How safe are the island's beach rental properties from fire?

Two dramatic and deadly fires in Charleston and Ocean Isle Beach, N.C., over the past few months could lead to calls for increased fire safety controls and sprinkler requirements for more properties, safety officials say.
Sprinklers are not required in seaside vacation rental homes across the state, including thousands on Hilton Head Island. But some fire experts think they should be.
Questions about fire safety in those structures are popping up after six University of South Carolina and one Clemson student died early Sunday when the Ocean Isle Beach home they were staying in erupted in flames. Six other students escaped the house.
Coupled with the June blaze that consumed a Charleston furniture store and killed nine firefighters, state lawmakers and public safety officials are expected to take a closer look at fire protection requirements, including which structures should use sprinkler systems to help snuff out fires before they get out of hand.
Rental properties on the coast are of particular concern since they often cater to younger crowds and are in places where an ocean breeze can easily spread a blaze.
"Every structure should be 'sprinklered,'" said Tom Barstow, fire chief in North Myrtle Beach, where hundreds of rental cottages line the seashore and marshes. "They are 95 percent effective in controlling or extinguishing a fire prior to the fire department's arrival."
On Hilton Head, only large buildings -- those bigger than 10,000 square feet -- are required to have sprinkler systems, Fire Chief Tom Fieldstead said.
The Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce estimates the island has 6,000 vacation homes and villas -- buildings that are constructed like the one in Ocean Isle Beach that burned last weekend, Fieldstead said.
"It's not something that most designers will design into the building unless it's a requirement," Fieldstead said. He said he expects a statewide conversation about those requirements to begin soon.
"There will beginsome push from a state standpoint, I believe, to require sprinklers in a greater number of structures ... ," he said.

In California, 80 cities and counties require sprinkler systems for new private homes, said Steve Hart, former deputy director of the California fire marshal's office. Maryland is also considering a statewide rule for sprinklers on new homes, said Russ Fleming, executive vice president of the National Fire Sprinkler Association, a trade group.
Sprinklers would be especially helpful in the event of a fire in a big beach house, said Matt Davis, president of the N.C. County Fire Marshal's Association and deputy fire chief for New Hanover County, home to Wrightsville Beach.
Such houses are most often built of wood and close to their neighbors in a place where the wind blows almost constantly -- all factors that accelerate the spread of fire. In addition, they're often occupied by renters unfamiliar with the house's layout and who, when awakened by fire, will be disoriented and less likely to find a way out.
Butch Womack, president of the Executive Committee of the South Carolina State Fire Fighters Association, said he also expects a statewide debate on the topic, but he hopes officials don't overcompensate by adding unnecessary regulations.
"I think there will be some more pressure," he said. "I just hope that we're able to take one step at a time to make sure we adequately address the issue rather than just rush in ..."
Other options beyond requiring sprinklers may be better, such as conducting another statewide smoke detector campaign or requiring more fire exits, said Womack, also the fire chief for the town of Easley.
State law already requires owners of all rental homes to install and maintain smoke detectors. But Womack said that law is rarely enforced.
While retrofitting beach houses would surely lead to a political fight, experts say it's at least worth considering sprinklers for new single-family houses, whether they are beach rentals or private residences.
That could cost anywhere from $1.50 to $2 per square foot on a new home, estimated Hart, the former deputy director of the California fire marshal's office.
Under that calculation, someone building a 5,000-square-foot house could expect to pay an additional $7,500 to $10,000 for a sprinkler system.
Retrofitting a home would cost slightly more, he said. Beach houses in South Carolina typically sell for $1 million or more. Experts told The (Raleigh) News & Observer the cost of a sprinkler system is about 1 percent of a new home.
Many Hilton Head rental vacation owners avoid renting to college students to protect their properties, said Ray Moloney, president and owner of Beach Properties of Hilton Head, which manages 260 properties. But if owners were required to install sprinkler systems, some may decide to pull their properties off the market, he said.
"If that was a requirement, some may decide not to rent it," he said. "I would think some of the property owners would probably opt not to go for that expense."
The (Columbia) State and (Raleigh) News and Observer contributed to this story.

Southern California Open for Business

Southern California's tourism destinationsare up and running and ready for visitors. As the recent wildfires nearcontainment, the state's attractions are spreading the word that they're openfor business. "Southern California is known worldwide as an ideal vacation destination,and I'm happy to report that it remains a wonderful and safe place to visit,"said Executive Director Caroline Beteta of the California Travel and TourismCommission (CTTC). "The wildfires did not affect the majority of the state'spopular attractions, and we encourage travelers to experience firsthand theadventures that await throughout California." In San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and Orange Counties fires werecontained to outlying areas and the regions' tourism destinations were notaffected by fire. In addition, areas of San Bernardino National Forestincluding Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead are open and ready for guests. Whilesome attractions closed briefly to provide employees with time to handlepersonal matters, all are now open and operating as scheduled. Hotels in theseregions are also welcoming guests, and meeting venues continue hosting eventsas planned. Visitors traveling to Southern California will find all of the region'smajor airports fully-functioning and main highways open for drivers. Access tosome San Bernardino County destinations was hindered during the wildfires, butall major roads have now reopened. CTTC advises that visitors traveling toSouthern California contact their specific destination with questionspertaining to the wildfires, and more information can be found onvisitcalifornia.com. For a glimpse of Southern California's splendor as it stands today,travelers can log on to visitcalifornia.com to view post-wildfire photos ofthe area's most popular destinations. Southern California residents are alsoinvited to entice visitors by submitting their own real time pictures of theirfavorite hometown attractions. To view or submit photos, please visitsocalfires.visitcalifornia.com.

"Whether you're looking for roller coasters, pristine beaches, excitingnightlife or a mountain getaway, Southern California continues to offersomething for every traveler," said Beteta. "If you're in the mood for agetaway, Southern California is open for business and waiting for you."

The CTTC is a non-profit organization with a mission to develop andmaintain marketing programs - in partnership with the state's travel industry- that keep California top-of-mind as a premier travel destination. Accordingto the CTTC, travel and tourism expenditures total $93.8 billion annually inCalifornia, support jobs for 929,000 Californians and generate $5.6 billion instate and local tax revenues. For more information about the CTTC and for afree California vacation packet, go to www.visitcalifornia.com.

Officials mull charges against boy setting California fire

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 31 -- Prosecutors in California Wednesday were mulling over whether to file charges against a 10-year-old boy who admitted that he started a fire last week that destroyed more than 20 homes near Los Angeles.
Fire officials said it was unlikely that the boy would face criminal charges, but his parents could possibly be held civilly liable for the damage.
The boy, who has not been named by authorities, told investigators that he was playing with matches when he set fire to dry brush on Oct. 21, when strong desert winds fueled various wildfires throughout the region.
It was unclear whether the boy's parents, who help care for horses on a rural ranch, can afford to pay even a fraction of the damage the fire caused, according to a Los Angeles Times website report.
The blaze was among more than 20 devastating wildfires that destroyed about 1,800 homes and forced the evacuation of more than half a million people at one time across Southern California last week.
Authorities have said that at least two of the fires were started intentionally and vowed to bring any arsonists to justice.
Sandi Gibbons, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney's office, said prosecutors were reviewing the case, and it remained unclear when they would decide what to do with the boy.
When someone younger than 12 starts a fire, his or her actions are considered "playing with fire" and not arson, according to fire officials.

Rent gouging reported; prosecution may be hard

The San Diego County District Attorney's Office is checking numerous reports of rental-rate price gouging in areas hit hard by wildfires, but so far, few cases are expected to result in prosecutions.

