By: Michael Cunningham On: 09/29/2009 16:10:06


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This is the fourth in a series of comprehensive articles recapping the 2009 RealPage User Conference in Dallas, July 12-14

When RealPage President Steve Winn unveiled Peer Watch, a new market analysis tool that lets multifamily professionals see how their properties stack up against the competition at the 2009 RealPage User Conference, he told attendees it was "the eighth wonder of the multifamily world," a measuring stick that would finally deliver the "definitive picture of the U.S. apartment market."

While those are strong words to live up to, Winn’s confidence in Peer Watch, which is scheduled for general release this fall, hardly oversteps its promise. The culmination of nearly 15 years of technology development within the company, Peer Watch mines real-time operating data from RealPage’s suite of multifamily software applications to analyze market conditions on a national and market-by-market basis. Because it pulls that data from the on-site systems that RealPage customers use at their properties every day, it heralds a degree of accuracy never before seen in U.S. apartment analytics.

"Of all the things that we sell, the implications of this particular product, in my opinion, are extremely broad," Winn said.

Read the entire article here.

Tag: Conference Recap

By: Michael Cunningham On: 09/24/2009 11:03:07


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This is the third in a series of comprehensive articles recapping the 2009 RealPage User Conference in Dallas, July 12-14

For Chris Long, director of pricing and revenue management at Denver-based UDR, there has been a bright spot among the declining rents he’s seen in submarkets nationally. While new rents have had all the trajectory of ducks being shot from the sky, his renewal leases have stayed relatively steady, and some have even posted small gains.

"In markets where new lease prices are down 7 percent, we’ve been able to keep renewals flat, or even see an increase of 1 percent or so," Long says. "There’s definitely been softening, but you’re not seeing renewals come down as much as new leases."

Long’s experience at UDR, which owns 44,571 units nationally, illustrates one of the main takeaways from the 2009 RealPage User Conference. Namely, while you probably feel like you have to offer the world to gain new residents or keep the ones you’ve already got, renewals are one area where you still have some pricing power. 

Read the full article here.

Tag: Conference Recap

By: Michael Cunningham On: 09/16/2009 12:25:14


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This is the second in a series of comprehensive articles recapping the 2009 RealPage User Conference in Dallas, July 12-14.

During the 2009 RealPage User Conference, President and CEO Steve Winn sat down with Multifamily Editor and Writer Joe Bousquin for a no-holds-barred, free-ranging discussion of today’s tough economic conditions, the strategies and tools available to manage them, and the future of multifamily technology.

Joe Bousquin: The theme this year at the RealPage User Conference in Dallas is ‘Get the BIG Picture.’ What is the big picture in 2009? Where are we today versus a year ago?

Steve Winn: The industry is hunkered down trying to weather this economic turmoil. For a company like RealPage, that means you have to focus on those products and services that deliver a return measured in months, not years. Even six months is probably too long. Three would be better. I think that's probably going to be true for another year and a half, at least.

I do think this industry is going to come back very strong. Beginning in 2011 but really by 2012, it should have recovered because of the demographic demand that we are seeing with Gen Y—and even Gen X coming back now—producing apartment absorption.

Read the entire article here.

Tag: Conference Recap

By: Michael Cunningham On: 09/14/2009 10:23:06


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Here is the first in a series of comprehensive articles recapping the 2009 RealPage User Conference in Dallas, July 12-14.

Owners and operators from across the multifamily industry huddled up at the 2009 RealPage User Conference, determined to map out a game plan for weathering uncertain economic times. Coached by RealPage President Steve Winn, attendees studied the tools and strategies they can deploy to help cut expenses and stem bleeding from falling rents during the nation's longest recession since World War II.

Read the entire article here.

Tag: Conference Update

By: Michael Cunningham On: 09/11/2009 10:09:22


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It's that time of year again.

True, the NFL season starts tonight, but I'm talking about budget season.

As you work the numbers for next year, be sure to plan on attending the 2010 RealPage User Conference in Las Vegas, July 25-27. You won't want to miss this outstanding opportunity to network with industry peers, talk with product experts, and get a sneak preview of next-generation RealPage solutions.

Registration is now open and only $495. Rooms at the Wynn Las Vegas are currently at a discounted rate of $169/night.

And while you're registering, check out the new User Conference web site. It features a video of the 2009 keynote address, where “Coach” Steve Winn, with some help from All-Star performers, presented a comprehensive playbook to help you prevail in this economic environment. The playbook also includes a series of articles that recap key sessions and products featured at the conference. Four articles are currently posted with more to come so be sure to follow the User Conference Blog for updates.

So break out the calculators and make some room on the spreadsheet for this invaluable multifamily opportunity.

It's worth every penny.

Tag: Conference Update