can afford is to look at it from a lender’s perspective, which might be the most sober and insightful.

Mortgage lenders use two main calculations to decide whether you actually can pay them back: the front-end ratio and the back-end ratio. (They’re not nearly as complicated as they might sound.)

• The front-end ratio, or the housing expense ratio, is simply the percentage of your gross (that is, pretax) monthly income that will go toward paying the mortgage. Generally, conservative lenders want that to be less than 28 percent; others might push it to 30 percent or higher. But check with lenders to see what their actual thresholds are. (Since the housing bubble burst it’s a lot harder to find lenders willing to accept a 40 percent ratio, though that’s probably a good thing.) If you earn $5,000 per month, and the lender has a 28-percent threshold, the most they’d be comfortable with would be $1,400 ($5,000 x 0.28).
• The back-end ratio, or the debt to income ratio, is the percentage of your gross monthly income that will go toward paying all of your debt obligations: mortgage, credit cards, child support, car and student loans, etc. Some lenders want your total debt payments to be less than 36 percent; others allow as much as 40 percent or more. If you earn $5,000 per month and your monthly debt obligations now are $300, or 6 percent of your gross monthly income, your back-end ratio will be 34 percent ($1,400 + $300). Since that’s below the threshold of $1,800, or 36 percent ($5,000 x 0.28), you could be a good candidate for a loan.

Types of Loans

There are three main types of mortgage loans: conventional; FHA (Federal Housing Administration); and VA (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs).

• Conventional loans are the most common way to buy a home in the U.S., hence the name. They typically require a down payment of at least 10 percent and sometimes up to 20 percent, in addition to a pretty solid credit score. However, these mortgages present lenders fewer hurdles than the other two.
• FHA Loans are a bit more forgiving, in the sense that they require down payments as low as 3.5 percent and are usually a bit more flexible with credit scores. Their thresholds for front- and back-end ratios differ from conventional loans, though.
• VA loans are great for U.S.military veterans and those now serving. Those who qualify don’t have to make a down payment and aren’t required to get private mortgage insurance.

That’s a quick overview, but the takeaway is: Explore your loan options to make sure you find the best fit.
Potential homeowners also need to figure in the other costs associated with a mortgage, like [property taxes, homeowners insurance and closing costs. It’s also important to note that the house you buy will be considered by your lender as collateral on the mortgage loan. In other words, should you be unable to repay the loan, the lender can foreclose on your mortgage and seize the house.

Home-Related Costs

The mortgage isn’t the whole story. Owning a home is expensive and it’s crucial to know that from the get-go. Things like maintenance, utilities, furniture, and association fees are among the month-to-month costs that you’ll incur along with the mortgage when you buy a home.

Use Your Weapons

There are tools to help you determine how much home you can afford, even beyond this guide. Mortgage calculators and home ownership calculators are easily found online and can narrow down how much house you actually can afford.

And use common sense. It’s easy to get swept up by the ocean of numbers that figure into a discussion of affordability, but don’t forget the basics. How much are you comfortable paying toward your home each month, really? Can big plans for the future affect your financial circumstances? How long do you plan on staying in the home? What would be the consequences of not being able to make your mortgage payments?

Owning a home is great, but carefully consider how much you’re willing to give up for it. You might find that renting is your best option right now. Knowing what you want to spend might be worlds apart from knowing what you can pay, so use every resource you can to help determine how much you can afford to spend on a new home.

Source: Jason Hahn, AOL Real Estate, 6/29/2011

http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/06/29/how-much-home-can-i-afford/

Bankrate.com

Who’s up for a picnic?!

A nice picnic in a park sounds like a great way to kick off your long, holiday weekend! Denver has some of the best places for outdoor picnics. A family picnic in one of Colorado’s many parks would be a perfect way to start your 4th of July Festivities! Not to mention, International Picnic Day was June 18th!

These great parks are also near by some great Denver eateries if you prefer to grab lunch or dinner indoors!