“I'm getting a lot of rumors and we are tracking every one of them down, but we are not getting a whole lot of confirmation,” said Deputy District Attorney Tricia Pummill, who works with the Economic Crimes Division.
“In each situation we have to determine what the (rental) price was before the disaster. . . . We are jumping on these. They are not sitting on someone's desk.”
Most reports of higher-than-normal rents have been in the Rancho Bernardo area. Investigators must determine if recent home improvements justify price increases, she said.
The San Diego County Apartment Association has posted a notice at sdcaa.com warning landlords that raising rents by more than 10 percent during a declaration of emergency is a crime punishable by a $10,000 fine or up to a year in jail, or both. The rent restriction remains in effect for 30 days.
The law also applies to people who sell essential goods, such as food, emergency supplies, medical supplies, building materials and gasoline, he said. It covers repair or reconstruction services, emergency cleanup services, transportation, freight and storage services and hotel accommodations.
At The Reserve apartment complex in 4S Ranch, 15 apartments were leased to two corporate housing companies soon after the wildfires. Such companies often furnish leased apartments and rent them out to individuals, corporations and insurance companies.
The corporate housing firms have raised their rents beyond 10 percent of what The Reserve had been charging for the unfurnished units, said General Manager Lisa Mason.
Joe Porpiglia, chief operating officer of National Corporate Housing, said that's legal and in keeping with the money that was spent to provide those units with furniture, computers and housewares.
“We are very comfortable if the governor or anyone else wants to look at our markup,” he said.
The Reserve still has regular unfurnished units available, Mason said. Outside the hardest-hit wildfire areas, apartment rental rates countywide probably won't be affected by the disaster, said Robert Pinnegar, executive director of the apartment association.

Temporary nests

Don't tell business traveler Mike Napoli there's no place like home.He has found a way wants to re-create that feeling as closely as possible even on long trips.When Napoli and his colleagues spent several days in Chicago last year for a trade show, they chose corporate housing over a hotel.

"It's certainly more relaxing than a hotel and allows me to get up in the morning and make a cup of coffee and get some breakfast," he said.When they stayed in a hotel on another visit, "we bought a bunch of pizza and kept it in the refrigerator when we worked at night and wanted a snack. Corporate housing is easier," said Napoli, who works for a company that sells floor coverings.According to the Corporate Housing Report 2007, published by the Highland Group, a management consultant, there were an estimated 3,618 units dedicated to corporate housing in the Chicago area in 2006, a 14 percent increase from a year earlier. The report defines corporate housing as furnished apartments that include utilities, linens, utensils and other necessities, typically rented 30 days at a time.The 2007 inventory of these units is projected to increase by 6 percent, while the occupancy rate in Chicago in 2006 was 88 percent. On average, states the report, corporate housing occupancy is considerably higher than that of hotels. The average length of stay in corporate housing in Chicago in 2006 was 68 days at an average rate of $99 a day.In contrast, the average daily rate for a hotel room in the Chicago area was $122 at year-end 2006, but rates were "significantly different" when looking at just downtown hotels, which were as high as $180 for year-end 2006, according Duane Vinson, vice present at Smith Travel Research."In general, customers have become more sophisticated about their travel options and preferences. This has been particularly true in the last 10 years," said Peggy Berg, president of the Highland Group. She added that the product has improved accordingly.Thomas Golden, who spent several months in Chicago on an assignment for the U.S. Postal Service, had such a "turnkey operation" in mind when he chose corporate housing downtown. "I have a full kitchen, utensils, everything."Golden, who had a one-bedroom unit, said he'd have felt more constricted in a hotel room. "Because I was going to be living here for six months, I wanted to be able to stretch out, walk around, have some room," said Golden, of Pennsylvania.Young Hill, general manager of Marriott ExecuStay, said while the basics are key, amenities have become more meaningful. "Does it have a fitness center, swimming pool and business center? I think before, people didn't care as much about building amenities because they weren't using all of them; it was really about location."However, she said as people are staying in corporate housing longer, they want these things. "They want to be able to mirror their life at home to what they're doing when they're out traveling for business." That includes proximity to shopping and a grocery store.Besides easy access to a laundry room, a swimming pool and fitness weren't that important to Golden. But they were to his colleagues, who stayed at another downtown location that had them. "I didn't care, only because I'm overseeing the project and just don't have time [to use them]."Barbara van Rekom, who will be staying in a corporate apartment downtown until the end of the year, also doesn't ask for much."It's more cost effective. I have free Internet ... and I have my own kitchen and don't have to eat out every night. I can actually make a peanut butter sandwich if I want to," she said.Most important, said van Rekom, a Nashville-based project manager for Hewlett-Packard Co., "I don't have to drag my stuff back and forth. Every week, I fly in on Mondays and home on Fridays, so it's my home away from home, and I don't have to change rooms every week."Hotels have the edge in certain areas, such as daily maid service, said Elaine Quiroz, president of Corporate Housing Strategies, a Virginia-based training and development firm in the corporate housing. "But because guests [in corporate housing] stay so much longer than those at a hotel, they don't always want someone coming into their private space daily. Although some ask for weekly maid service, others prefer to opt out of maid service completely, and just settle in."It's not that Napoli, an Idaho native who stayed in a brownstone in Lincoln Park, doesn't see any downside to the arrangement. "You don't have maid service every day; you don't have a restaurant where if you're involved in something, you can just call down and get room service."But for us, the drawbacks are insignificant compared to the convenience and cost savings," noted Napoli, who said two colleagues stayed in a one-bedroom unit on one floor, while he and an associate occupied a two-bedroom unit on another floor."We wanted to save on expenses. We found the cost of us in three hotel rooms would have been about $800 a night. We were able to do that for much less, maybe about half."Quiroz also noted the high level of furnishings, bedding and amenities now offered in corporate housing. "It's becoming more aligned with the better hotels. The nice touches such as high-thread count sheets, for example. You expect to find these in hotels, but guests using corporate housing for the first time are often surprised at the superior quality of the interiors, furnishings and amenities."She says that business travelers today are more sophisticated in their accommodation choices, and that includes corporate housing."Corporate housing is still relatively new to many travelers, having evolved in the last 40 years. Yet once travelers stay in these spacious apartments, they quickly develop a preference for them over hotels, for their longer-term stays. There is nothing that compares to having your own 'home' while on the road. And as corporate apartment services and amenities continue to move higher, this will become an even stronger choice for travelers."Steve Cuskey, who visited Chicago last year for a trade show, is sold. "I pretty much rent places wherever I go because, to me, a hotel room has become jail with drapes and a television after about two days. [With corporate housing] everything's there, like a full-blown kitchen, an office with Internet access, a board room," said Cuskey, who also stayed in the Lincoln Park area.Like Napoli, Cuskey emphasized the importance of establishing a "home" on the road. "What was important to me was having something that looks like my house and not a hotel room. I mean, how common has the word 'suite' become? I'm an old guy. Now a suite is just this word that means you have two rooms and a microwave sitting on top of a refrigerator. So I always try to zero in on something a little better."Jim Haring, owner of China Doll Guest House in Chicago, agreed. "Business travelers are sick of sterile hotel rooms or even suites. They are discovering the option of self-catered apartments where they get a complete home and each apartment is unique. A Wi-Fi connection is a must, but many also offer completely equipped offices in the apartment.""I want to have everything I need when I want it in the morning," added Cuskey. "I suppose I'm an old curmudgeon; I like to have coffee put ready right there and I don't want to wait for room service. And I sure don't want to have to tip the guy on top of that. And heaven help you if you open up mini-bar and take anything out," he said with a laugh."It has to feel like home."

