Peak leasing season in the U.S. is between May and August when there are the most residents looking for apartment homes. This time is hugely important for the multi-family industry. Standing out from the competition is important year-round, but it becomes essential during the summer... Continue Reading
Washington State was well represented at NAA"s annual conference! Continue Reading
The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries announced that the state’s minimum wage will increase to $15.74 starting Jan. 1, 2023. Continue Reading
Vendor consolidation has risen to the forefront as the leading strategy for achieving all of that and more! Continue Reading
We are only six months into 2022, but the trend of housing providers leaving the Seattle market hasn’t slowed down. According to the latest data from Seattle’s Rental Property Registration database, Seattle continues to experience a decline in rental housing, with a net loss of 313... Continue Reading
Businesses get started because we have great ideas or processes, or both! Running a successful firm demands more than great ideas or processes but you probably weren’t expecting that your admin responsibilities would be a full-time job. Like any other type of business, the property... Continue Reading
When apartment communities relax breed and weight restrictions, the immediate reactions center upon what it means to current and future residents. Most notably, it means more pets will be accepted at move-in and existing residents have fewer restrictions when obtaining a new pet. But while... Continue Reading
Offering feedback to a colleague can be tricky. So tricky, that a lot of us skip it all together! Perhaps we see someone else’s mistake or missed task, but we say nothing, fearing that bringing it up may damage the relationship. Maybe something a coworker said rubbed us the wrong way, but we... Continue Reading
Winter can cause some problems with your plumbing system. Hoses and pipes may develop cracks and cause them to leak. Drains can get clogged. Before problems escalate, it is best to check your plumbing in the spring and get it ready for spring rains and the rest of the seasons. Here are spring... Continue Reading
Did you know that by using someone’s chosen name and pronouns we can live our core beliefs? Yes! We can empower associates and put people and partnerships first. You may never have to worry about which pronouns other people use for you. But if someone you know is frequently misgendered,... Continue Reading
With an increased focus on team associates’ personal and professional development and creating a culture of valuing team members, it has never been more important than to give back to employees by exposing them to life-long learning. The industry has had to innovate over the past few years.... Continue Reading
You’d expect the problems property managers face in low-income multifamily developments to be much different than those of someone overseeing a luxury one. And you’d be right - to an extent. But there are more similarities between the two developments than you’d expect. Continue Reading
Recurring leaks in your plumbing, whether due to material defects or age, can be one of the worst problems you and your renters experience. Continue Reading
A checklist for property managers. Continue Reading
Another local Excellence Award winner is Erin Heathers from Epic Asset Management for Certified Apartment Portfolio Supervisor of the Year! We are so proud of her accomplishment and grateful to have her as a member and local leader. Continue Reading
The ACE Industry Educator Award celebrates educators who have expanded the scope of career development and education initiatives beyond their responsibilities as a professional educator. Continue Reading
Seattle sheds 9,759 more rental units, adds only 27 units... Continue Reading
Take a look at these three local housing providers that share their reflections, expectations, and how they are moving forward post-moratorium. Continue Reading
Landscape can be a challenging and emotional topic. Yet with the right strategy, a landscape can become your community’s greatest asset. With careful planning and the right partner, the landscape can enhance curb appeal and property value, mitigate risk, create spaces that unite... Continue Reading
In this article, we will discuss a few proactive efforts that prevent fall and winter floods. Continue Reading
Below are ten ideas you can use to easily strengthen your community’s physical, mental, and social health. All while bringing the community together. Continue Reading
Please ask yourself – do any of the hallmarks of a toxic leader resonate with me? Be brutally honest with yourself. Do you see yourself in any of those characteristics? Continue Reading
