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/.

Shea Apartment Communities Announce New Calif. Community Already 25 Percent Occupied

Shea Apartment Communities announced that The Artisan Apartments at East Village in Oxnard, Calif., which opened their leasing center three months ago, is already 25 percent occupied and 32 percent leased.

Braeburn Estates’ Master Planned 1.45-Million-Square-Foot Shell Centre Redevelopment Approved

The planning application submitted by Braeburn Estates, a joint venture between Canary Wharf Group and Qatari Diar to redevelop the Shell Centre on London’s South Bank, has been approved by the London Borough of Lambeth.

Economy Watch: New Home Sales Up in April

The Census Bureau reported on Thursday that new home sales were at an annualized rate of 454,000 units in April, up from 444,000 in March, which was revised upward from 417,000—an unusually strong revision. The bureau revised the February and January totals up significantly as well.

MAA Buys Second Apartment Community in Fredericksburg

MAA has completed its acquisition of Station Square at Cosner’s Corner, a 260-unit apartment property in Fredericksburg, Va., for an undisclosed price. The seller was the property’s developer, Johnson Development Associates, and includes an undeveloped parcel.

Western National Property Management to Manage Hutton Company’s Calif. Community

Western National Property Management announced it has been selected to manage the Hutton Companies’ new community The Paseos at Magnolia, which is located in Riverside, Calif.

Special Report: The Money Market

Real estate investment is increasingly becoming a global business, with widening competition as more players place money around the globe. Depending on investment goals, players may be drawn to the recovering U.S. markets or the lagging European markets.

IHG Announces Jeddah Portfolio Expansion with City’s First Staybridge Suites

InterContinental Hotels Group, the hospitality group with the largest presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has recently announced that it is further expanding its portfolio.

DAMAC Properties Breaks Into Iraq Real Estate Market with $100M Residential Tower

DAMAC Properties, the leading private developer of luxury projects in the Middle East, has announced a comprehensive expansion plan into Iraq, a previously untapped market for the development giant.

JB Matteson Acquires California Apartment Community For $26.45M

JB Matteson has acquired a Class A apartment community in Upland, Calif. for $26.45 million from Invesco Real Estate.

Economy Watch: Existing Home Sales Up Slightly

The National Association of Realtors reported that existing home sales were up 0.6 percent in April from an annualized rate of 4.94 million units to 4.97 million units (including all single-family, condos and co-op residences).