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A huge THANK YOU goes out to our 2020 Business Partners for their dedicated support of our association. Each year, by underwriting multiple TAA networking and educational opportunities, they elevate the level of benefits we are able to provide to our members. Their investment includes exclusive sponsorships and heightened exposure throughout the year.
2020 siness Partners Strategic
Premier
Champion
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Triangle Apartment Association 7920 ACC Blvd., Suite 220 Raleigh, NC 27617 919.782.1165 • 919.782.1169 FAX www.triangleaptassn.org TAA Office Hours Monday through Friday 8:30am-5:00pm TAA Mission Statement The leading resource committed to the advancement of the rental housing industry through advocacy, engagement, and innovation.
@TriangleAptAssn
CONTENTS 4 President’s Pen
20-21 Upcoming Education
6 Meet Your 2020 Board
22 Calendar of Events
16-17 New Members
23 Legal Issues
OFFICERS President
Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary
Rita Zepeda CPM, CAPS, CAM, ARM PRG Real Estate Management, Inc.
Craig Nardi CPM, CAPS Willow Creek Properties, LLC
Rob Boggs CAM Berkshire Cameron Village
Immediate Past President
@nctaa
Affiliated with:
Kelli Lea CAM, NAAEI Faculty Greystar
April Vasta CAPS, CAM Blue Ridge Companies
DIRECTORS TAA STAFF MEMBERS Josie H. Eatmon, Executive Director jeatmon@triangleaptassn.org Suzanne Pratt, Director of Professional Development spratt@triangleaptassn.org
Katy Boone CAPS, CAM CrossTimbers Apartments
Berry Craven CAMT Ginkgo Residential, LLC
Cindy Nitschke CAS Response Team 1
Franklin Rodriguez CAPS, CAMT Blue Ridge Companies
Chris Fortune Rachel Garavito Young Becki Hale CAS Loebsack & CAM Red Rhino Group Brownlee, PLLC Camden Carolinian
Natalie Hart CAS The Liberty Group
Vicki Franciosi, Meetings & Events Director vfranciosi@triangleaptassn.org Dustin Engelken, Government Affairs Director dengelken@triangleaptassn.org Susan Williams, Finance Director swilliams@triangleaptassn.org Meg Palumbo, Communications Manager mpalumbo@triangleaptassn.org Jennifer Creech, Membership & Marketing Manager jcreech@triangleaptassn.org Dan Pauley, Staff Accountant dpauley@triangleaptassn.org
Amy Timocko CAPS Hawthorne Residential Partners, Inc.
Judy Wade CAPS, CAM TradeMark Property Services, Inc.
Norm Praet General Counsel Brownlee Whitlow & Praet, PLLC
COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS Education:
GiGi Ghanayem Tara Gerberich
Government Affairs:
Alyssa Clair, Education Coordinator aclair@triangleaptassn.org
Katy Boone Kelly Goehl
Jessica Esposito, Events Coordinator jesposito@triangleaptassn.org
Dena Daniels
IRO:
Membership:
Chelsea Bell Natalie Cook-Wooters
This issue of the ApartMentor is designed and published by Moonstone Studio, LLC, proud member of the Triangle Apartment Association.
Chris Smith Greystar
PR & Community Outreach:
Jessica Lei Akeshia Thomas
Products & Services: Chris Fortune Rachel Garavito Young
Special Events: Cindy Nitschke Judy Wade
XCEL:
Heather Arndt Carson Woodell
Total Members: 1,174 Total Units: 147,252 Apartment Communities: 629 Suppliers: 305 Management Companie s: 172 IRO: 68
TAA Snapshot as of 1/16/2020 the ApartMentor 2020 | Issue 1 3
President’s Pen I am completely humbled and honored to serve as your 2020 Triangle Apartment Association President. This association is like no other in the state, and often recognized and imitated nationwide. My hope is to continue strengthening our association—together. I’d like to tell you a little bit about me, my past and my present, and how I ended up here. I grew up in Matthews, right outside of Charlotte, NC. I lived in the same house my entire life and later attended NC State University (GO PACK!) where I majored in Communication with a concentration in Mass Media. In my sophomore year, I moved off campus into a beautiful, brand new, amazing, community... you might have heard of it, Wolf Creek. Right after I signed my lease, I became friends with the office staff and very quickly wanted to hang with them all the time. Naturally, I talked my way into a job and shortly landed a gig where 15 hours a week equaled free rent. It was pretty great! I worked there for just over two years, and loved every minute of it - even student turn! While working at Wolf Creek, I started interning at a local radio station, G105. I, under the name “Lucky”, had my own radio show where I did weekends and fill-ins. After graduation, I began searching for my first “grown-up” apartment out of student housing and landed at a cute, quaint community, Lexington Farms. I immediately connected with the community manager who stated she was understaffed and asked me if I knew anybody looking for a job. It was at that moment that I realized I had never really thought of apartment life as a “career” as it just came so natural - it didn’t feel like work, and was actually a lot of fun. I applied within 24 hours, got the call from Karen Green, and began my career with Riverstone Residential Group,
which later became Greystar. I kept my radio gig for about 5 years, working weekends and recording my voice for times I wasn’t able to go live. While I loved the perks, I realized I’d rather not spend my time talking into a microphone and instead I wanted to further the relationships with people in-person and work towards becoming a community manager. I wanted to make an impact, I wanted to grow myself professionally, and I wanted to network. Thus, I made my way to the TAA. After trying a few other committee meetings, I decided to make my way to the Education Committee and have honestly never looked back. I have never felt more welcome and empowered. My input was wanted, heard, and well-received. After about two years on the Education Committee, I served as co-chair for two years. It was sometime shortly after that when I was encouraged to apply for a seat on the Board. Me? I mean I knew I loved being a co-chair, but I could never be on the Board! I felt so inadequate from a professional resume and overall industry experience point-of-view. I was pleasantly surprised and honored to receive the call that I made it! Since then, it’s honestly been a whirlwind. This association has literally built my resume and career. I’ve received my CAM credential via an Education Foundation Scholarship, served on the TAA Education Foundation Board, and became NAAEI AFT Certified. (That means I’m actually a nationally accredited instructor!) None of this would have happened without the Triangle Apartment Association. I share all of this with you to show you that although it can start small, it can turn into something so big. I did ALL of these things as “just” a property manager. It was only about 15 months ago that I became a Regional Manager. I was an Assistant Manager that didn’t really know anyone when I came to my first
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Education Committee meeting, and I never would have thought one day I would your President. I really want to spark something in you that makes you want to get involved, to crave that “something else”. You don’t have to LOVE every committee, you don’t have to attend every meeting. Just give what you can! We have 1,169 member companies, and it’s roughly the same 275 people that are involved volunteers. Remember, involved doesn’t have to mean multiple times a week, but it does mean more than just the golf tournament. Did you know, in 2020 we will offer over 40 educational opportunities, 4 FREE networking events, multiple days of service for your volunteer hours, and 8 committees to serve on? Whatever your passion is or you want to learn more about, there are numerous opportunities and plenty of ways YOU can make a difference. My personal goal for this association this year is to increase committee attendance by 20% and ultimately our repeat, involved volunteer pool by 20%. That’s 20 and 20 in 2020. If you have questions, please reach out to me for anything. I’d love to have you as my guest at a committee meeting or event. That’s my story! The Association and I were both born In October of 1984 which means we’re destined to be a great team. I’m excited about this new chapter that we will write together in 2020! I look forward to growing relationships with those that I know and creating new ones with those I don’t yet.