The continuing COVID-sensitive environment has brought an avalanche of changes for communities – the most prominent of which focus on community health and fitness. During the last 18 months, fitness and wellness options can be considered a necessary remedy to heightened stress levels, and a... Continue Reading
Upon my recent review of hundreds of apartment community websites across the US, I was shocked with the choice of common verbiage used. Continue Reading
We hear it all the time. A home or business owner has a really bad experience with a contractor in both concerns of poor quality/workmanship, not doing what they say they are going to do, and ultimately thinking that all contractors are the same. Continue Reading
When it comes to ditching in-house checks – in favor of automated B2B payments – you may have lots of questions. You may also be wondering if online B2B payments are right for your multifamily, commercial, or other real estate business. You may be more ready to make the switch than... Continue Reading
Technology is now an amenity for multifamily units. Continue Reading
As a property owner or manager, you know how important surveillance cameras are for general security and safety. However, did you know that security cameras can do much more than just catch criminals? Continue Reading
We have defined this terminology below to better inform our members and the housing industry, tenants of our communities and residential property managers. Continue Reading
Reopen your fitness centers and keep them open! Continue Reading
With the world’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic coronavirus eliciting a host of new behaviors personally and professionally, the need for more flexibility in employee policies and procedures has been a hot topic among companies across all industries. Continue Reading
It has been an incredibly challenging last 18 months for all of us, both personally and professionally. Continue Reading
There comes a time for every apartment community when cabinets become a drag. Continue Reading
If you are a landlord, owner, or property manager in the Seattle area, you should know about upcoming utility price increases over the next few years. Continue Reading
Today’s generations are all about “self-care and socially share”, and communities of every size and description are capitalizing on that fact, especially involving fitness and wellness. Creating accessible fitness and wellness spaces that intrigue and inspire can return the investment up to 900%. Continue Reading
Accepting feedback can be terrifying - especially if it’s coming from someone in a position of power over your life. Continue Reading
From the start of the pandemic it was clear some sort of legislative action would be necessary to address the return to normality. Continue Reading
Sunday marked the final day (Sine Die) of the 2021, first ever full virtual, legislative session. Since January, the WMFHA Government Affairs team has worked tirelessly on behalf of the rental housing industry to create the best path forward towards recovery and normalcy. Continue Reading
We are finalists for NAA's Affiliate of the Year Excellence Award! Continue Reading
We are finalists for NAA's Affiliate of the Year Excellence Award! Continue Reading
We are finalists for NAA's Affiliate of the Year Excellence Award! Continue Reading
We are finalists for NAA's Affiliate of the Year Excellence Award! Continue Reading
2020 will certainly be a year to remember, and a year to forget. Continue Reading
Partnership for Affordable Housing conducted a short poll of Washington residents to determine opinions on housing affordability policies and rent control. There is still confusion among residents of what rent control is exactly and what can be done to improve housing affordability other than... Continue Reading
We must work together to address the urgent need for affordable housing in Washington state. WMFHA has joined Partnership for Affordable Housing, a 501(c)4 nonprofit, formed out of a strong and shared interest to come together to provide effective solutions to housing affordability in... Continue Reading
Weidner Apartment Homes has grown to include properties in 12 states since opening in Seattle in 1977. When the coronavirus outbreak hit their hometown, they knew the situation was serious. Weidner’s Kirkland office is less than a mile from the nursing home where the outbreak began. As they... Continue Reading
Dear valued members,The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) yesterday announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the Enterprises will offer mortgage forbearance for multifamily property owners, under the condition that they suspend all evictions for renters who are unable to pay rent because of... Continue Reading