Celebrity real estate agent beaten to death

Linda Stein, former manager of US punk band the Ramones and realtor to New York's A-list celebrities, has been found beaten to death in her Fifth Avenue apartment.
Stein, whose clientele included Madonna, Sting, Steven Speilberg and Angelina Jolie, died from "blunt impact injuries of the head and neck" according to the New York medical examiner's office.
The 62-year-old's death is being treated as a homicide, reports CNN, but the New York Police Department have refused to comment on possible suspects.
There were no signs of forced entry to Stein's luxury apartment on exclusive Fifth Avenue when police responded to a 911 call on Tuesday night local time.
The New York Times reports that the leading real estate agent was found face down in a pool of blood by her daughter Mandy and a friend.
The Times said that the building had security systems including surveillance cameras at the entrance and in the lobby, doormen and elevator operators.
Stein had been struggling with breast cancer, close friend and colleague Dottie Herman told CNN.

She had a tough exterior, but she had a heart of gold," said Herman, chief executive of Prudential Douglas Elliman, where Stein worked.
"I just assumed Linda fell and hit her head when I first heard about this, because I can't imagine anyone that would want to kill Linda."
A statement on the Prudential Douglas Elliman website described Stein as "feisty, talented, charming, and relentless".
It said she was a "bright light who quickly rose to fame once she entered the real estate business and became known as the 'Realtor to the Stars'.
At the time of her murder she was marketing a property in Montauk, New York priced at $US26 million ($34.2m) and another in Siena, Italy for $9 million.
Stein, a former teacher, was once married to Seymour Stein, former president of Sire Records and vice president of Warner Brother Records, who was credited with jumpstarting the careers of the Ramones, Talking Heads and Madonna to stardom.
She was a 'fixture' in famous nightclub Studio 54 and was supposedly the inspiration behind the real estate agent who sells Charlie Sheen's character a high-rise apartment in the movie Wall Street.
Long-time friend Elton John said in a statement: "I'm absolutely shocked and upset. She's been a friend for over 37 years and will be greatly missed, She did so much for breast cancer and was a huge supporter of my AIDS foundation."
- NZ HERALD STAFF

Wynne Residential Corporate Housing continues to grow in North Carolina

Greensboro, NC - Wynne Residential Corporate Housing has increased their inventory of corporate apartments in Greensboro, NC after the sudden demand in the area. The nations fastest growing corporate housing company plans to expand throughout the Greensboro triad region after the demand for corporate apartments has grown. "We are excited that more companies are looking for affordable executive corporate apartments compared to staying in extended Stay hotels" says Mary Campbell, business development manager. Wynne has continued to grow throughout the North Carolina region and nationwide with competitive rates and stylish accommodations. For more information on Wynne Residential Corporate Housing, call Mary Campbell at 800-477-6922 or visit www.wynneres.com

Real Estate Channel launches Internet video ad service

A local company that delivers video content via the Internet has expanded its offerings to include a classified video advertising service for residential real estate professionals.
Orlando-based Real Estate Channel, a video-on-demand TV network that distributes content online, now allows Realtors or home builders to produce 30-second video profiles of their property listings. Real Estate Channel then inserts the video listings into its network, giving potential home buyers around the world access to viewing them on-demand.
Each video ad also displays the property's information and sales agent or builder contact information with a link to each advertiser's Web site.
The Real Estate Channel is a global video-on-demand television network that delivers real estate video content to viewers on Internet-enabled devices.

Luxury condos also face slump

The credit crunch, slowdown in appreciation and rising defaults that have plagued the single-family home sector in Las Vegas are looming as problems in the luxury condominium market, analysts said.
The high-rise and mid-rise condo markets continue to weaken as demand has softened and supply continues to increase - a problem that will worsen as more and more projects come on line in the next year, analysts said. Given the current pace of sales in the resale market, several years of inventory remain.
Those who already closed on their condos with the intention of flipping them aren't finding the buyers they expected. The rental pool for the high-end units is shallow, and the rent owners can charge is limited.
That could lead to defaults in the high-rise market.
Las Vegas is also facing problems that are emerging in other markets and are a byproduct of the speculative boom of 2004 and 2005. Buyers who signed contracts two to three years ago may not be able to close when those projects are completed. In some cases, they may not be able to get financing from lenders and in other cases buyers may walk away, given the market slowdown and higher interest rates they may have to pay.
"We are hearing the potential that some of the units aren't going to close," said John Restrepo, principal of Restrepo Consulting Group that tracks the condominium market. "Some people are walking away because of the credit markets or because what they agreed to pay is not what they thought it would be worth today."
In some cases, buyers put down 10 percent or more and will lose their deposit if they walk away, Restrepo said. In other cases, lenders are turning them down and depending how their contract was written, they may lose their deposits or a portion of it.
"I think the high rises are in for a difficult time due to the mortgage crisis," said local housing analyst Dennis Smith.
Las Vegas is in a good position long term given its growth and its status as America's playground, but it is facing short-term challenges because the condo market was overbuilt and the credit crunch has made the market's prospects worse, said Hessam Nadji, managing director of research of Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services.
Concerns about foreclosures can't be ignored, but he said investors and second homebuyers in the Las Vegas condo market are in stronger financial positions than in other markets.
But he said that doesn't mean there won't be problems.
Condo developers will be getting some of those units back and if they don't have deep-enough pockets to be patient, will have to discount the units or rent them out, Nadji said.
In other cases, they may help buyers buy down interest rates in order to close the sale, he said.
There are 5,849 luxury condominium units in Las Vegas and another 14,149 units under construction, according to Applied Analysis, a local research firm.
By the end of the second quarter, 718 resale luxury units were on the market, which was down from the first quarter, Applied Analysis reported. Some 37 percent were high rise, 21 percent were mid-rise and 42 percent were condo-hotels.
"I think a lot of folks bought intending to sell. They never thought to live in it or buy it to rent," Restrepo said.
"I hear from condo owners every single day. They bought it to flip it and they can't sell it," added Eric Smith, owner of Colorado-based Corporate Housing By Owner, which works with condo owners who lease their units for short-term corporate housing.
Smith said more condo owners would be able to withstand the oversupply but their associations require a minimum of three-month leases or longer or the associations limit leases to one per year, restrictions that hamper owners' ability to lease their units for shorter terms.
The problems affecting existing and under-construction condo units also apply to condos that have yet to be built.
Some 6,091 condo units are being marketed but construction has yet to begin. Some 19,100 have been canceled or had their sales suspended and more than 58,000 units remain on the table for construction, Applied Analysis reported.
Slowing demand and escalating construction costs are expected to put a further damper on new luxury condominium projects unless they are mixed-use ones built by the resort industry.
At MGM Mirage's Project CityCenter, for example, 1,200 of the 2,400 condominium and condo hotel units are under contract since sales started earlier this year, and MGM Mirage Chairman Terry Lanni said recently that Dubai World's pending partnership will help the company sell even more units, at even higher prices.
Steve Bottfeld, executive vice president of Marketing Solutions, said the condo market has been affected by a climate of fear that has kept people on the sidelines, he said.
"The high-rise market is undergoing a significant sales problem right now and, more important, a resales problem," Bottfeld said.
The condo-hotel market, which Applied Analysis said represents nearly 46 percent of the market under construction or being marketed, is under pressure, analysts said.
Many owners of condo-hotel units at the Residences at MGM Grand and Platinum don't have positive cash flow, and that has deterred interest in that market, Bottfeld said. And when prices of some condo hotels are running $1,500 a square foot, that softens demand, he said.
Buyers of condos who bought in the early stages in 2003 and 2004 are $150,000 to $200,000 ahead, but those who bought in 2005 and 2006 find themselves in a difficult position, he said. With a median household income of $53,000, there are only so many people who can pay $2,000 to $3,000 a month in rent to help cover the mortgage.
Bruce Hiatt, co-owner/broker of Luxury Realty Group, said he expected a window of about 12 months in which there would be an oversupply of condos, calling it the "perfect storm."
With that in mind, Hiatt has launched a program geared toward sellers who are going into foreclosure or can't carry their mortgage and buyers who may have to walk away from their deposits because they can't close.
Hiatt said 2008 will be a tough year with the future south Strip and downtown faring worse than the resort corridor, but he said buyers who are patient and can wait three to five years are in good shape.
Given the rising land and construction costs, developers can't build condos for less than $1,800 a square foot, Hiatt said. There are many people who bought between $400 and $900 a square foot and stand to benefit.
Although Las Vegas's condo market growth is limited by the lack of water views, it remains attractive over the long term as a second-home market, Restrepo said. But it won't match what was seen during the boom when investors helped drive the market, he said.
"I think the depth of the high-rise market has been overstated," Restrepo said. "I think what you are going to see over the next couple of years is that the wave of excitement and irrational exuberance is over. There will be more realistic demand."

Among the findings reported by Restrepo Consulting:
• Existing and under-construction, high-rise condos have a median price-per-square-foot of nearly $599, compared to a median price per square foot of $443 for existing and under construction mid-rise projects reported by Hanley Wood Market Intelligence.
• In the second quarter, there were 2,689 existing and 5,805 under-construction and actively selling condo-hotel units in the resort corridor. Those units had a median price-per-square-foot of $1,038.
• As of June 30 on the resale market, there were 227 luxury high-rise units, excluding condo-hotels, with a median price-per-square-foot of $499. In addition there were 221 condo hotel units with a median price of $832 per square foot. On the average, luxury high-rise condos stayed on the market for 114 days while condo-hotel units stayed on the market for 125 days.
• About 20 percent of the existing, actively selling and canceled projects are located in suburban areas where there is increased interest for development because of high development costs along the Strip.
• Of the 227 resale units on the market, 56 units were at the fourth tower at Turnberry Place (24 percent of its inventory); 33 were at the first tower at Panorama Towers (10 percent of its inventory).
• Of the 221 condo-hotel units on the resale market, 168 were at The Residences at MGM Grand, which is nearly 15 percent of that project's inventory and 53 were at Platinum Resort, which accounts for nearly 21 percent of its inventory.
• Overall, four high-rise projects, Panorama Tower I, Platinum, Turnberry Place Tower 4 and The Residences at MGM Grand accounted for 69 percent of all high-rise resales.
Among findings of Applied Analysis:
• Those units listed on the Multiple Listing Service during the second quarter had an average asking price of $830,4000 or $624 per square foot.
• During the second quarter, units that sold averaged $814,000 or $507 per square foot. High-rise, non-condo hotel averaged $545 per square foot; mid-rise residence averaged $287 per square foot.

BridgeStreet Worldwide Announces New Global Alliance Partner

Newest premier partner expands opportunities in Charlotte market

BridgeStreet Worldwide, a leading international provider of corporate housing to business travelers, announced the signing of its latest Premier Global Alliance Partner, A+ Accommodations & Relocation, Inc., headquartered in Charlotte, NC.

The BridgeStreet Global Alliance is a network of corporate housing providers dedicated to high quality accommodations and services working collaboratively throughout the world. The program is respected among the industry for attracting top local and regional providers of corporate housing who share BridgeStreet’s deep commitment to exceed client and guest expectations and to make the corporate housing experience easy. The Premier Partners exemplify the highest operating standards and undergo the most stringent due diligence process in the industry.

“We welcome A+ Accommodations to the BridgeStreet Global Alliance,” said Lee Curtis, president and CEO of BridgeStreet Worldwide. “Charlotte is a fast growing east coast city with an increasing number of corporate relocations that require high quality temporary housing services. We are very excited to have such an outstanding partner in Charlotte and we are confident that our guests will receive the same superior service that they have grown to expect from BridgeStreet.”

In conjunction with adding A+ Accommodations to the BridgeStreet Global Alliance, BridgeStreet Worldwide and A+ Accommodations have merged operations and will continue to operate under the A+ Accommodations name. “For our customers, this translates to a seamless guest experience exhibited through standardized services, accommodations and account management across the entire Global Alliance,” stated Curtis.

A+ Accommodations & Relocation brings their decade of experience and a rock solid reputation in the Charlotte, North Carolina market to the BridgeStreet Global Alliance. “Joining the BridgeStreet Global Alliance is in direct alignment with our company’s commitment to customer service excellence,” said Clifford Thomas, President of A+ Accommodations. “BridgeStreet is a highly recognized and well-respected industry leader globally and this partnership will open up a world of opportunities for A+ Accommodations in providing our clients with access to a vast network of quality temporary housing options worldwide.” BridgeStreet Worldwide is a leading international provider of corporate housing. BridgeStreet and its Global Partner Alliance offer over 15,000 corporate apartments located throughout the United States and 50 cities internationally. An award winner both in the U.S. and Europe, BridgeStreet properties meet uncompromising standards of quality, comfort and service. For more information about the company or to learn more about how BridgeStreet is Making Corporate Housing Easy, visit www.bridgestreet.com or call 1-800-BSTREET.

Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Charlotte, NC, A+ Accommodations & Relocation, Inc. is a leading provider of fully-furnished apartment homes serving the North and South Carolina markets. A+ Accommodations works with over 300 properties in Charlotte and surrounding markets throughout the Carolinas and assists many large corporate clients, relocation companies, real estate firms, consulting firms and others seeking accommodations for 30 days or more. For more information please visit the Company’s Web site.

Economist warns of US housing downturn

There will be fresh economic shocks on the scale of the current credit squeeze if US house prices continue to fall, one of the country’s leading housing experts warned on Wednesday.
“The decline in house prices stands to create future dislocations, like the credit crisis we have just seen,” Robert Shiller, a Yale economist, told a Senate panel on Wednesday.

There were fresh signs of weakness ahead for the housing sector as figures showed applications for building permits fell to a 12-year-low.
Housing starts dropped to the lowest level since June 1995, declining 2.6 per cent to an annual rate of 1.331m units.
The decline in construction activity also appeared to be spreading to the north-east, where starts were 38 per cent lower.
Patrick Newport, an economist at Global Insight, said: ”The eye of the storm is just ahead.”
Consumer prices fell last month by 0.1 per cent as prices at the pump dropped by nearly 5 per cent.
Core prices - excluding volatile food and energy costs - increased by 0.2 per cent, but the annual underlying inflation rate edged down to a 17-month low of 2.1 per cent from 2.2 per cent.
”Overall, the figures support the idea that inflation is much less of a concern than it was six months ago,” said Paul Ashworth, an economist at Capital Economics.
”The Fed is lucky that inflation is beginning to behave itself again, because the housing market is in desperate need of some monetary stimulus,” he added.
Mr Shiller told the Senate panel on Wednesday that while there had been a focus “on lax and irresponsible lending standards, I believe that this loss in housing value is the major ultimate reason we see a crisis today.”
The economist said he feared “the collapse of home prices might turn out to be the most severe since the Great Depression.”
Alan Greenspan, former Federal Reserve chairman, told the Financial Times this week that double digit falls in house prices from their peaks would not be surprising.
A national fall in house prices on that scale would be unprecedented in US history and would have an economic cost several times greater than the meltdown in the subprime mortgage market that triggered the current financial crisis.
The Center for Responsible Lending has predicted that foreclosures on subprime loans will lead to a cumulative loss of $164bn in home equity. Investment banks have suggested the costs to investors and financial institutions could be more than $300bn.
The Senate on Wednesday heard from experts who said a 15 per cent fall in house prices would wipe out $3,000bn of household wealth.
Alex Pollock, a fellow at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, said: “Residential real estate is a huge asset class, with an aggregate value of about $21,000bn, and is of course the single largest component of the wealth of most households.”
“A year ago, it was common to say that while house prices would periodically fall on a regional basis, they could not on a national basis....Well, now house prices are falling on a national basis,” he said
Mr Shiller said it was “difficult to predict the depth, duration and all of the consequences” of the worsening housing slump.
“The Federal Reserve will undoubtedly take aggressive actions, which will mitigate its severity. But, if home price deflation persists or intensifies, they may discover that the Achille’s Heel of this resilient economy is the evaporation of confidence that can accompany the end-of-boom psychology,” he said.


Senator Charles Schumer, chairman of the joint economic committee, criticised the handling of the subprime crisis by the Fed and the Bush administration.
“In March, Chairman [Ben] Bernanke came before this committee and told us that the problems in the subprime market would have little or no impact on the overall economy,” he said
“Despite all the reassuring statements we’ve heard from the administration that the impact of this mess would be ‘contained’, it has not been contained, but has been a contagion that has spread to all sectors of the economy,” he added.
Peter Orszag, director of the non-partisan congressional budget bffice, told the Senate panel that the “turbulence in housing markets could affect the broader macroeconomy through ”various channels” and that the current outlook was ”particularly uncertain”.
He said the main channels were “reduced investment in housing; a reduction in consumer spending because household wealth declines; contagion in financial markets ...and a lessening of consumers’ and businesses’ confidence about the future”.
“The potential effects involving contagion and confidence are especially difficult to evaluate because they depend in part on how financial market participants, consumers, and business executives perceive the situation,” he added.
But he noted that most private sector economists were still predicting economic growth next year.

ApartmenTime.com Is Working to Create the Nationwide Emergency Housing Network.

ApartmenTime.com, America's fastest-growing online apartment listing service, is working to create the first of its kind nationwide Emergency Housing Network.

NEW YORK (January 19, 2006) - ApartmenTime.com, America?s fastest-growing online apartment listing service, is working to create the first of its kind nationwide Emergency Housing Network.With recent events such as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita showing the country how unprepared it is for natural disasters, it?s critically important to create a nationwide system that gives agencies such as FEMA and the Red Cross an updated list of available apartment units from coast to coast.

Now ApartmenTime.com is doing it! ApartmenTime.com is creating a site within its site called the Emergency Housing Network. This site will only be activated in times of national need and will include a list of over 100,000 empty apartment units throughout the country.Here?s how it will work: When a disaster strikes, government officials can assign victims apartments based on their needs from this nationwide list. Property management firms and owners will be ready to expect new occupants, and arraignments will already be in place. This streamlines the process immeasurably.

This will also help keep better track of victims and ensure that everyone in need of housing is being served. ApartmenTime.com expects to have some elements of this Web site ready before the February 28th deadline to help victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; if not, it will be in full operation prior to the start of the next hurricane season on June 1, 2006.The Emergency Housing Network will be a national listing and will be used for all disasters. Hurricanes are not the only natural disasters that require emergency housing response; floods, fires and earthquakes are commonplace on the West Coast, and the EHN will be available to all in need. When a visitor comes to the EHN, they?ll not only be able to locate available affordable housing but, using our Citysearch@ApartmenTime.com feature, they will be able to locate schools, churches, daycare, unemployment offices, job search sites such as Hotjobs and Monster.com, and many other resources they will need in order to fully integrate into their new permanent or temporary community.Creating a site such as this will require a lot of work, and of course funding; ApartmenTime.com is hoping to receive assistance to make it work to the benefit of all Americans.

About ApartmenTime.comAmerica?s newest online apartment listing service, ApartmenTime.com, is a leading, high quality and innovative apartment listing service, specializing in providing advertising solutions for the Multi-Family Housing Industry. ApartmenTime.com is utilizing the Internet to provide this growing market with comprehensive housing listings and the latest community information. Visit our Web site: www.apartmentime.com


For more information:
13719 N. DeFoe Avenue
Sylmar, CA 91342
323-200-2167
Visit our website: http://www.apartmentime.com

Tchnetwork.com ready to serve in growing corporate housing needs!

The Corporate Housing Network (www.tchnetwork.com) has taken some major steps to get ready for the boom of corporate housing needs all over the World.

United States of America (Press Release) September 13, 2007 -- In your search for corporate housing, are you tired of endlessly calling 800# after 800#, only to be told “Let me look into this and get back to you”? Well, on TCHNetwork.com, you are in the driver’s seat. You can view real-time availability options from among the most respected corporate housing providers – nationally and internationally – for NO cost.

Looking for a 1 bedroom with den in the DC Metro area? A rental home in South Florida? A studio in Denver? A townhouse outside of Manhattan? Perform a quick search, pick and choose from a handful of options, and contact the property owner directly and immediately, right from our site. The good news is that since the upcoming furnished units you see on the site are already (or about to be) vacant, you may be in a position to negotiate a more aggressive rate.

If you don’t see an exact match, click REQUEST corporate housing. When you do, housing providers in that area automatically receive a notification alerting them that TCHNetwork has found a match. Corporate housing owners will get back to you immediately – and compete for your business. The end result? Your rates you receive will be extremely competitive, and corporate housing owners will keep their units full. Everyone wins.Tchnetwork.com is a great place for a corporate rental and has discovered that people working as far away as still want to live in while they work. The typical corporate rental is three to six months and is a great deal for both the unit owner and the renter.

The units all come fully furnished and turn key for immediate move in. The units have linens, new furniture, internet access, and great beach views. The units can be cleaned as often as the renter wants as we have multiple cleaning crews available.


For more information:
Karoly Bozan
The Corporate Housing Network!
info@tchnetwork.com