Kelli Lea CAM, NAAEI Faculty TAA President Greystar taapresident@triangleaptassn.org
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Meet your Board of Directors Executive President | Kelli Lea, CAM, NAAEI, is a Regional Manager with Greystar and has worked in the apartment industry for over 15 years. Active with TAA for the past 12 years, Kelli has served as an Education Committee co-chair and recently completed a two-year term on the TAAEF Board of Directors. During her tenure on the Education Committee, she helped with the implementation and the finalization processes of TAA’s Leadership of Excellence Program that began in 2013 and has served as a facilitator for multiple courses and assisted with training. Kelli holds the Certified Apartment Manager (CAM) credential and is an NAAEI Faculty member. Kelli is a graduate of North Carolina State University and enjoys traveling to the beach with her husband and two sons. Vice President | Rita Zepeda, CPM®, CAPS, CAM, ARM®, is a Regional Director with PRG Real Estate Management, Inc. overseeing their portfolio in the Triangle Area. She has 11 years of experience in the apartment industry and has been involved at TAA for over 9 years. Rita earned the NAAEI Certified Apartment Portfolio Supervisor (CAPS) and Certified Apartment Manager (CAM) credentials and is a Certified Property Manager® (CPM) through IREM. Rita is an Honor Graduate from UNC-Chapel Hill and a 2014 graduate of TAA’s Leadership of Excellence Program. She serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors, is a member of the Finance Committee and Innovative Income Committee. At the national level, Rita is a 2018 NAA Leadership Lyceum graduate and serves on the Diversity and Inclusion Committee. She lives in Durham with her husband, two sons, and a dog. Rita enjoys learning, traveling, exercising and spending quality time with family and friends. Treasurer | Craig Nardi, CPM, is a Director of Property Management with Willow Creek Properties, LLC and has been working in the Triangle since 2006. Craig has worked in Property Management for the past 23 years in several large markets including Phoenix, Washington D.C., and Maryland. Within the
industry, Craig has a background that is well rounded and has experienced Class A, Lease Up, Single Family Management, Mid Rise Buildings, Property Rehab, and Renovations, along with some commercial management experience. In 2009 Craig earned his Certified Property Manager (CPM) credential through IREM. Craig has served as co-chair of TAA’s Government Affairs Committee and currently serves on the AANC Government Affairs Committee. Secretary | Rob Boggs, CAM, is a Community Manager with Berkshire Residential Investments, and an active member of the TAA community. Rob enjoys working with lease-up and distressed occupancy assets the most as it gives him the opportunity to be hands-on with all of his residents. He truly enjoys bringing a team to their full potential, and bringing the best out of them! He earned his NAAEI Certified Apartment Manager (CAM) credential in 2016, as well as completed the TAA Leadership of Excellence Program. Rob has been active with TAA for 10 years and is currently serving on both TAA’s XCEL Committee and Special Events Committee. Rob is an avid Disney enthusiast, and enjoys spending his free time at the most magical place on Earth! Rob likes to live every day in accordance with one of Walt Disney’s philosophies of “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible!” Immediate Past President | April Vasta, CAPS, CAM, is a Regional Property Manager with Blue Ridge Companies. She has worked in the apartment industry for over 18 years and has been active with TAA for over 17 years serving on the Special Events and Government Affairs committees. April has served as Vice President on the Board of Directors for the New Lease on Life Program, which assists families with affordable housing in the Triangle area. At the state level, April serves on AANC’s Public Relations & Marketing Committee, and at the national level, April serves on NAA’s Apartmentalize (education conference) and has been selected to attend the NAA Leadership Lyceum in 2020. April loves to spend her free time outside and can most often be found in her “happy place” at Umstead Park with her husband and 2 dogs.
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Directors Katy Boone, CAPS, CAM, is a Property Manager with Drucker + Falk. She has worked in the apartment industry for over 11 years, moved to North Carolina in 2012, and earned her NAAEI Certified Apartment Manager (CAM) credential in 2017 and her Certified Apartment Portfolio Supervisor (CAPS) credential in 2019. Katy has experience with Class A, Lease-Up, Mid Rise Buildings, Distressed Properties, and Property Rehab and Renovations. Katy has served on TAA’s Government Affairs Committee and is in her second year of her 3-year term as Co-Chair. Additionally, Katy has participated on the PAC Sub-Committee, the TAA-PAC Board of Trustees, the Alliance for Progress in the Triangle (APT) Board of Directors, is a TAA Membership Ambassador, and serves on AANC’s Government Affairs Committee. Katy is a graduate from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, where she received her BA in Music Education and is a classically trained clarinet player. She enjoys playing clarinet with the Raleigh Community Band, volunteering with Carolina Adopt-a-Bulls dog rescue, snuggling with her dogs, wine tasting, and traveling to the mountains for the lakes, scenery, and hiking. One of her favorite places to visit is the Charlottesville, VA area where the hiking is plentiful and the wineries are many. Berry Craven, CAMT, is a Regional Service Manager with Ginkgo Residential, LLC covering assets in North Carolina. He specializes in acquisitions and renovations for owned and managed assets. Berry has been with his company for 19 years and active in the TAA for 15 of those 19 years. He earned his NAAEI Certified Apartment Maintenance Technician (CAMT) credential in 2013 through a TAA scholarship and completed the Leadership of Excellence Program in 2017. He has served on the Membership Committee for 5 years and was the co-chair of this committee in 2016 and 2017. He has helped at many fundraising events and been on task forces for TAA. Berry has a passion for the service side of our industry and works to improve the quality standards and reputation through his role as the Chair of the NAA CAMT oversite committee. There, he is committed to reviewing and revising the curriculum as well as the course handbook. In his spare time, Berry likes to spend time with family and friends and loves to hunt. continued on page 15
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Opening Keynote
Register Online www.AANCONLINE.org
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See Available Sponsorship Opportunities Conference-Level Sponsors
Closing Keynote Deborah Gardner
N E T W O R K | LEA R N | EN G AG E the ApartMentor 2020 | Issue 1 7
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and join u TAA held its last After Work Networking event of 2019 on Tuesday, December 10 at Wild Wing Cafe in Brier Creek. Over 180 members came out to enjoy a relaxing evening full of fun and networking with colleagues and friends. At this event, we held a Toys for Tots toy drive, and were able to collect over 150 toys for local children. TAA’s XCEL Committee also hosted ‘Happy Hour Headshots,’ to raise money for A New Lease on Life. Thank you to everyone who contributed to these amazing causes!