Dear valued member, As the country and multifamily industry face unprecedented challenges due to the outbreak of COVID-19, we are doing all we can to highlight the importance of the industry before lawmakers and make sure they understand they have a responsibility to provide emergency assistance... Continue Reading
Dear WMFHA members,Today, Governor Inslee announced a shelter-in-place order called Stay Home, Stay Healthy. It goes into effect on Wednesday, March 25 at 5:30 pm. The order does the following: Requires every Washingtonian to stay home unless they need to pursue an essential activity. Bans all... Continue Reading
Last night, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Executive Order N-33-20 mandating all individuals living in California to stay home or at their place of residence to protect public health, exempting certain essential services. This is one example of a policy that could be adopted in our state as... Continue Reading
Dear WMFHA members, Today, Governor Inslee announced a statewide eviction moratorium. The Governor's order prohibits rental housing providers from serving a 14-day notice to pay rent or vacate for default payment of rent. Housing providers are also prohibited from issuing a 20-day notice to... Continue Reading
An update on the coronavirus-related government actions. ***update March 18, 2020 - The WA Supreme Court has ordered a stay of all Writs until April 27, 2020. The following cities have enacted eviction moratoria - Seattle, Kenmore, Everett, Woodinville, and King County (sheriff -... Continue Reading
NMHC: Coronavirus Preparedness for Apartment Firms The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is currently monitoring a new outbreak of coronavirus, (COVID-19), which originated in Wuhan, China and is causing respiratory illness. As apartment owners and operators prepare to mitigate and educate... Continue Reading
Tuesday, March 10, is the Washington Presidential Primary. Your vote matters! Regardless of whether you have voted, housing remains a critical issue for any candidate running for any elected position in Washington. As we move forward to the November election, I strongly encourage you to... Continue Reading
Hear from Shawn Brien of Servpro of Seattle Northwest, an Emerald Award finalist for Industry Partner of the Year and exhibitor at EdCon, about his company's pleasure in serving multifamily. Why would a property manager need your services? It is very important to understand all of the... Continue Reading
Though the outlook for COVID-19 in Washington is uncertain, it is important to stay vigilant and current on the spread of the disease and the latest from government authorities. Visit the links below for updated information from government agencies. Updates and Information from King... Continue Reading
The 2020 legislative session is “half over.” There are two weeks left and the pace at which legislation moves increases a lot. About last week... This legislative session the WMFHA lobby team has defeated efforts to implement rent control and defeated efforts to prohibit... Continue Reading
Congratulations to this year's recipients! Continue Reading
Last Wednesday, the House and Senate began marathon floor sessions to vote on policies that survived the first policy and fiscal cut-offs. The floor sessions will continue until Wednesday, February 19. During this time, the full chamber considers any bill that moved out of its policy committee or... Continue Reading
Valentine's Day is the perfect time to celebrate love in the multifamily industry! Meet some of the couples from the WMFHA membership: Stephanie Moss and Nick Hamby Stephanie and Nick met in 2009 when she was a property manager for Fairfield Residential and he was a porter. He ended up moving... Continue Reading
Yesterday, by a 7-0 vote, the Seattle City Council passed a law that allows a tenant to say: “It’s winter. You can’t evict me.” The law applies to certain evictions between December 1 and March 1, every year. This is the first major action taken by the new Seattle City... Continue Reading
Four things to know about Week 4 of the legislative session. 1. Any proposal that did not receive a hearing or a vote by its policy committee is considered dead for the legislative session. A bill that would implement rent control in Washington, among other strict provisions is dead. We... Continue Reading
This Friday marks the first significant deadline of the 2020 legislative session when bills must be voted out of their policy committee. If a bill is not voted out of its policy committee it is considered dead for this session. We expect several rental housing bills to move out of their policy... Continue Reading