Dubai apartments for rent on Self-Catering basis

Following my last article Tips for tenants, in this issue I would like to cover some interesting guidelines for those Dubai landlords adventuring into the Short-Term Rental business.
It is a very common and old practice, especially in the Italian, Spanish or French Riviera to rent out a personal property as a holiday-home to tourists. The short-term rental business has proven pretty successful in those countries with strong tourism affluence and since Dubai is working on becoming an international holiday destination, it is interesting to consider this investment opportunity.
By renting out a property on short-term basis a landlord has the chance to use the property for his/her own personal use, generate a high return of investment by letting it out to holidaymakers and at the same time benefit from the property value appreciation.
The short-term rental concept could be applied anywhere in the world but the real key to its success lays in its implementation within the local market in fact any successful business idea can be brought to Dubai and prove a complete disaster, the concept by itself is nothing new and certainly not invented in Dubai so the actual heart of the business is not much in the idea as it is in its execution.
Having the idea and the product (the property) is just about 10% of the business, what really matters is the marketing which I would value at 70% and the actual daily running which could be valued at 20%
Setting up an apartment for the short-term rental requires experience, interior designing skills, attention to details and plenty of time and resources to follow up the actual furnishing process, utilities connections, daily running and marketing.
Some details are extremely important and if overlooked, will compromise the stay of your guests hence it is essential to set up the property with the guests needs in mind rather than following a questionable personal taste.
One detail that is consistently overlooked is the actual efficiency of the bedrooms curtains, which in the majority of the cases do not block the windows light properly, this is usually due to lack of experience or to good bargain ready-made curtains resulting in a horrible 6 am daily wake up call for your guests.
Another important aspect to acknowledge is the considerable investment to be made in purchasing the bathrooms face and body towels, it is in fact necessary to provide a high number of these so to allow a twice weekly replenishment and the same goes for bed sheets, quilt covers, pillow cases etc
In most cases the do it yourself schemes work pretty well when you do have experience, knowledge and passion about what you are engaging with, other wise it will simply result in complete frustration to say the least.
Without considering the daily management issues and the inevitable guests complaints even the twice-weekly house keeping service is a far more demanding task then what it seems
A reasonable solution to this, especially if you are handling more then one property, is to refer the entire marketing and management to a professional agent who for a fee (usually 20% of the rental) will take the weight off your shoulders with a smile.
In the current market a 5 stars marina-view one bedroom apartment in Dubai Marina Face 1 (where all the cafs and restaurants are) will rent for approx AED 95.000/- per year if unfurnished, the same property can fetch up to a AED 235.000/- a year if rented out furnished on short-term basis and after deducting the 20% agency commission plus about AED 40.000/- for the 5 stars furnishing and approx AED 8.000/- a year for the utility bills, this will live the owner with a net AED 142.000/- (on occupancy rate of 79%)
The numbers speak for themselves however is important to remember that where there is a good return there is also a certain risk and many will agree that the most delicate figure of the above calculation is the occupancy rate which cannot be guaranteed in any property short-term rental management contract.
Keeping the above consideration in mind, would you wish to engage an agent for your short-term rental requirements, it would be wise to commit for an initial trial period of maximum six months, this period shall allow you to gather enough details and should give you a good idea about the reliability and actual potential of the agent/marketer you are dealing with.
Would you rather get more hands-on with the business, you could opt for a non-exclusive marketing agreement, also available in the market and you will be able to market your property through other agent/marketers and potentially increase your exposure however this is not necessarily the optimum solution in fact many agents will give priority to the properties of those clients with whom they have contractually committed with.

What is Corporate Housing, Serviced Apartment, or Furnished Apartment?

A Serviced Apartments or Corporate Housing is an exclusive, fully furnished apartment or executive home. It is an excellent alternative to hotel accommodation especially when you are being relocated, between homes, or are working away from home for a period of time. An apartment is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building. Apartments may be owned (by an owner-occupier) or rented (by tenants). The term flat is used in Britain and most other Commonwealth countries to describe apartments; the term apartment is often used to describe more upmarket flats.

Some apartment-dwellers own their apartments, either as co-ops, in which the residents own shares of a corporation that owns the building or development; or in condominiums, whose residents own their apartments and share ownership of the public spaces. Most apartments are in buildings designed for the purpose, but large older houses are sometimes divided into apartments. The word apartment connotes a residential unit or section in a building. Apartment building owners, lessors, or managers often use the more general word units to refer to apartments. Units can be used to refer to rental business suites as well as residential apartments. When there is no tenant occupying an apartment, the lessor is said to have a vacancy.

For apartment lessors, each vacancy represents a loss of income from rent-paying tenants for the time the apartment is vacant (i.e., unoccupied). Lessors' objectives are often to minimize the vacancy rate for their units. The owner of the apartment typically when transferring possession to the occupant(s) gives him/her the key to the apartment or corporate housing entrance door(s) and any other keys needed to live there, such as a common key to the building or any other common areas, and an individual unit mailbox key. When the occupant(s) move out, these keys are typically returned to the owner.

How to Find an Apartment in New York

Introduction
New York offers some of the most unique and expensive apartment rentals in the country. Upper East Side doormen apartments are too pricey for most people even when shared with a roommate, but there are plenty of other options. From studios in Brooklyn's Park Slope to basement apartments in the West Village, every neighborhood has its own hidden bargains and treasures.

Instructions
Steps
Step One
Determine a price range. This is the deciding factor for most prospective apartment dwellers in New York. The least expensive Manhattan one bedrooms and studios are located in Washington Heights, the Bronx or Inwood. If you are looking for apartments with rock-bottom rents, check the less trendy sections of Queens or Brooklyn, like Bensonhurst.

Step Two
Call real estate brokers and apartment rental services. They charge a fee to help you find safe, secure apartments. You may have to go through a credit check with these services, but they do offer high quality apartments and save time by searching for you.

Step Three
Pound the pavement. Take a walk in the neighborhood where you'd like to live. Look for the occasional for rent sign. Read bulletin board postings in supermarkets, schools and churches, and in the breakroom where you work. Some of the best deals aren't advertised.

Step Four
Investigate choices on your own using the Village Voice, Craigslist, the New York Times, the New York Observer and local borough papers. Since these options are used by most apartment seekers, you need to be very lucky or persevering to get an apartment this way.

Step Five
Consider a sublet if you are looking for (or will settle for) a short term apartment. Many New Yorkers travel for business or pleasure for months at a time, and rent out their apartments temporarily to others who pay the rent for them while they are away. Most subleased apartments are fully furnished. Discuss payment and other sublease terms thoroughly before committing.

Step Six
Check roommate finder service or roommate wanted ads if you have cashflow problems. Take lifestyle concerns into account when interviewing prospective roommates. If you need to get up at five in the morning for work, make sure your roomie doesn't throw wild, all-night parties.

Tips & Warnings
Don't sublease from people who seem too flaky. They may return before the original terms have expired, and you'll be out on the street looking for another apartment way before you had planned.

eHow Articles in Lodging and Housing industry

Articles in Lodging
How to Find a Hotel Room for New Orleans Jazz Fest
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A big hurricane may have hit …but that’s not gonna keep the masses from hitting New Orleans for Jazz Fest. And those masses are gonna need a place to stay... more »
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How to Find Cheap Hotels in Bordeaux France
By eHow Travel Editor
Bordeaux is one of the best known wine regions of France--authentic Bordeaux wine comes from this locale. To find cheap accommodations in Bordeaux, France, have an idea of what you'd like to do while there. Bordeaux is more than a place to drink ... more »
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How to Ask Questions When Shopping for an International Timeshare
By eHow Travel Editor
As with buying any kind of property, it is important to ask questions and research before moving forward with a purchase. This is especially important when dealing with companies and property rights outside of the United States. Purchasers should ... more »
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How to Assess the Value of Vacation Club Timeshares
By eHow Travel Editor
When you're in the process of buying a vacation club timeshare, you want to make sure you're getting the best possible value. You should take the time to assess the value of your vacation club timeshare... more »
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How to Be a Gracious Guest
By eHow Travel Editor
If you're staying in someone's home, you have a responsibility to your host to behave with decorum and courtesy. Follow these steps and you'll earn a reputation as a gracious guest, someone who people will be happy to invite back... more »
Home » Travel » Travel Accommodations » Lodging

How to Bid for 4 star Hotels on Priceline
By tanger
Hate how priceline makes your change your options in order to re-bid on a hotel? Here is a way to rebid on the SAME area and maximize your changes of getting the 4 star hotel at the right price!.. more »
Home » Travel » Travel Accommodations » Hotels

ImagesThis article contains images')" height=16 src="http://i.ehow.com/images/ico-img-badge.gif" width=16> How to Book a Time Share
By eHow Travel Editor
Thinking about trying a new spot for your next vacation? Consider a timeshare package or become a timeshare owner. A timeshare is part-ownership in real estate where you can vacation several times a year. The typical timeshare includes one or two ... more »
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How to Book a Trip on Ceske Drahy
By eHow Travel Editor
The Czech Republic has diverse cultural traditions and rich history. You can access its three regions--Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia--by train. Just follow these steps to book your trip on Ceske Drahy (Czech Railways)... more »
Home » Travel » Destinations » Other Destinations

