Questions related to Ordering,
On-line Access, Costs, Subscriptions & Content
Questions related to our Methodology,
Terminology & Definitions
What is the difference between the SourcceCD and the Data Wizard?
The Apartment SourceCD is an average of 500 electronic pages (depending
on the market size), and includes a hard copy of the Apartment Index,
but it also includes the following things electronically:
• detailed information for each apartment community in the market
including historical rents, vacancies, floor plans, ownership, management
and sales information.
• Indexes listing all apartment communities by submarket, age, and
amenities included
• Indexes for management companies and owners in the area
• Indexes of all current development information
The Apartment SourceCD is ideal for companies who need multiple copies
of a market study, who want to use them for presentations, or need detailed
community information.
The Data Wizard includes includes all the information offered in the SourceCD.
In addition the informaiton is in an Excel format and is ideal for subscribers who
need informtaion in a database/spreadsheet format enabling them to create customized
analysis and/or import data into a contact list or other application. In addition
there is a regional matrix comparing key statistics for all 20 markets covered by Real Data
enabling subscribers to compare market conditions in different cities.
Questions related to Ordering, On-line Access,
Costs, Subscriptions & Content
1.How much does each report cost?
2.What are the publication dates?
3.How do I place an order?
4.What are my options for payment?
5.If I order on-line, can I still receive a hardcopy?
6.How do I access my report online?
7.Am I able to pre-order reports that have yet to
be published?
8.Why can I not view my purchases on-line?
9.What is my User Name?
9.What if my email address changes, how do I update my UserName?
11.What is my Password?
12.Why can I not login?
Questions related to our Methodology, Terminology
& Definitions
1.How is Absorption calculated?
2.What percentage of the market do you survey?
3.What type of communities are included or excluded?
4.How are averages calculated?
5.Why does the change in 'Total Units' for the market not equal 'Completions'?
6.How are condo conversions treated?
7.Are concessions included in the rental rates?
8.What is the 'Rent Change'?
9.What is your source for employment statistics?
10.What are 'Student-oriented' communities?
11.How can the number of completions reported be negative?
12.How do you define Construction Status (Proposed vs. U/C)?
13.What are the lease rates(quoted/market/street)?
14.What is the MSA?
15.What is the Rent/CPI index?
16.What is the Rent Change?
17.How are square footages calculated?
18.What is a convential vs. tax-credit vs. student community?
19.Is the vacancy rate based on occupancy, leases or economic?
20.What does Total Units represent?
How is absorption calculated?
Absorption is defined as the net change in occupied units. To calculate this
for a submarket or the overall market, we first calculate the absorption for
each individual community. Then we sum up the absorption for each community
within a submarket to determine the submarkets overall absorption. Since we
cannot get 100% participation from every community every single survey period,
it would be incorrect to assume absorption is the difference in the reported
occupied units from one time period to another, since the number of occupied
units can change based solely on the number of communities that participate in
the each survey.
What percentage of the market do you survey?
Our goal is to survey 100% of the eligible market. However, a small number
of communities will invariably refuse to participate for one reason or
another. Typically, we receive full participation from over 95% of all
apartment communities.
What type of communities are included or excluded?
Typically, communities must have at least 50 units to participate. In
some of the very small markets we cover, we include communities less than
50 units. We include all conventional apartments that are NOT exclusively
'Section 8/Public Housing' or 'Senior/Retirement communities'. We do include
'Student-Oriented' apartment communities provided they are not exclusively
limited to currently enrolled students.
How are averages calculated?
All averages are weighted averages based on the number of units unless
otherwise noted.
Why does the change in 'Total Units' for the
market not equal 'Completions'?
Since we cannot get 100% participation each survey period, the 'Total Units'
surveyed can fluctuate based on the number of communities that participate.
Completions are calculated independently of 'total units' and are based
on the net number of units delivered that were previously under-construction.
Completions are reduced by any communities that are demolished or otherwise
removed from the rental housing stock.
How are condo conversions treated?
When an apartment community is converted to condominiums, two things occur.
First, the supply of rental apartments has been reduced; therefore the
number of conversion is subtracted from new construction to get the net
change in supply, which we report as net completions. Second, the number
of occupied rental units has also been reduced, therefore the previously
occupied apartments (now occupied by home owners) is subtracted from the
absorption figures to arrive at the net absorption which we report.
Are concessions included in the rental rates?
In our survey, we ask for the current monthly rent including any specials.
However, not all communities offer specials that are prorated into the
monthly rents. For example, $200 off the first months rent or reduced
deposits/fees. Therefore not all concessions are reflected in the monthly
rental figures. However, within the community profile for each community,
which is part of the SourceCD, all concessions for that community are described
regardless of the type of concession.
What is the 'Rent Change'?
The Rent Change is the average increase or decrease in rent for all existing
communities. This is a more accurate indication of whether exisitng communities
raised or lowered their rents. Whereas, the difference between the overall
market's rental rate from one period to the next can be effected by new
communities or a change in which communities participated in the survey.
What is your source for employment statistics?
All employment figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Please
be aware that employment is seasonal and since most of our reports are
published semi-annually, employment can fluctuate significantly within
six month cycles.
What are 'Student-oriented communities?
Student-oriented communities typically rent by the bedroom versus the
entire unit. These communities usually have a large percentage of three
and four bedroom units and thus have an much higher average square footage
and rental rate.
How can the number of completions be negative?
We are calculating the net change in supply for Completions. Therefore,
condominium conversions or demolitions are reported as negative completions.
How are averages calculated?
All averages are weighted averages based on the number of units unless
otherwise noted.
Construction Status
Completions are net total number of units completed less any units demolished
or converted to condominiums since the previous survey period; Starts are any
units that have begun construction since the previous survey period; Proposed
are any units that have reached an advanced stage of the planning process. Under-Const.
are any communities that have begun vertical construction, but not completed
any units yet (site work is not considered vertical construction and therefore
those projects are listed as proposed; Additions Under-Construction are communities
with some units completed and additional units under-construction. Proposed
includes any communities that are planned with specific construction schedule.
Lease Rate
The current rate being marketed by the apartment community. Lease specials
that are incorporated into the monthly rental rate are included in rent.
Typically, rent specials that are prorated over the term of the lease
(i.e. the monthly stated rental rate has been reduced) will be reflected
in the lease rate. Any concession/specials that are not factored into
the states rental rate are described in the concession remarks for each
individual community and are available on the SourceCD.
Metropolitan Statistical Area
(MSA)
A geographical region defined by the US Census Bureau.
Rent/CPI Index
The percentage change in rent above the inflation rate as measured by
the Consumer Price Index.
Rent Change
Net change in rents of existing communities. New units completed since
the previous survey period are not included in this calculation although
new units are included in all other rent calculations.
Square Footages
Heated square footage; if there are varying sq.ft. for similar units,
then an average may be used.
Type
Conventional communities are all those that are not subsidized, tax-credit
or student oriented. Subsidized units are not included in this report;
Tax-Credit communities are those developed through the state’s ‘tax-credit’
program; Student-Oriented communities are those catering to the student
housing market and rent by the bedroom versus the entire unit.
Vacancy
Vacancy rates are calculated on units that are physically unoccupied.
The economic vacancy may be higher due to concessions.
Units
The number of apartments that participated in the current survey. Over
95% of all communities participate. The change in Total Units from one
time period to the next should not be considered new supply, but is simply
a change in the number of communities participating in the survey process.
FAQ related to Ordering, Pricing and Subscriptions
How much does each report cost?
To view a price list, click here.
Quantity discounts are available for orders of 5 or more reports. For quantity
discounts please call us at (704)369-2345.
What are the publication dates?
Most reports for each city are published twice a year. The smaller cities
are published only once a year. To view a list of the publication dates,
click here.
How do I place an order?
The easiest and fasted way is to place your order through our secure web
site. Click here to place an order. By
placing your order on-line, you will have immediate access to the report.
You may also order a report over the phone by calling (704)369-2345. You
can also fax or mail your order in with a check or credit card information
using an order form.
What are my options for payment?
You can pay by credit card (Visa, MasterCard or AMEX) or check. Paying
by credit card will allow you to have immediate access to the information
you ordered. If you choose to pay by check, we must receive the check
before we can mail your report or before you will have access to it on-line.
If I order on-line, can I still receive a
hardcopy?
The Apartment SourceCD is a fully digital web based report and is easily downloaded, however, you will still receive the 16 page summary booklet in the mail. The Data Wizard will still be mailed to you.
How do I access my report online?
When placing an order online, you are asked to give your email address,
which is your user name, and a password. When you come back to the www.aptindex.com
website, you simply enter your username and password, and you will be
sent to a page with any subscriptions you have purchased.
Am I able to pre-order reports that have not
been published yet?
Yes, you can order a report that will be available in the future. When
that report is published, Apartment SourceCD and Data Wizards’s
will be sent out in the mail, and at that point, the information will
be available online as well. Simply go to www.aptindex.com, and enter
your user name and password to access your information.
Why can I not view my purchases on-line?
There are a few reasons why this may have happened.
• First, you must have a current version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Click here
to download it.
• If your order was placed for a report that has not yet been published,
it will not be accessible until that issue is published. To view the publication
dates, click here.
What is my User Name?
Your User Name is the email address you gave us, when you placed your
order.
What if my email address changed,
How do I update my User name?
Please give us a call at (704)369-2345 to correct/update your email address
or mailing address.
What is my Password?
You can retrieve you password from the home page of this web site. Enter
your email address in the Username field on the login home page, then
click 'forgot password. Your password will be emailed to you.
Why can I not login?
You may be entering a User name (email address) that is not registered
on our site. If you have not placed an order on line previously with us
or if you have not provided us with your email address, then you will
not have on-line access. To get on-line access for previously ordered
reports, please contact us at (704)369-2345 to set up your User Name and
Password. If you are planning on ordering a report, you will be prompted
to set up a User Name and Password during the ordering process.
Update
11/5/14
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