Wi
Join us for one of our most popular events, and the first one this year! A and provides an easy way to network after hours. With appetizers bein you is for individually purchased food and beverage. Come out and en See you there!
Thank you to our December After Work
Networking sponsors, who helped us make this event such an incredible success! Thanks to Highland Construction and Restoration and 6 & Fix Heating & Cooling – we could not have done it without you!
After Work Networking is open to all TAA members, with no cost to attend.
We will be hosting 4 After Work Networking events in 2020 - Mark your calendars now!!! All four After Work Networking events will be held at Wild Wing Café in Brier Creek, from 6:00-8:30pm. With appetizers being provided throughout the evening, the only cost to you is for individually purchased food and beverage. Can’t wait to see you there!
Your role is important within our association and we value your commitment to helping new members find their way! We appreciate you and look forward to another year of great connecting.
Berry Craven Brandy Rutledge Chris Fortune Danny Young Dena Daniels Elizabeth Godwin Riley Katy Boone
Kelly Goehl Lolita Wald Natalie Cook-Wooters Rachel Garavito Young Rob Boggs Sydney Bryan
If you are interested in learning more about being a TAA Ambassador, please contact us! You can email Jennifer Creech at jcreech@triangleaptassn.org for more information. the ApartMentor 2020 | Issue 1 9
Membership Dinner Meeting If our first event is any indication, 2020 is sure to be an amazing year! Thanks to everyone who joined us on Thursday, January 16 as we kicked off the year with our Annual Membership Dinner Meeting and Board of Directors Installation. The Embassy Suites by Hilton Raleigh Durham Research Triangle served as the perfect setting for over 370 members and guests.
A Networking Hour provided everyone the opportunity to reconnect and visit before the dinner and program. April Vasta, Outgoing TAA President and Regional Vice President with Blue Ridge Companies, welcomed everyone and provided general remarks before inviting Rita Zepeda, TAA 2020 Vice President and Regional Director with PRG Real Estate Management, Inc. to join her on stage. The two recognized our 2020 Business Partners while providing each company with a plaque of appreciation.
April then recognized David Lowery, Capital Creek at Heritage, and Shane West, Beachwood Park Townhomes, who recently earned their National Apartment Leasing Professional Credential. The audience was also able to watch the NAA Education Institute Residential Property Management video debut and recognize those who participated in the triangle.
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The 2019 Board of Director members were recognized and April presented the exiting Directors and Officers with a plaque to recognize their service. Karen Green, Regional Manager with Greystar shared a few words of introduction and then April Vasta administered the Oath of Office to TAA’s President Kelli Lea, Regional Manager with Greystar. The 2020 TAA Officers and Board of Directors were then installed. And, this year, we were excited to also install the Boards of Directors for A New Lease on Life and the Triangle Apartment Association Education Foundation. The evening’s Featured Speaker, Jim Knight, was welcomed to the stage by Rita Zepeda. Jim Knight is the Founder and Owner of
Knight Speaker. He is also the bestselling author of “Culture That Rocks: How to Revolutionize Your Company’s Culture.” Jim’s presentation was titled “Leadership
That Rocks: Top Leadership Initiatives that will Immediately Deliver Sustainable Results.” Thank you Jim for providing the perfect start to our year!
2020
Strategic
2020 siness
Strategic Strategic Partners
2020 siness Partners Strategic 2020 siness Partners
Premier Partners
Champion Partners
Strategic 2020 siness Partners 2020 siness Partners
Thank you to our 2020 Business Partners for their support and to all who joined us for a very special evening.
Strategic
Premier
Strategic
Premier Premier
Premier Champion Premier Champion Premier Champion Champion Champion
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Champion
TAA Political Action Committee
BECOME A 2020 TAA-PAC MEMBER TODAY! Last year, TAA-PAC had its most successful year ever raising more than $30,000 in donations for the first time! Thanks to this record fundraising, we were able to endorse nineteen candidates in four municipalities last year with fifteen of our candidates winning elections and bringing a pro-growth approach to their municipality. The relationships built through TAA-PAC have also led to some exciting initiatives including a partnership with Wake County on the Wake Works Initiative, which seeks to provide tuition-assistance for local students entering high-needs professions, such as Maintenance Technicians. This year, TAA-PAC has raised its fundraising goal and hopes to raise $40,000 that will go towards supporting pro-growth candidates in state legislative races and county commissioner elections this year. Help TAA-PAC reach this ambitious goal by contributing today and take advantage of our club membership levels to access exclusive member-only benefits!
Representative’s Club: $50 • Invitation to participate in quarterly conference calls. • Member pricing for quarterly breakfast and other PAC events.
Senator’s Club: $150 • • • •
Invitation to participate in quarterly conference calls. Member pricing for quarterly breakfasts and other PAC events. Complimentary admission to one quarterly breakfast event. Recognition on materials at any TAA-PAC-related functions.
Vice President’s Club: $500 • • • • •
Invitation to participate in quarterly conference calls. Member pricing for quarterly breakfasts and other PAC events. Complimentary admission to two quarterly breakfast events. Recognition on materials at any TAA-PAC-related functions and special verbal recognition at all TAA-PAC functions. Membership on the Board of Trustees and one vote.
President’s Club: $1000 • • • • • •
Invitation to participate in quarterly conference calls. Member pricing for quarterly breakfasts and other PAC events. Complimentary admission to all quarterly breakfast events. Recognition on materials at any TAA-PAC-related functions and special verbal recognition at all TAA-PAC functions. Membership on the Board of Trustees and three votes. Eligibility to serve as TAA-PAC Chairperson. the ApartMentor 2020 | Issue 1 12
Government Affairs
What to expect from Government Affairs in 2020 Government Affairs wrapped up a great year in 2019 with record fundraising for TAA-PAC, the launch of a new Issue Mobilization Fund, the Alliance for Progress in the Triangle, and successful work on a number of initiatives including Emotional Support Animal legislation at the General Assembly, a successful housing bond in Durham, and a great election cycle that saw pro-growth candidates win across the Triangle. This year promises to be another great year, so we thought it might be helpful to provide a preview of what’s to come in 2020:
Raleigh Affordable Housing Bond City residents have long highlighted affordable housing as one of the most pressing concerns in Raleigh and after a change election in 2019, the Council is serious about getting this bond on the ballot and rallying community support. After the successful passage of Durham’s $95 million affordable housing bond in 2019, Raleigh is poised to go even bigger in 2020 with a bond expected to exceed $100 million
with significant investments in multifamily housing. TAA will be involved every step of the way in shaping and advocating for the bond throughout the year.
Emotional Support Animal Legislation Last year, TAA played a significant role in developing comprehensive Emotional Support Animal legislation that will define who can provide support documentation and set clear guidelines on how documentation can be verified. Most importantly, the legislation would prohibit third-party websites from providing documentation for a fee, and would create civil penalties for those providing such documentation. This legislation passed the North Carolina State House last year and during this year’s Short Session, TAA will join with our partners at AANC and across the state and advocate for the Senate to pass this bill.
Zoning and Regulatory Reform The passage of the Expanded Housing Choices (EHC) last year in Durham repre-
sented the most significant land use reform in decades in the Triangle and this year TAA will work with partners in local governments across the region to continue to advocate for zoning and land use reform that will result in denser communities with more opportunities for multifamily housing development. In Durham and Raleigh, in particular, pro-growth City Councils are already in place and working hard to make these reforms a reality.
Playing Defense As always, we will be on the lookout for impactful initiatives at the state and local level and will work to defend membership against damaging proposals. However, it’s worth stating that we will need your help to do this! Please feel free to reach out to TAA’s Government Affairs Director Dustin Engelken if you hear about anything going on in your community that will impact the industry.
TOUR OF CITIES
COMMUNITY CHAT, NETWORKING, & HOT TOPICS TAA’s Membership Committee hosted their 2019 Q4 “Tour of Cities” at Elevate Brier Creek. Attendees heard about Fair Housing on Social Media from Todd Whitlow and Effective Communication from Andy and Andrea Meador. Special thanks to Elevate Brier Creek for hosting and to CORT Furniture for providing breakfast!
Registration is now open for our first stop on our 2020 Tour of Cities at Park and Market Apartments in North Hills! Join our community chat on Wednesday, March 18, and network with other onsite property representatives while discussing Legal Issues with Loebsack & Brownlee, PLLC and Renovation Trends with Red Rhino Group. Register online: www.triangleaptassn.org/events/2020-march-tour-of-cities
Residential Property Management Careers (RPM) Video Promoting Maintenance Career Opportunities The National Apartment Association Education Institute (NAAEI) reached out to the Triangle Apartment Association in the fall of 2019, with the hope of partnering to re-do the Residential Property Management Careers (RPM Careers) video to spotlight and promote careers in the field of maintenance. TAA was chosen out of 170 affiliates across the country, accepted the partnership, and had several maintenance professionals here in the triangle (who have never been in front of a camera) participate in a two-day video shoot, December 12 - 13, 2019. You can access the video on YouTube; “Spotlight: Careers in Maintenance.”(https://youtu.be/6rx7_FqIQY8) The Triangle Apartment Association would like to thank the two communities, Lake Johnson Mews and Colonial Grand at Brier Falls, for serving as host for the video shoots, and to the maintenance professionals who so generously gave of their time!
Maintenance Video Participants: Donald Blake Compton - Croasdaile Apartments Lou Flythe - Solis Patterson Place Sergio Galvan - Lake Johnson Mews Apartments Reginald Evans - Colonial Grand at Brier Falls Emily Lundy - Tradition at Stonewater Daniel Whitten - Arbor Creek Apartment Community
TAA’s Day of Service Join us Friday, March 20 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm for a DAY OF SERVICE giving back to our local community! For this Day of Service, TAA Volunteers will be working simultaneous shifts at both the DURHAM & RALEIGH Food Banks of Central & Eastern North Carolina. Register online for either the Durham or Raleigh location and join each group for an hour of networking after volunteering. Details will be in your registration confirmation email! Register Online: www.triangleaptassn.org/ events/2020-day-of-service-march
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continued from page 6
Directors Chris Fortune, CAS, is an Owner-Managing Partner of Red Rhino Group. He has worked in the apartment industry and been affiliated with TAA for over 15 years. Through NAAEI, Chris has earned the Certified Apartment Supplier (CAS) credential. Chris is very active within the association and has served on numerous Committees throughout TAA over his 15 years. Chris earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication with a minor in Graphic Design from East Carolina University and is a proud Pirate! Rachel Garavito Young is the Marketing Director for Loebsack & Brownlee, PLLC and has been in the multifamily industry since 2008. Her passion is design and marketing, creating digital and print marketing campaigns, overseeing the marketing department and developing strategies for the L&B brand and big-picture expansion. Rachel is co-chair of TAA’s Products and Services Committee, serves on the Innovative Income Committee, and is also a TAA Ambassador. She is part of the AANC 2020 Leadership Lyceum, designs art for the AANC Education & Legislative Conference, and serves on the AANC State Supplier’s Council. Outside the office, she is probably scuba diving, complaining about her awful(ly cute) dogs, or spending time with her family. Becki Hale, CAM, is a Community Manager at Camden Carolinian with Camden Properties Trust and has been in the apartment industry and involved with TAA for more than 20 years. Becki has earned her NAAEI Certified Apartment Manager (CAM) credential. During that time she has served on multiple TAA Committees and found her home with the Special Events Committee. In previous years, Becki served as co-chair of TAA’s flagship events: TOPS Awards, the Golf Tournament, and the annual Trade Show. Currently, she is in her third year as co-chair of the Special Events Committee, which oversees all the networking events for the association. Becki and her husband Robert are the proud parents of two teenagers, Emma