Sloan’s Lake/Edgewater Coffee Company: Find a grassy spot on the east side of Sloan’s Lake, where you can enjoy a serene view of this 177-acre lake set against magnificent still-white peaks in the distance. At the northwest corner of Sloan’s, Edgewater Coffee Company offers an organic, fair-trade caffeinated pick-me-up along with a simple, yet ideal picnic menu including deli sandwiches, a BLT and PBJ with chips and fruit cups.
Sloan’s Lake, mostly bounded by 17th Ave., Sheridan Blvd., W. Byron Place & Stuart St.
Edgewater Coffee, 5224 W. 25th Ave., Edgewater; 303.237.4383

Rosamond Park/Slices: If you’re bringing the kids, grab a shady spot on the northwest side of Rosamond, where you’ll find a playground, sand pit and a basketball court for post-dining entertainment. For an adults-only outing, park on the east side where Rosamond (pictured) places plenty of concrete picnic benches amidst a slew of shade trees and green rolling hills, complete with flower gardens and a babbling brook. For lunch, stop by Slices on Hampden Avenue, a family-owned and operated pizzeria a few blocks north where you can take advantage of the drive-thru. You can grab pizza by the slice or a whole pie; we suggest the Mediterranean or spinach and garlic.
Rosamond, 8051 E. Quincy Ave. (E. Princeton Ave. to the north & S. Tamarac Drive to the east)
Slices, 7155 E. Hampden Ave.; 303-758-0940

City Park/Swing Thai: You know we love downtown Denver’s City Park, where you can enjoy lunch with views of Ferril Lake, in the open greenway, or beneath a shade tree near the massive children’s play area. If you’re not afraid of picnicking with a little sauce, swing by Swing Thai first where you can pick up take-out with organic tofu and sans added MSG, antibiotics or gluten.
City Park, bounded by 17th St., York St., 23rd Ave. & Colorado Blvd.
Swing Thai, 845 Colorado Blvd.; 303-777-1717

Wash Park/The Local: You’ll have no trouble finding an isolated spot in this 165-acre urban park – whether you’re seeking a water’s edge spot by Smith Lake, a seat near the historic boat house or on the acres of open lawn where you can comfortably people-watch passersby on the interlacing trails. Before you mark your territory, stop by The Local and choose from panini, specialty burgers, wraps, tacos, locally made hot dogs and more; gluten-free and vegan options available.
Wash Park, bounded by Downing St., Virginia Ave., Franklin St. & Louisiana Ave.
The Local, 2217 E. Mississippi Ave.; 303-425-6225

Civic Center Park/Food Trucks: With its Greek amphitheater, fountains and numerous gardens, Civic Center Park is already a picnic haven dropped right in the middle of Mile High. However, on Tuesdays and Thursdays this summer you’ll find the bonus of Denver’s best food trucks gathered from 11am – 2pm to give you a plethora of gourmet options steps away from your picnic spot.
Civic Center Park, Colfax & Broadway

Thompson, Sherri. June 15, 2011, Huffington Post.

Condo Buying: Why Bigger is Better!

Here is a great article by Ann Brenhoff of AOL Real Estate. The previously held thought was that most Americans are downsizing in terms of home sizes, however this article  states that when it comes to buying a condo, buying a large condo may not be a bad idea.  

Here are three examples.

1. More homeowners to share the financial burdens.

Every condo complex is governed by a homeowners’ association that sets monthly dues to cover the common expenses such as landscaping, facility maintenance and exterior building upkeep. HOAs are required to maintain a reserve should an emergency arise, and they also can pass assessments — sometimes in the tens of thousands of dollars — to cover the cost of major complex repairs.

Do the math: If you buy a unit in a smaller complex, a greater share of the burdens will fall on each homeowner. It’s simple long division: 12 unhappy and financially strapped homeowners sharing a repair of $100,000 comes out to more per homeowner than when that $100,000 repair is divided by 50 unhappy and financially strapped homeowners. And if one of those homeowners falls under the financial wheels of the recession big rig and can no longer pull his or her weight, the missed payments need to be made up by the rest of the pool.

2. Some lenders require that a certain percentage of the units within a complex be owner-occupied.

If they aren’t, the lenders won’t fund mortgages to new owners. What this means is that those who need to sell their units have to find a cash buyer. Again, being in a complex with more units helps skew the odds in your favor. There have been complexes where, in order to avoid these situations, the existing homeowners actually buy a troubled unit to keep the complex mortgageable. Again, the complex has to be large to do this.
3. More of us are still buying big than buying small. 

