Jessica Fiur is the editor-in-chief at Multi-Housing News and Commercial Property Executive and writes the award-winning blog What Renters Want.
Jessica has been with the company since 2011 and previously was with Weekly Reader and IQPC. Contact Jessica at jessica.fiur@cpe-mhn.com, on Twitter @jfiur or on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicafiur/.
‘The Accidental Economist’ with Jack Kern: A Tunnel that Needs a Lot of Light?
“It’s a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it’s a depression when you lose your own.” —President Harry S. Truman, 33rd president, 1945-1953 History repeats itself in a lot of ways, but not typically how I would expect it to. Punditry, for whatever it’s worth isn’t an exact science, like psychology. OK, I just upset a bunch of psychologists but be thankful you’re not an economist. Uh-oh now I’ve upset a bunch of economists! But you’ve got to admit the amount of information swirling around about the lifeline of apartment rent health, the employment and unemployment numbers can make…
‘What Renters Want’ with Jessica Fiur: Social Media Takeaways from the US Airways Pornographic Twitter Incident
“With great power comes great responsibility.” If that statement is good enough for Spider Man, it’s certainly good enough for social media managers. Because mistakes on social media, especially professional pages, can happen very quickly, and be seen by thousands of followers in an instant. Take, for example, US Airways’ latest social media gaffe. The company’s official Twitter account tweeted a pornographic image involving a woman and a US Airways’ branded toy airplane. (I’m not going to link it, so use your imagination. Or don’t. Seriously. Don’t.) The tweet was in response to a customer who had complained about a…
Mack-Cali Buy Boston-Area Apartments for $37M
Mack-Cali Realty Corp. has acquired Andover Place at 650 Bulfinch Dr. in Andover, Mass., which is in Essex County, north of Boston. The New Jersey-based REIT paid about $37.7 million for the 220-unit multifamily property.
‘Economy Watch’ with Dees Stribling: Fed Not Raising Rates
Fed not raising rates, even though employment’s better than expected.
Deco Communities Developing $37M Luxury Condos in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Deco Communities has entered into a joint venture with Castlelake and Isles Ranch to develop Envy, a $37 million luxury residential tower to be built in the heart of the Old Town Scottsdale Entertainment District.
Economy Watch: Retail Sales See Healthy Uptick
The Census Bureau reported that retail and food services sales for March, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences—but not for price changes—came in at $433.9 billion, an increase of 1.1 percent from February.
USA Properties Fund Completes Rehab on LA Seniors Community
The renovation of Huntington Plaza Apartments, a 184-unit low-income seniors housing property in the Los Angeles suburb of Huntington Park, has been completed. The entire cost of the property’s acquisition and rehabilitation was $30.2 million.
Cypress Landing Affordable Apartments Reopen in Shreveport
Cypress Landing, formerly known as University Oaks I and II, has received a “grand reopening” in Shreveport, La.
Economy Watch: Consumers Feeling Better About Current Conditions, Outlook
The preliminary Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index for April came in at 82.6, according to the university, an increase from 80.0 at the end of March, and 79.9 in mid-March. The latest reading is the highest since last summer.
Leasing Starts at Naftali Group Apartments in Brooklyn
Leasing has started at the Bergen, an 84-unit apartment community at 316 Bergen Street in Boerum Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn.