A Student of the Real Estate Game (ASotREG)

I've written over 250 articles. Use the search below for any topic having to do with Real Estate and investing.

Try these: passive investing, asset management, real estate

I've written over 250 articles. Use the search below for any topic having to do with Real Estate and investing.

Try these: passive investing, asset management, real estate

The Multifamily ‘Amenities Arms Race’ Shows no Signs of Slowing

Jun 4, 2019 | Asset Management, Development, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Multifamily

Multifamily development has picked up considerably over the past few years, as the demand for high-quality apartment communities near major employment centers and entertainment has increased. Driven by demographics, couples getting married and having kids later, lifestyle choices, and pent-up demand, millennials, Gen Z, and some Baby Boomers are flocking to newly-developed class A communities.

These individuals seek a lifestyle and expect way more than a nice place to live; they desire conveniences, technology, a robust resident event program and sense of community, and amenities. Lots of amenities. Developers have responded by creatively incorporating new amenities, implementing resident programs, and finding unique ways to differentiate their project.

At Atlas, we’re developing a class A luxury apartment community within an up-and-coming neighborhood in Nashville. We’re taking advantage of the areas’ Opportunity Zone designation, which requires us to hold the asset for a minimum of 10 years to get the full tax benefits. The long-term hold requirement changes the way we think about the project; what sort of technology needs to be built in, how do we design the parking garage to accommodate self-driving cars, how can we make spaces adaptable for evolving trends, what physical building materials should we use etc. It’s been a fun intellectual exercise. As part of that process, I’ve been doing research on amenity and design trends in multifamily today.

Below is a list of just some of the amenities I’ve encountered in my research. They can be broken down into 3 categories; amenities, resident programs, and design.

Amenities

  • Arts & Crafts Room
  • Makers Room
  • Wine Room/Storage
  • Golf Simulator
  • All Sports Simulator (Hockey, Lacrosse, Football, Soccer etc.)
  • Rooftop Screening Room
  • Rock Climbing Wall
  • Basketball Court
  • Beauty Salon
  • Meditation Room
  • CrossFit
  • Pet Washing Stations
  • Year-round Hot Tub
  • Bike Rooms
  • Sauna / Steam Room
  • Music Studio / Jam Room
  • Demonstration Kitchen
  • Package Rooms with Cold Storage
  • Mini Golf

Resident Programs

  • Deposit Free Renting
  • Hello Alfred
  • Airbnb Friendly
  • WAG Preferred Partner
  • Lyft/Uber Partnership

Design

  • Sculpture Garden
  • Art Gallery
  • Vertical Landscape
  • LEED Certification
  • Electric Charging Stations
  • Sonos Speakers
  • Electronic Roller Shades
  • Stroller Valet
  • Fully-Furnished Units
  • Live/Work Spaces
  • 8’ High Doors

Developers have pushed the envelope and continue to innovate, finding ways to make their project stand out from the glut of shiny new projects battling for residents.

While every new apartment community has a ‘state-of-art fitness center’, ‘resort-style pool’, and ‘co-working spaces’, it’s all about how the amenities are designed, implemented, and marketed. 

Below are some photos of the cool amenities I’ve come across in new multifamily buildings. 

Feel free to share!