HUD recently released guidance clarifying the terms under which a tenant may request a reasonable accommodation to keep an animal as a service animal or assistance animal. The guidance is available here. It is also available on the HUD website. Below is a summary of the law and should not be... Continue Reading
In this session, policymakers in Olympia are considering Senate Bill 6490, legislation intended to limit the use of criminal history in tenant screening. Criminal history is important for resident screening. An individual’s criminal history is an additional data point that provides context... Continue Reading
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring the outbreak of a novel (meaning new) coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which was first detected in Wuhan City, China, and has since spread to 15 additional countries. With 5 cases of coronavirus confirmed in the United States... Continue Reading
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today released new guidance to clarify the responsibilities of both rental housing providers and renters concerning reasonable accommodation requests for emotional support animals (ESAs) in housing. For four years, this has been a priority... Continue Reading
In Olympia last week: The House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee held a hearing on HB 2453, implementing "just cause" requirements in Washington. There were also hearings on HB 2520 adding onerous requirements to return a security deposit and HB 2535, implementing a mandatory grace period... Continue Reading
Washington's 66th Biennium resumed this week in Olympia. Washington’s legislative cycle is two years long, with sessions lasting 105 days in odd-numbered years and 60 days in even. 2020 is, therefore, a short session expected to end March 12. The first policy cut off is February 7. In the... Continue Reading
Maintenance Mania! is a nationwide competition to see who is the fastest in eight maintenance-focused challenges. Competitors can win cash, bragging rights and pride! Training Videos: AO Smith Water Heater Installation Frigidaire Icemaker Installation Kidde Fire & Carbon Monoxide Safety... Continue Reading
Potential new members to the association ask us what WMFHA does. To answer, we generally discuss our three “buckets” of service, outlined in our tagline: Advocate. Educate. Celebrate. However, more than what we do, what is special about WMFHA and our tremendous members is who we... Continue Reading
Bio: I come from the small town of Sumner WA. I have two wonderful kids that attend school in the Sumner school district. Prior to beginning my career in property management, I worked in retail management. I joined the team with Tarragon Property Services as a leasing agent and I quickly... Continue Reading
Recent findings by the National Apartment Association (NAA) reveal rent control’s potential effects on four major U.S. cities. NAA’s analysis shows that these policies decrease the housing supply, harm the condition of existing housing stock and lower property values, which leads to... Continue Reading
We recently wrote about best practices for local SEO and how to incorporate them into your digital marketing strategy. Today we’ll be covering location-based tactics for digital advertising and the world of possibilities it has opened for those in the multifamily industry. Although... Continue Reading
Bio: I have lived in Western Washington for the majority of my life. I have worked in maintenance for a total of 6 years. Five of those years were with Thrive. Before that, I was a carpet cleaning technician which is how I learned about this field and became inspired to apply to get into... Continue Reading
According to EvictionLab.org, Washington’s eviction rate has continued to fall from its 2005 peak of 1.45% to 0.82% in 2016, the latest year the data is collected. Evictions remain low in Washington and its biggest cities despite increasing housing costs brought on by historic population... Continue Reading
When you pick up your phone and search for something “near me,” the ads that show up are a great example of local marketing in action. With the information local renters need only a quick search away, your property must show up in order to compete in an increasingly digital... Continue Reading
We held our annual economic forecast luncheon, the Washington Apartment Outlook (WAO), with a record 825 industry professionals in attendance. WMFHA's WAO is the property management industry's leading economic forecast event. The rental housing industry is changing rapidly. Market conditions,... Continue Reading
ASSISTANT COMMUNITY MGR. OF THE YEAR 1-300 UNITS Alice Pearson, Woodridge Park - Allied Residential Allen Pedroso, Chelsea at Juanita Village - Thrive Communities Allison Schumer, Zig - Greystar Bailey Donovan, Carvel at Harbour Pointe - Coast Brittany Talmadge, The Maverick -... Continue Reading