Meet your Board of Directors and Miles. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Natalie Hart, CAS, is the Branch Manager for The Liberty Group Raleigh and has been in the multifamily industry since 2000. Natalie got her start in the industry on the Owner/Operator side and in 2016 made the move to a Supplier Partner. Natalie has earned her NAAEI Certified Apartment Supplier (CAS) credentials and her Leadership of Excellence designation. Natalie serves on TAA’s Education Committee, Government Affairs Committee, and Products and Services Committee. She also serves on the AANC Education Committee. Natalie enjoys spending time with her two children and traveling. She also bleeds Wolfpack red! Cindy Nitschke, CAS, is a Business Development Manager for Response Team 1- CRC. She has been in the apartment industry for over 26 years. Cindy started working onsite while attending Oklahoma State University and worked onsite for 9 years before becoming a Supplier Member in 1999. She has served on and chaired numerous committees throughout her career, and served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee in 2001-2002, 2018-present. Cindy was the proud recipient of the TAA “Associate of the Year” award in 2001. Cindy currently co-chairs the Special Events Committee. She is a member of the AANC State Supplier’s Council and has been nominated to participate in the AANC Leadership Lyceum. Cindy has been blissfully married for 25 years with one son, one daughter and a fur baby. In her spare time, she loves watching football, spending time with friends and traveling. Franklin Rodriguez, CAPS, CAMT, is a Senior Service Manager/Construction Liaison with Blue Ridge Companies Inc., and has worked in the apartment industry for 16 years. He earned his NAAEI Certified Apartment Maintenance Technician (CAMT) credential in 2010, and his NAAEI Certified Apartment Portfolio Supervisor (CAPS) credential in 2015, and is CPO and CFC certified. Franklin has been an active volunteer with TAA for 14 years and currently serves on the Government Affairs Committee. In the ApartMentor 2020 | Issue 1 15
his free time, Franklin loves going to Duke football and basketball and enjoys being a member of the TAA. Christopher (Chris) Smith is a Senior Director of Real Estate with Greystar, overseeing 16,000 units/56 communities. He has worked in the apartment industry at all operational levels for over 20 years, and a member of TAA for 13 years. Chris has worked within the advocacy arm of the Association serving on the Government Affairs Committee, Triangle Government Alliance Board, and, on the state level, serving on the AANC Government Affairs Committee. In his free time, Chris enjoys physical fitness, outdoor activities and spending time with family. Amy Timocko, CAPS, is a Regional Vice President with Hawthorne Residential Partners, Inc. She has worked in the industry for 20+ years and been involved with TAA for most of those years. Amy enjoys the Government Affairs Committee where she has served for many years. Amy is a supporter of the TAA-PAC at the President’s Club level. She is married with three children, loves to travel, read, bake, and hang out with the family. Judy Wade, CAPS, CAM, is a Vice President with TradeMark Residential in Raleigh and has worked in the apartment industry for 29 years. Judy has earned the NAAEI Certified Apartment Portfolio Supervisor (CAPS) and Certified Apartment Manager (CAM) credentials. She has volunteered with TAA in numerous capacities throughout her 29 years of service. Most recently Judy has worked as an active member of the Special Events Committee, served as co-chair of the After Work Network events for 6 years, was the 35th Anniversary co-chair and is currently serving as the co-chair of Special Events Committee as well as the 2020 Board of Directors and their Nominating Committee. Judy has been married for 30 years, and her hobbies include visiting her family in her hometown of Pensacola Beach, Florida. She also enjoys gardening, socializing and cheering on her Florida State Football team! Go Noles!
New Members MANAGEMENT COMPANIES A-Venture Management 455 Ramsey Street Suite 105 Fayetteville, NC 28301 Contact: Jennifer Pittman jennifer@a-venturemgt.com (910)323-8001 Priderock Capital Management 5500 Reunion Point Raleigh, NC 27609 Contact: Brittany Sanders manager@cedarspringsapartments.com (919)872-6656 Rampart Property Management, LLC 1600 Colon Road Sanford, NC 27330 Contact: Susan Keller susankeller@rampart-us.com (919)708-3422 Related Management Companies 2515 McKinney Avenue Suite 950 Dallas, TX 75201 Contact: Steven Credit steven.credit@related.com (972)232-8854 Sound Management 412 East Pilot Street Unit A04 Durham, NC 27707 Contact: Michael Kalish michael@soundmanagement.net (610)968-1134
COMMUNITIES 1000 Mills Street 1406 Brookside Drive Raleigh, NC 27604 Contact: Ashley Pourron ashley.pourron@wellingtonadvisors.com (919)259-0611 Units: 16 511 Faye 511 Fayetteville Street Raleigh, NC 27601 Contact: Robyn Hoover robyn.hoover@greystar.com (919)438-1670 Units: 239 Foster on the Park 545 Foster Street Durham, NC 27701 Contact: Rebecca Rassman rrassman@bellpartnersinc.com (984)227-4936 Units: 164 Hillsborough West Village Apartments 115 Holiday Park Road Hillsborough, NC 27278 Contact: Ashley Pourron ashley.pourron@wellingtonadvisors.com (919)685-0705 Units: 36
Live on Hillsborough 2811 Hillsborough Street Raleigh, NC 27607 Contact: Dayvon Taliaferro dayvon.taliaferro@tpco.com (919)594-6250 Units: 213 Oakwood WaterWalk Raleigh RTP 1012 Lower Shiloh Way Morrisville, NC 27560 Contact: Mike Johnson mjohnson5@oakwood.com (205)218-3280 Units: 78 Overture Centennial 1720 Hillsborough Street Raleigh NC 27605 Contact: Sara Daniels overturecentennialmgr@greystar.com (919)670-1000 Units: 188 Overture Chapel Hill 401 Meadowmont Village Circle Suite 3 Chapel Hill, NC 27517 Contact: Traci Wooten traci.wooten@greystar.com Units: 184 The Piedmont Raleigh 7621 Triangle Promenade Drive Raleigh, NC 27616 Contact: Miranda Zolyniak thepiedmontraleighmgr@greystar.com (919)626-4907 Units: 382 University Hill 3111 Shannon Road, Level 2 Durham, NC 27707 Contact: Marsha Stanisic mstanisic@hrpliving.com (919)908-1991 Units: 269