How to Book a Trip on Deutsche Bahn
By eHow Travel Editor 0 comments
Deutsche Bahn, or German Railways, is the primary railway operator in Germany. It is divided into two passenger lines. One focuses on short-distance travel, including regional and commuter trains, while DB Fernverkehr runs long-distance trains ... more »
Home » Travel » Destinations » Europe

How to Book a Trip on Hungarian Railways
By eHow Travel Editor 0 comments
Hungary boasts quaint villages and stunning cities full of Old World charm. Whether you are in Budapest, Sopron or Pécs, you can expect to find adequate rail travel throughout most of your journey... more »
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How to Book a Trip on Nederlands Spoorwegen
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Tulips and wooden shoes may come to mind when you think about the Netherlands, but this beautiful country offers so much more to see and do. Next time you visit, you can travel through the country on a modern, efficient railway system. Follow ... more »

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ImagesThis article contains images')" height=16 src="http://i.ehow.com/images/ico-img-badge.gif" width=16> How to Break Down a Timeshare's Costs
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How to Buy a Vacation Club Timeshare
By eHow Travel Editor 0 comments
Vacation club timeshares allow you to pay a one time membership fee to stay at a timeshare resort a couple of times a year. Vacation club timeshares alleviate the added financial commitments of a timeshare. When you buy into a vacation club ... more »

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Maybe it’s a real road trip (The Grand Canyon!) or maybe it’s a trip to Aunt Myrtle’s house in Buttonwillow for her birthday. You have at least two cars: how to go about keeping everyone on the same page, er, road. Here are some thoughts….. more »

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How to Choose a Timeshare Location
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How to Enjoy a Butlins Family Holiday
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A veritable British institution, the Butlins chain was originally founded by Sir Billy Butlin to provide places where Brits could holiday with their families without breaking the bank. Manned by the famous Butlins Redcoats, there are now three ... more »

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Exchanging a timeshare can help expand your options as a timeshare owner. If your timeshare already allows for this service, then you probably have paid a fee to enjoy it. Otherwise, there are timeshare companies that will help you exchange your ... more »

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How to Find Hotels in Antwerp, Belgium
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Antwerp is the second largest city in the European country of Belgium. Here you will find a good selection of tourist accommodations and attractions... more »

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How to Find Hotels in Barbados
By eHow Travel Editor 0 comments
Known as the "Little England of the Caribbean," Barbados has nearly 280,000 residents in the country and thrives on its tourism industry. Duty-free shopping, landmarks and the natural beauty of the country make it a logical destination for ... more »

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How to Find Hotels in Basseterre, Saint Kitts
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One of the oldest towns in the Eastern Caribbean, Basseterre was founded on the island of Saint Kitts in 1627. Today it boasts beautiful landscapes as well as many local attractions and landmarks. Explore Independence Square, the Circus and ... more »

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How to Find Hotels in Beijing, China
By eHow Travel Editor 0 comments
Once known as Peking, Beijing is the capital city of the People's Republic of China and has an almost endless supply of historical landmarks to keep an avid traveler busy. Be sure to make time to see the Great Wall, Forbidden City, and Tiananmen ... more »

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How to Find Hotels in Bohemia, Czech Republic
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How to Find Corporate Housing (Tips and Help)

Introduction
Corporate housing can be a good temporary solution when you're relocating or waiting for your permanent home to be built.

Instructions

Step One
Assess your needs in terms of length of stay.

Step Two
Determine your monthly budget, remembering that all utilities, except long-distance telephone costs, are included in most temporary-housing rates.

Step Three
Make a list of important criteria such as number of bedrooms you'll require, proximity to schools, pet policies and amenities you desire.

Step Four
Contact your employer's human resources department or look in the yellow pages for a list of corporate-housing firms or extended-stay hotels in the desired area. If you're looking for temporary housing in another city, use the Internet or contact that city's chamber of commerce for this information.

Step Five
Call a corporate-housing specialist and describe your needs; make an appointment with the specialist to review options. Or, call the extended-stay hotels to determine which best meets your needs.

Step Six
Meet with the corporate-housing specialist and tour your selections.

Step Seven
Choose the best option and rent the home or hotel suite.

Tips & Warnings
Corporate housing includes apartments, houses and extended-stay facilities. Most large companies have arrangements with specific hotels or corporate-housing firms. Check with your employer.

Many corporate-housing companies also help renters find doctors, dentists, hairstylists and other service providers.

Corporate-housing companies usually have only weekly or monthly lease obligations. Beware of those that demand longer time commitments.

Utilities, housecleaning service, dishes and linens are usually included in the corporate-housing rate. Specifically define all extras before signing a lease.

Choose a Suite that Suits You

Synergy Corporate Housing has introduced two product lines that will better service our
client’s requirements.

The Synergy Presidential Suite —Synergy’s Presidential Suite delivers all the comforts of home with a long list of special touches that add comfort and luxury to your stay. Sit back and enjoy listening to our own Synergy Relaxation CD on a Bose Wave Audio system. Slip into a “waffle style” robe with matching slippers, and indulge in Aveda hair care and beauty products. Painted accent walls with decorative artwork that provides a warm, at-home feeling, while Wi-Fi Internet access, Direct Video Recorder, and an upgraded digital cable package keep you entertained and connected. Each bedroom is equipped with a 19-inch TV and the one-of-a-kind Synergy Sleep System with a turn-down service and Synergy Truffles to ensure your first nights stay is memorable.

The Synergy Metropolitan Suite —Designed with the business traveler in mind, this
suite has all the essential requirements to ensure our guests have a great experience, plus a
few pleasant surprises: Designer furniture and housewares located throughout the
Metropolitan Suite and complimentary Wi-Fi Internet access. Best of all, our Synergy Sleep
System ensures you have a GREAT night’s sleep.

Bay Area Corporate Housing Market Trends 2005-2006

The year 2005 revealed a major shift in the market place. Bay Area renters are beginning to
see rental prices rise as bargaining power swiftly diminishes. An improving job market has
boosted demand for Bay Area apartments since the dot-com blowout. In the past year, Bay
Area employers have gained 26,600 jobs (source: Employment Development Departments
monthly survey). Corporate profits have rebounded and the surge in the local economy is
poised to persist. Regional employment gains are strong and widespread; analysts believe the
job market will grow through 2006.

Strong economic growth in the Bay Area has created high demand for housing needs in
already densely populated areas of the Bay Area and the South Bay. Occupancy in the Bay
Area is expected to reach 96.4% in March 2006. San Francisco’s occupancy is anticipated to
reach 97.1% in Q106, exceeding Oakland’s forecast occupancy of 96% and San Jose’s
anticipated occupancy of 95.9%.

Occupancy rates caused an upward shift in rental rates. Mortgage interest rates have slowly began to steady themselves, and with such high ‘for sale” price points, most Bay Area residents can’t afford to buy. Rental apartments are the only choice for many. Developers and property management companies know they can increase rental fees with longer mandatory leases because the supply of apartments is growing at a slower rate than the number of home buyers in the Bay Area.