ASSISTANT COMMUNITY MNG. OF THE YEAR 1-150 UNITS Elizabeth Hooper, Trail Lodge Apartments - Coast Property Management Isabelle Dean, Montgomery Court Apartments - Coast Property Management Yessica Gonzalez, Affinity at Southridge - FPI Management 151+ UNITS Brooklyn Kastler, RiverPointe -... Continue Reading
Apartment Industry & Its Residents Contribute $3.4 Trillion to the National Economy A new Hoyt Advisory Study commissioned by the National Apartment Association (NAA) and National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) reveals that the apartment/multifamily industry and its residents annually... Continue Reading
When did you start with AFB and what was your first position? 1991. I started in our Renton distribution warehouse pulling mini-blind orders and preparing them for shipment to apartment communities, universities and housing authorities across the country. Where are you from? I was born in... Continue Reading
Summer is photo season! It's that time of the year when the sun is out and our properties look their best in natural light. We have all heard the phrase, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” It couldn’t be truer. Our property photos will paint a picture of what the residents... Continue Reading
The subject of housing affordability is front and center in the national conversation. The causes of rising housing costs and available and effective solutions are just now getting their much-deserved spotlight. Congressman Denny Heck from Washington’s 10th District made his viewpoint very... Continue Reading
IN TOTAL WE HAVE DONATED: 10,533 lbs. = 8,778 meals! TOP COMMUNITIES THIS QUARTER: Riverside Park Apartments, Tarragon Property Services - 272 lbs. The Century, Pillar Properties - 254 lbs. Stadium PLace Apartments, Pillar Properties - 113 lbs. Chinook Park Apartments, Tarragon Property Services... Continue Reading
Can you tell me a bit about your role working with the multifamily housing industry/Xfinity Communities Team? I started in a sales call center role at Comcast and began developing marketing events for that side of our business. Those experiences led me to pursue a master’s degree in... Continue Reading
Ty Reiff, Project Manager from Allied Residential, was interviewed about his experience at EdCon featuring Maintenance Mania in 2019. Here is what he had to say: What were your biggest takeaways from EdCon and the classes you took? My biggest takeaway was the high quality of classes being held.... Continue Reading
Biography: I was born and raised here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. I joined the property management industry basically right out of high school as a groundskeeper which gave me the opportunity to move out of the house and get a discount on my rent. Throughout the years I have had the... Continue Reading
The Seattle Office of Housing published the 2019 maximum income and rent schedules for the various income-restricted housing programs operating within the City of Seattle limits. Schedules for the various programs can be found here. For participants in the Multi-Family Tax Exemption (MFTE)... Continue Reading
We are highlighting our wonderful Supplier Partner members to share the great work they do for our industry and the unique qualities they bring to the table. Companies like One Way Carpet Cleaning and Restoration is a good reason why you should keep Members Using Members (MUM's the word) top of... Continue Reading
Biography: I have been in the multifamily housing industry for 25 years this September, beginning my career as a Leasing Agent. I am now an Asset Manager with First Pointe Management Group, overseeing our Washington Portfolio. Over the years I have worked in Fee Management and Owner Managed,... Continue Reading
Thank you for making a difference in our communities with Northwest Harvest and Move For Hunger! TOP COMMUNITIES THIS QUARTER: 1. The Century (Pillar Properties): 358 lbs = 298 meals 2. On the Park Apartments (Security Properties Residential): 300 lbs. = 250 meals 3. Riverside Park Apartments... Continue Reading
Smart Burner Heating Element: Winner: Brendon Walsh, Allied Residential Runner Up: Anel Hasagic, Allied Residential Smart Comfort Air Conditioner: Winner: Max Feoktistov, Avenue5 Residential Runner Up: Omar Champan, FPI Management Kidde Fire... Continue Reading
Maintenance Mania! is a nationwide competition to see who is the fastest in eight maintenance-focused challenges. Competitors can win cash, bragging rights and pride! Training Videos: AO Smith Water Heater Installation Fluidmaster Duo Flush Toilet Conversion Frigidaire Icemaker... Continue Reading
Apartmentalize: June 26 - 28, 2019 Denver, CO The apartment industry's premier event will be in Denver, Colorado this year. Whether you're early in your career, a more seasoned professional, or looking to move up in the rental housing industry, Apartmentalize is where you need to be - where... Continue Reading