Just 2 percent of all buyers bought units under 1,000 square feet last year, according to the National Association of Realtors. Compare this to the 16 percent who bought homes 3,001 square feet or larger. The median size of a home sold in 2010 was 1,780 square feet.

Popular wisdom says we are all downsizing. We may be trying to shrink our mortgages, and builders may be dishing up smaller new homes in the interest of shaving something off the price to remain competitive, but the numbers don’t lie. Buyers like big more than they like small.

Ann Brenhoff, June 16, 2011

http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/06/16/condo-buyers-why-bigger-is-better/

Top 10 Hippest Housing Markets!

In a recent article found on AOL real estate, Sperling’s Best identified the top 10 most happening cities in America. By exploring 5 key lifestyle criteria — culture, arts, music, population growth and sports. And wouldn’t you know it, but Denver was on there, and ranked 3^rd!

“This up-and-coming city is shaping up to be a major cultural destination. It features a high percentage of well-educated         residents and a focus on environmental initiatives. It’s also home to scads of extreme sports enthusiasts, who flock to the city for snowboarding and skiing”

Not a bad way to describe Denver!

According to Sperling’s Best, researchers said that the biggest difference between San Francisco(No.1),Boston(No.2) and Denver(No.3) and the bottom 3:Memphis(No. 48),Providence,RI(No. 49), and Tampa(No. 50) was the mushrooming art scenes and a commitment to the environment that catapulted of the top 3.

Here is the complete list of the top 10 and some other fun information!

1.  San Francisco, CA:  This West Coast hot spot earned top scores in arts and music, as well as high rankings in number of homegrown sports heroes, well-educated residents, healthy lifestyle and energy-efficient building.
2. Boston, MA:  The Boston metro area earns the number-two spot with great scores for the city itself and its music and arts scenes. Boston rises to the top for health resources and ranks in the top 10 for education level and LEED-certified buildings.
3. Denver, CO:  Sporting heavy interest in alternative sports such as the X Games, snowboarding and skateboarding,Denver also features a high percentage of young, well-educated residents and a heavy focus on green building. Its art and music scenes are not to be underestimated, coming in the top 20 with potential to rise to the top in future studies.
4. Portland, OR:  Featuring a stronghold on indie music and arts,Portland promises great things in the culture category, as well as a top 10 score for alternative sports fans.  This city also features a high score in LEED-certified building with a top 10 ranking in the city category.
5. Austin, TX:  Known for its “Keep Austin Weird” tagline,Austin may soon boast about greatness instead.  The “Live Music Capital of the World” ranks fourth in the category of indie music and nails the top spot in the city category with a high percentage of young, well-educated residents, a healthy economy and substantial green building activity.
6. Seattle, WA:  The birthplace of “grunge” in the 1990s achieves top 10 placement for its still-strong music and art scenes, and features a strong interest in alternative sports.  Not surprisingly, this eco-friendly spot scored fourth-highest for LEED buildings and for its level of educated residents.
7. Washington, DC:  DC residents can stand proud of their ranking in the city category, boasting the best job situation in the “Cities on the Edge” study, as well as stable housing, highly-educated residents, significant energy-efficient building activity and relative affordability for residents.  This locale may need to focus on upping scores in music, arts and sports, which – while above average – did not rise to the top.
8. Los Angeles, CA: The mega-metro of Los Angeles cracks our top 10 with consistently high scores for arts, music and hometown sports heroes.  Residents really love their alternative sports, propelling the city to third place in this category.
9. Philadelphia, PA:  While Philly residents may often consider themselves the underdog in professional sports, this city scored sixth for producing homegrown sports heroes. Philadelphia also features high scores in the music, arts and alternative sports categories, and scored high in health resources and stable housing.
10. Salt Lake City, UT: This winter sports haven rounds out the top 10 “Cities on the Edge” rankings, coming in second in alternative sports and third in the city category.  Its high number of young adults, healthy lifestyle trends and solid economy make it a strong contender for climbing the ranking in future years.

AOL Real Estate, June 2011

http://realestate.aol.com/blog/gallery/hippest-housing-markets/

Sperling’s BestPlaces

http://www.bestplaces.net/docs/studies/cities_on_the_edge.aspx