INDEPENDENT RENTAL OWNERS Jonathan Carter 7305 Water Willow Drive Raleigh, NC 27617 Contact: Jonathan Carter truerealtync@gmail.com (919)699-5992 Units: 5 June Freeman 6444 East Spring Street Long Beach, CA 90815 Contact: June Freeman theramblinone@yahoo.com (949)292-5393 Units: 2 MEJM Properties LLC 7424 ACC Boulevard Suite 106 Raleigh, NC 27617 Contact: Joe Mitchell jmt.rtp@gmail.com (919)219-4312 Units: 43 the ApartMentor 2020 | Issue 1 16
SUPPLIERS APR Restoration 4613 Smart Drive Raleigh, NC 27603 Contact: Bernice Lopes bernicel@apr-nc.com (919)801-4635 General Contractors | Mold Remediation Contractors | Renovation & Capital Improvement Contractors Roofing Batteries Plus Bulbs 4907 Atlantic Avenue Raleigh, NC 27616 Contact: Steve Shear Steve.Shear@Batteriesplus.com (919)790-1800 General Supplies | Lighting Supplies BC Solutions PO Box 391 Durham, NC 27702 Contact: Peter Michaels peter@bcsolut.com (919)637-1958 Consultation Services | Online Leasing Property Management Software | Real Estate Appraiser/Brokers Bond Home Services 200 Powell Drive, Suite 119 Raleigh, NC 27606 Contact: Kasiem Carter kc@bondhomeservices.com (919)825-3620 Carpentry Contractors | Electric Contractors | General Contractors Plumbing Contractors Carolina Revaluation Services 209 Delburg Street Davidson, NC 28036 Contact: Larry Shaheen larry@ncreval.com (704)892-1699 Attorneys at Law/Lawyers Carolina Roof Consultants 6420 Rea Road, Suite 230 Charlotte, NC 28277 Contact: Mike Mccoy info@carolinaroofconsultants.com (704)998-9960 Roofing Choice Pool & Spa 10016 Capital Blvd Wake Forest, NC 27587 Contact: Lou Tufillaro lou@choicepoolandspa.com (919)562-6699 Pool Service: Repairs & Supplies
Creative Retail Works 708 South Battlefield Boulevard Suite 102, Bldg. M Chesapeake, VA 23322 Contact: Dean Workman dean.workman@creativeretailworks.com (757)772-1095 Advertising Delta Construction
8311 Brier Creek Parkway, Suite 105-108 Raleigh, NC 27617 Contact: David Nguyen david@deltagroupnc.com (919)822-2922 Concrete Service Contractors | Design Services (Renovation, Interior, & Exterior) General Contractors | Landscapers/ Landscaping Contractors | Painting Contractors | Renovation & Capital Improvement Contractors ERS & ART 1015 Classic Road Apex, NC 27539 Contact: Andrea Phillips andrea.phillips@ers-us.com (919)629-2011 Electronic Equipment Restoration Services Guardian Construction 1800 Trinity Valley Drive Carrollton, TX 75006 Contact: Preston Sams psams@guardianconst.com (682)712-3139 Carpentry Contractors | General Contractors | Painting Contractors Parking Lot Contractors | Renovation & Capital Improvement Contractors Roofing Vent Repair Contractors Guaranteed Leasing Partners 104 Silverado Trail Cary, NC 27519 Contact: Brian Brenner brian@trianglerealtyassociates.com (919)481-2555 Advertising | Online Leasing | Real Estate Appraiser/Brokers | Relocation Services ILG Property Services 973 Shotwell Road Clayton, NC 27520 Contact: Aaron Grace agrace@ilginc.com (919)272-6952 Flooring Contractors & Carpet/Vinyl Installation Iron Fish Construction LLC 3330 North Washington Blvd, Suite 200 Arlington, VA 22201 Contact: Forest Dalton jcarrabis@ironfishconstruction.com (571)867-9442 General Contractors | Mold Remediation Contractors | Painting Contractors Renovation & Capital Improvement Contractors | Roofing Landmark Landscapes 5775 Davidson Highway Concord, NC 28027 Contact: Bobby Harmon bharmon@landmarklandscapes.net (404)886-1074 Landscapers/Landscaping Contractors
Lodge Life Pressure Washing 2710 Rochester Dr #1102 Raleigh, NC 27607 Contact: Brian Pollard Brian.LodgeLife@gmail.com (984)222-5835 General Contractors | Gutter Cleaning & Pressure Washing Contractors JDog Junk Removal & Hauling Raleigh 150 Fayetteville Street Raleigh, NC 27601 Contact: James Felts jfelts@jdog.com (919)897-5364 Trash or Recycling: Bulk Removal/ Apartment Clean Out Next Level Recreation of the Carolina’s Inc 4956 Long Beach Road SE, Suite 14, Pmb 122 Southport, NC 28461 Contact: Penny Polites pennypolites@aol.com (800)440-1129 Dog Park Equipment | Playground and Park Equipment | Pool Service: Repairs & Supplies Night Owl National Stoneworks P.O. Box 691026 Charlotte, NC 28227 Contact: Kimberly Fava kfava@nightowlcontractors.com (888)283-6303 Masonry/Stone/Pavers OfficeMart 649 Poole Drive Garner, NC 27529 Contact: Cameron Hayes cameron.hayes@officemart.com (919)770-2982 Furniture: Interior | General Supplies Office Supplies | Printing & Signs Promotions & Apparel | Telecommunications and Cable Services On Point Protection and Company Police 8480 Honeycutt Road, Suite 200 Raleigh, NC 27615 Contact: Paul Latorre platorre@onpointprotectionagency.com (919)851-5700 Security, Surveillance or Alarm Service OnSight Industries, LLC 900 Central Park Drive Sanford, FL 32771 Contact: Stevi Torrez stevi.torrez@onsightidustries.com (407)830-8861x289 Furniture: Exterior/Pool/Patio | Mailboxes/ Package Management | Printing & Signs Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning of Central Carolina 216 Firetree Lane Cary, NC 27513 Contact: Fred Lockhart oxifreshofcentralcarolina@gmail.com (919)880-0018 Carpet Cleaning Services | Odor Control the ApartMentor 2020 | Issue 1 17
Parting Waste, LLC P.O. Box 1495 Apex, NC 27502 Contact: Kevin Fair kdwaynef@gmail.com (919)335-6810 Trash or Recycling: Doorstep Collection Peoples Bank 111 Custer Trail Cary, NC 27513 Contact: Jay Veasey jveasey@peoplesbanknc.com (919)225-7723 Financial/Brokerage Services | Insurance & Risk Management R1 Facility Services PO Box 30153 Charlotte, NC 28230 Contact: Kenneth Ramsey kramsey@r1facilityservices.com (803)579-4327 Air Duct/Chimney/Fireplace Cleaning Services | HVAC Contractors RoyalScape 400 Rella Boulevard Suffern, NY 10901 Contact: Paul Cifuni paul@royalscapenc.com (917)881-3027 Landscapers/Landscaping Contractors Sullivan Seal Coating and Striping 1001 Deerfield Road Raleigh, NC 27609 Contact: Alan Sullivan alan3sullivan@gmail.com (919)601-0152 Parking Lot Contractors TransUnion 6430 South Fiddlers Green Circle Suite 500 Greenwood Village, CO 80111 Contact: Jessica Lin jessica.lin@transunion.com (303)513-4690 Property Management Software Watermark 4254 Arbor Club Drive Marietta, GA 30066 Contact: Sunshine Moon smoon@watermark.us.com (720)999-2726 General Contractors | Gutter Cleaning & Pressure Washing Contractors | Mold Remediation Contractors | Painting Contractors | Renovation & Capital Improvement Contractors | Roofing Yaro Plumbing Raleigh 7283 Hwy 42 W, Suite 102, #216 Raleigh, NC 27603 Contact: Yaroslav Didovets yaroplumbingraleigh@gmail.com (919)289-2869 Plumbing Contractors
the triangle apartment association’s 2020 trade show
wednesday, april 29 nc state fairgrounds jim graham building 4:00 pm – 8:30 pm new in 2020 larger floor plan | extended hours 21 additional exhibitor booths information booth in the lobby additional food vendors | 2 Bars
owner/operator members: early bird price: $25 effective march 16: $35 registration closes on wednesday, april 22 If you are not able to pre-register, you will be able to register at the show as a Walk-In. The cost for Walk-In Registration is $55 for TAA Owner/Operator Members and $65 for Owner/Operator Non-Members. Trade Show attendance is limited strictly to Owner/Operators and exhibiting Supplier member companies. As this is a business show, TAA kindly requests that children not be brought to the show.