As you are probably aware, the U.S. Government entered a partial shutdown at midnight on Saturday, Dec. 22. The shutdown is now in its second week and almost 800,000 people are either furloughed or working without pay. Though apartment owners and operators cannot allow impacted residents to live... Continue Reading
Establishing a Smoke-Free policy in an apartment community has not only been a growing trend with rental housing providers in Washington and across the country but is now common place in our industry. Landlords nationwide and locally have developed a reasonable step-by-step process for... Continue Reading
The most comprehensive report for apartment housing operations data is available for pre-order today! What percentage is total operating costs going up and what is driving it? What is the health of the apartment industry as a whole compared to last year? What revenue trends are... Continue Reading
& The first Property Management Bachelor’s program in our region launches this fall at North Seattle College (NSC). Thanks to National Apartment Association Education Institute’s (NAAEI) guidance, the program will also serve as a pipeline for students to... Continue Reading
Washington Multi-Family Housing Association has been pleased to serve on the Advisory Board at North Seattle College that helped launch the first Bachelor's program on the continental West Coast for Property Management. WMFHA will continue to be involved as the first cohort begins classes in fall... Continue Reading
As printed in the Landlord Times On-Site Publication, May 2018 Eviction: The National Debate Heats Up The rental housing industry understands that supply-demand imbalance has caused rents to rise faster than wages in many areas of the country in recent years, including Seattle and elsewhere in... Continue Reading
SHOW YOUR SKILLS AND COMPETE FOR CASH, BRAGGING RIGHTS AND PRIDE! Ask any property manager and they will tell you - Service Teams are the backbone of the multifamily industry. Day-in and day-out our Maintenance Techs, Groundskeepers and Maintenance Supervisors keep our residents happy and our... Continue Reading
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: Adrienne Walkowiak Jim Lapides Carole Roper 603/659-9345 202/974-2360 703/797-0616 Adrienne@AdrienneWalkowiak.com jlapides@nmhc.org ... Continue Reading
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: Adrienne Walkowiak Jim Lapides Carole Roper 603/659-9345 202/974-2360 703/797-0616 Adrienne@AdrienneWalkowiak.com jlapides@nmhc.org ... Continue Reading
2017 NAA Survey of Income & Expenses The National Apartment Association (NAA) is currently in the process of encouraging participation in the 2017 NAA Survey of Income & Expenses (IES). The IES is the most comprehensive look at apartment housing data and is the industry’s premiere... Continue Reading
NAA Releases New Amenities Research Report The National Apartment Association’s much-anticipated original research report focused on the added value of amenities is now available for download. Using data collected from the NAA amenities survey and multiple third-party sources, the research... Continue Reading
National Apartment Housing Day, April 6th, Celebrates "Home" For All Americans April 6th marks National Apartment Housing Day, the apartment housing industry’s opportunity to showcase its significant impact in communities across America by: Contributing to the nation’s economic... Continue Reading
On June 18, 2016 - Our Executive Director Jim Wiard - walked across the stage in San Francisco and received the Chris Christenson Association Executive of the Year Award! We are so proud of Jim and all he has done for our members, our association and our industry! Under Jim's leadership, we had a... Continue Reading
Affordable Housing Week is this week (May 16th-22). Demand for housing has never been higher than it is now. More than 38 million individuals live in a rental home across the country, and 42 percent of those that do rent call an apartment their home. Apartments provide housing, create jobs and... Continue Reading
NMHC released it's Top 50 Apartment Owners list for 2016! Congratulations to the WMFHA members who made the list! #6 - Equity Residential#10 - AvalonBay Communities#16 - Essex Property Trust#21 - Fairfield Residential#22 - UDR#29 - Weidner Apartment Homes#32 - Greystar#42 - Bridge Investment... Continue Reading
APARTMENTS. WE LIVE HERE. In communities across the country, apartments work – helping people live in a home that’s right for them. Apartments and their residents contribute more than $1 trillion to the economy. We all should celebrate the positive impact our industry is making in... Continue Reading
