National

Aries Capital recently announced the formation of Aries Multifamily, a new operating division of the firm that will provide loans under $5 million for apartment properties across the nation. The new division will be led by Ryan Welsh, a commercial real estate executive with more than 10 years of experience incorporating commercial and multifamily underwriting, loan origination, portfolio management and loan sales.

Jack Kern, managing director at Washington, D.C.-based Kern Investment Research LLC, and Dr. Sam Chandan, president and chief economist of Real Estate Econometrics, recently announced the launch of The National Student Housing Council (NSHC) to focus exclusively on the student housing sector. John Buttarazzi, owner of Varsity Capital Advisors, is the organization’s founding advisory board president.

Renters seek a safe haven when searching for an apartment. According to a national Apartments.com survey—conducted during national crime prevention month—96 percent of respondents said neighborhood crime rate influences where they choose to live.

Existing-home sales bounced back in September with first-time buyers driving much of the activity, marking five gains in the past six months, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan has announced a series of proposals to ensure that HUD’s core housing programs are open to all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.