REGISTER ONLINE AT WWW.TRIANGLEAPTASSN.ORG the ApartMentor 2020 | Issue 1 18
Food 341/343/345
Food 441/443/445 Food 419/421/423
*Premium booths available as single booths only.
Food 219/221/223
Food 241/243/245
Indicates Premium Booth*
Battle of the Baskets 119/121/123/125
this year’s trade show promises to be an exciting event that you do not want to miss. the show offers you the best way to reach the largest number of multifamily housing professionals in a relatively short amount of time.
Bar 462/464
Food 351/353/355
Bar 161/163
Food 319/321/323
attention taa suppliers: reserve your booth today!
TAA 103/105
remember: only exhibiting supplier members may attend the trade show so reserve your booth today.
2020
Owner/Operator Check In
Information Desk
2020 Trade Show
trade show booth prices Must be paid in full by April 20, 2020 Early bird price if full payment received by 2/29/2020
Price with full payment received by 4/20/2020
10’ X 10’ Booth_____________________ $850__________________ $900 1 0’ X 10’ Corner Booth________________ $925__________________ $975 10’ x 10’ Premium Booth_______________ $975_________________ $1,025 10’ x 20’ Booth____________________ $1,275________________ $1,325 10’ x 20’ with a Corner Booth__________ $1,350________________ $1,400
the ApartMentor 2020 | Issue 1 19
Exhibitor Check In
education classes
Please visit TAA’s website for full details about each class and to register online for courses and seminars: www.TriangleAptAssn.org. All classes are held in the TAA/Response Team 1 Education Center unless otherwise noted. Registration deadlines are one week prior to course date unless otherwise noted.
2020 Certified Pool/Spa Operator (CPO) Course & Exam Opportunities May 8–9 February 7–8 March 13–14 June 12–13 April 17–18 September 11–12 8:30am – 5:00pm Full Course Fee: $300 Members Re-Take Exam Fee: $200 Members
Instructor: Varies, see website for details. Please note! All CPO courses will be held on a Friday and Saturday. All those seeking CPO re-certifications must attend both days.
Property Financials Seminar for Managers February 25, 2020 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM $129 Members 6 CECs Instructor: Brandon Negron, CAPS, NALP, HCCP, C3P
Financials should never be analyzed in fear. Participants of this session will leave satisfied that they’re on a path toward the mastering of financial analysis and can take their newly acquired skills and knowledge back to their properties and portfolios with one motivation in mind. . . Show Me the Money!
Debt Collection Seminar February 27, 2020 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM $99 Members 3 CECs Instructor: Todd Whitlow, Partner with Brownlee Whitlow & Praet, PLLC This class will provide an in-depth review of the do’s and don’ts of debt collection and the best practices your property can put in
place to avoid being a target of costly litigation. We will review all aspects of the NC Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, discuss necessary language for your late notices and communications with residents along with day to day actions your team can put in place to improve interactions with residents. We will discuss many of these things in a collaborative manner through group discussions and exercises using a variety of hypothetical & real-world examples.
Creating a Magical Experience: Customer Service Seminar March 24, 2020 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM $109 Members 3 CECs Instructor: Larry Berry, Former Regional Director, Former Certified Trainer with Disney Parks and Resorts
One company is known for exceptional service, and if you have ever visited one of the Disney theme parks or resorts you know what we’re talking about. This interactive workshop was created and designed to cover several key areas that are critical to improving NOI. It is a combination of both property management knowledge and experience and asking yourself, what would Disney do?
Microsoft Excel (Intermediate Course) April 14, 2020 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM $179 Members 7 CECs
Instructor: Ken Carmack, Instructor for NC State University Save the Date – Details coming soon!
Fair Housing: Law & Order April 21, 2020 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM $99 Members 2 CECs Instructor: Heather Blume, Imagination In Charge of Behind the Leasing Desk Training and Consulting Services
The complication with most fair housing classes is that students get a lot of information but not a lot of ideas on implementation. Ditching the structure of a “Do this, Don’t do that” session, this class is structured around actual fair housing cases from the last eight years and dives into the story behind them from the plaintiff’s point of view.
AANC Lease Review April 23, 2020 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM $129 Members 7 CECs Instructor: Todd Whitlow, Partner with Brownlee Whitlow & Praet, PLLC
This session will cover changes/updates made to the AANC Lease and Addenda. In addition, we will take a deep dive into the rights and obligations provided by the AANC Lease. We will walk through several interactive hypothetical situations beginning with the application process through the end of the lease.
Strategic Spotlight
Loebsack & Brownlee, PLLC (L&B) focuses on providing one singular service: supporting residential property management companies navigate the legal process of evictions. Created by Chris Loebsack and Will Brownlee in 2012, they currently have 5 principal offices through-out North and South Carolina, with 19 attorneys and 29 team members on staff. Although L&B is most known the only thing they focus on, evictions, you might be surprised to learn they provide free Lunch-n-Learn training sessions for their clients, up to twice each year, so teams can stay up-to-date on legal issues that matter to their company. They are also known for their incredible memes on social media! L&B gives back to their local communities in many ways. The most widely known is their support of Domestic Violence Awareness for an annual #PurpleOut campaign. The culture at L&B is something that makes them stand out as a fun company to work for. Despite the long hours, the benefits make up for it! One benefit is the Wellness Program. Team members earn monthly “Brownie Points” by getting 10k steps in for at least 7 days in a month, participating in their online Facebook Wellness group, volunteering at a non-profit, meditating at their desk, among other things, and all of these actions translate into points that are rewarded in monetary gifts every quarter. Another benefit is unlimited vacation days. By offering this time flexibility, it doesn’t mean they lack accountability. A team member may take time that they need as long as they are getting their job done.