Ratings of Corporate Housing and Furnished Aparments Provider/Corporate Housing Rating

Collection of Ratings of Corporate Housing and Furnished Aparments Provider/Corporate Housing Rating provided by The Corporate Housing Network:

Property
"la Cagnardette" / GRIMAUD / PORT-GRIMAUD, NU(No review)
1 Bedroom Riverside Apartment / Bangkok, NU(No review)
1 East Delaware / Chicago, IL(No review)
10th Street / Washington, DC(No review)
118 Dundas St E, Unit A / Belleville, Ontario, NU(No review)
118 Dundas St E, Unit B / Belleville, Ontario, NU(No review)
1200 River / Tucson, AZ(No review)
12955 Mountain View A / Sonora, CA(No review)
12955 Mountain View B / Sonora, CA(No review)
12975 Mountain View B / Sonora, CA(No review)
14754 Reef Ct / Jacksonville, FL, USA, NU (No review)

and:

Provider
Allentown-bethehem Corporate Housing / Jamie Laflin (No review)
Us Suites - San Diego / Adam (No review)
Adj Investor Group Llc / Sherry Xiao (No review)
Management Services / Jennifer Harris (No review)
Adrian Winchester (No review)
Elle (No review)
Aisling Byrne (No review)
Andre Jacas (No review)

You can see full list of these ratings at: Corporate Housing Ratings

Not Found Enough Choices for Corporate Housing?

The Corporate Housing Network is giving the option of Request Corporate Housing options relevant to your need. If you are:

a Relocation Specialist or Corporate Housing Provider and have yet to find the perfect match for your client’s housing needs; or
an Individual relocating (with or without a company) and am responsible for coordinating your relocation and temporary housing; or
a Relocation Specialist with a group housing need and would like to be presented with multiple options....

http://www.tchnetwork.com/ is The Corporate Housing Network and providing Corporate Housing, Furnished Aparments and Short Term Rentals...!

New York Habitat Launches Furnished Apartment Market Report

New York, NY (PRWEB) July 24, 2007 -- http://www.nyhabitat.com/ proudly announces the launch of its Furnished Apartments Rental Market Report. The report evaluates the current state of New York City's furnished apartment, roommate share and vacation accommodation markets. Designed to address the questions of owners and renters, it details New York City market trends over the past three years.

The supply of furnished apartments in and around Manhattan remains tight, with continued high demand and limited inventory. Rental prices continue to rise as a function of the narrow housing supply. The market also registers a steadily growing number of apartment requests, with the average client remaining in New York for slightly longer than in previous years, according to the report.

The New York City Furnished Apartment Market Report, using original graphs, charts and analysis, addresses the following topics and more:

Average length of stay
Average price by apartment type
Percentage of apartments rented by type
Percentage of apartments rented by neighborhood
Price ranges by apartment type or neighborhood

BridgeStreet Worldwide Leads Way in Corporate Housing Certification

Herndon, VA (PRWEB) July 31, 2007 -- BridgeStreet Worldwide is pleased to announce a record number of BridgeStreet associates have received certification in the first Corporate Housing Providers Association's (CHPA) certification program. Representing 15% of certificate holders, BridgeStreet leadership and the company’s Premier Global Alliance Partners proudly retain the highest number of Certified Corporate Housing Professional (CCHP) members among the industry.

The recently created CCHP recognition reflects a dedication to setting the highest standards for professionals in the corporate housing industry and is awarded to those who successfully complete a certification examination. The two-hour, 100 question examination tests three areas of knowledge: operations, financial management and sales and marketing. Nationally recognized subject matter experts and psychometricians worked to ensure the exam’s content and format were statistically accurate and valid.

The CHPA Education Committee, comprised of corporate housing professionals who volunteer their time and expertise to ensure integrity of the program, oversees the CCHP program. BridgeStreet’s Natalie Hickernell, Vice President of Human Resources, assisted in developing the certification program as a member of the CHPA Education Committee and the Certification Development Panel Subcommittee.

“We are proud that BridgeStreet and our Premier Global Alliance Partners are leading the industry with the number of certified associates on our team,” said Lee Curtis, President and CEO of BridgeStreet Worldwide and current CHPA President. “Participating in this certification program is yet another way in which BridgeStreet clients can be assured we are holding true to our commitment of superior services and quality accommodations and our promise of making corporate housing easy. The CCHP recognition is an indication to our clients and guests that BridgeStreet associates and partners have the knowledge and expertise to meet their unique and diverse needs.”

“BridgeStreet Worldwide continues to demonstrate its dedication to the continuous improvement of the corporate housing industry with its participation in the CHPA certification process and gaining CCHP recognition,” said Mary Ann Passi, Executive Director of CHPA. “BridgeStreet is committed to providing the resources of its senior management for the betterment of the industry and has been a member of the trade association since its inception.”
BridgeStreet Worldwide is a leading international provider of corporate housing. BridgeStreet and its Global Alliance Program offer over 15,000 corporate apartments located throughout the United States and 50 cities internationally. An award winner both in the U.S. and Europe, BridgeStreet properties meet uncompromising standards of quality, comfort and service. For more information about the company or to learn more about how BridgeStreet is Making Corporate Housing Easy, visit www.bridgestreet.com or call 1-800-BSTREET.

Marriott ExecuStay Adds Luxury Bedding!

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2006 - Marriott ExecuStay, the temporary- housing brand of Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR - News), is inviting guests coast-to-coast to experience its new ELITE DREAMER(TM) luxury bedding collection and several personalized touches that help them make their temporary communities their own.

"Our guests today, especially those on temporary assignment who find themselves living in a city for a few months or more, want the same tangible and intangible things they find in their own homes and offices," said Karen Blair, senior vice president of Marriott ExecuStay. "Our new tagline, LIVE LIKE A LOCAL, represents our mission to make each guest's temporary residence his or her home -- with great bedding, lots of space, forms of personal expression, and ways to spend 'found time' as they integrate into their new communities."

Ms. Blair added, "Plush bedding is something that all travelers now expect from hotels, and we're proud to say that Marriott ExecuStay is the only national temporary housing company that provides upgraded bedding -- cotton- rich sheets, plush mattress toppers, soft pillows and cozy comforters and blankets -- at no additional cost. But we haven't stopped there. ExecuStay's temporary housing niche gives us a unique opportunity to broaden the kinds of comforting and practical amenities that our guests want and need."

Ms. Blair said that demand for extended-stay lodging is up, citing statistics from The Highland Group and Smith Travel Research that showed extended-stay demand growing at a faster rate (7.2%) than regular hotel demand (3.3%) as of mid-2005.

In addition to its new bedding collection, ExecuStay's approximately 40 markets around the country are helping residential guests integrate with communities in many ways, such as referring pet sitters, arranging for a personal trainer, pointing them to a college course or yoga class, or personalizing their apartment with touches such as family photos.

"The phenomenon of 'found time' is a fact for people on longer stays, who are away from home and free from home-like obligations," said Ms. Blair. "Now, they can take a college course, join a running group, visit a local library, or even learn to play a musical instrument."

Marriott ExecuStay offers guests of 30 days or more the spaciousness and privacy of a residence that is fully furnished and accessorized, with monthly rates that include basic utilities, phone service, cable television, housekeeping and 24-hour customer service. Marriott ExecuStay is part of Marriott International's extended-stay lodging portfolio, which also includes Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites and Marriott Executive Apartments.

Apartment Express Corporate Housing, - Tampa provider of short-term housing makes 2004 Inc. 500 list.

Location: Tampa

Total Growth: 800%

2003 Revenue: $4.7 million

Employees: 18

Chris Mercer and David Lowrey provide short-term housing in Tampa for clients ranging from snowbirds to baseball players in spring training. The company recently bought a storage warehouse so that it can buy all of the furniture it uses, a move that will save it more than $500,000 a year in furniture-rental fees.