Mission: Provide expansive eviction filing services, while meeting customer needs for prompt scheduling, competitive pricing, and memorable customer experience. Core Values: 1-Education. We sponsor as many classes and seminars as we can in order to support the apartment industry and our current and future leaders. We also encourage our team to continue their education by attending seminars, conferences, and full access to Fred Pryor Seminars online and in person. 2-Outreach. Domestic Violence Awareness is a cause close to our heart, and we dedicate the entire month of October to #PurpleOut, a fundraising initiative raising awareness and monetary donations for DV shelters and organizations in the 3 states we serve.
Year Founded: 2012 | TAA Member Since: 2014 Areas Served: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia Hashtags: # LBAgainstDV #PurpleOut #OnFridaysWeWearPurple #EllenB #ShowUsYourSwag #SwagBrag #KnowBetterDoBetter #LBGoesGreen
Want more info? Contact: Attorney - Chris Loebsack, chris@TheEvictionTeam.com | 704-970-3900 Client Services - Michael Bell, michael@TheEvictionTeam.com | 843-647-7012 Marketing - Rachel Garavito Young, rachel@TheEvictionTeam.com | 704-412-9719 the ApartMentor 2020 | Issue 1 21
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2020 7-8
Certified Apartment Manager Credential Program Begins
Certified Apartment Supplier Credential Program Begins
Certified Pool/Spa Operator Course
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Executive/Board of Directors Meeting
19
Trade Show Tips & Tricks
Property Financials Seminar for Managers
Debt Collection Seminar
All classes are at TAA’s Office unless otherwise noted. Please visit the TAA Website at www.TriangleAptAssn.org for a complete list of Courses, Events, & Committee Meeting dates and times.
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After Work Networking
Certified Pool/Spa Operator Course
Tour of Cities
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Executive/Board of Directors Meeting
Creating a Magical Experience: Customer Service Seminar
Advertiser’s Index
Day of Service
TAA-PAC Breakfast
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Apartment Association of North Carolina ___________ 7 Brownlee Whitlow & Praet, PLLC __________________ 8 Loebsack & Brownlee, PLLC _____________________24 Tidal Electrical Services, Inc. _______________________ 5 Advertising space available! Contact Meg Palumbo for availability and pricing at mpalumbo@triangleaptassn.org or 919.782.1165 ext 1.
GOLF OUTING AT DRIVE SHACK
July 23
the theApartMentor ApartMentor2020 2020 | | Issue Issue11 22 22
TRADE SHOW April 29
TOPS AWARDS October 29
Legal legal Issues Issues
FAIR HOUSING:
A NEW CHAPTER IN NORTH CAROLINA… SOURCE OF INCOME By Brownlee Whitlow & Praet, PLLC Fair Housing law is complicated and continually evolving throughout the United States and in North Carolina as well. Most of the members of apartment associations, such as the Triangle Apartment Association, are aware of the basics of Fair Housing—it is illegal under both North Carolina and federal laws to discriminate against anyone on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicapping condition, or familial status. Ensuring compliance with fair housing laws has become increasingly confusing. Recently the Supreme Court established that the actual effect of policies and procedures should be reviewed, and not just the policies and procedures themselves. We have also found out that property management companies may be discriminating against people with disabilities through their websites, if they do not have the right settings behind them, and that media in which they use for advertising, such as Facebook, may be discriminating without their knowledge. This is not to take a position on whether any of these actions should be categorized as discriminatory or not; rather, this is just to illustrate the complexity in complying with the current fair housing landscape. In addition to the changing nature of fair housing compliance, we, as a country and a state, are trying to find meaningful solutions to housing affordability challenges. At the nexus between housing affordability and fair housing are Source of Income protections. Source of Income protections seek to identify lawful source of income as a protected class under the fair housing laws. This makes it a fair housing violation if you refuse to accept a form of legal income. You may ask yourself why anyone would refuse to accept income to begin with. The short answer is usually because of the strings or requirements included with certain forms of
income, such as those arising from government programs such as Section 8. Section 8 programs generally require significantly more steps before approval, including inspections of the home, and depending on the program, they may include a new set of requirements and process in managing a Section 8 rental home, including additional notice steps to remove a resident if lease violations occur. These additional steps and requirements often cause delay in the rental process resulting in delays before the home becomes income producing between residents, as well as the additional expense of complying with the requirements of the government programs. Further, compliance with these rules often requires additional training, and possible lost rents in the case of a default, as well as low or no security deposit to apply against any damages. States that have adopted Source of Income as a protected category include: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Oregon, Wisconsin, Utah, and Washington DC. The nearest of these States to North Carolina is Washington, DC but the issue has now come to North Carolina. Currently the Charlotte City Council is reviewing requests to include Source of Income as a protected class in its ordinance. The Greater Charlotte Apartment Association is involved in the process as well as the Apartment Association of North Carolina and the Triangle Apartment Association. The other state apartment associations are watching these developments closely. Criticisms of Source of Income protections relate often to the additional training and potential lost costs due to the government programs, and relate to the difficulties in operating a small number of affordable housing homes when the property management company does not otherwise do so. Other criticisms include that Section 8 was designed by the federal government to be a voluntary program and not mandatory. the ApartMentor 2020 | Issue 1 23
There is good news for some of those who do not wish to participate in Section 8. Section 8 will provide the top allowable rent it will pay for any geographic location but it will not require you to charge a lower monthly rent than you intend to charge your other renters. Further, Section 8 will not allow the residents to pay the difference between the Section 8 payment and what the community would otherwise charge. This effectively excludes communities with higher rents from accepting Section 8. Taking a different approach, the City of Durham, through its “Unlocking Doors Initiative” has instituted a program to make Section 8 more attractive to owners and property managers, thus increasing the owners who accept Section 8 without mandating it. The Unlocking Doors Initiative is a partnership between the City of Durham, the Durham Housing Authority, landlords, and nonprofits. This program is what is known as a “risk mitigation program” designed to allow certain landlords who accept qualifying residents, and suffer certain damages, to make a claim for reimbursement for all or a portion of the damages from the risk mitigation program. If proponents of Source of Income protection are successful in Charlotte, this may very well move to other municipalities including those in the Raleigh area. Ways in which you can be involved on issues such as these include taking part in the Triangle Apartment Associations Government Affairs Committee, contributing to the TAA-PAC or Triangle Government Alliance (TGA), and/or taking part in the Apartment Association of North Carolina Education and Legislative Conference. This article is not intended as legal advice and should not be relied upon as such.
7920 ACC Blvd, Suite 220 Raleigh, NC 27617