In conjunction with the Florida Department of Health and the Bureau of Tobacco Free Florida,The Florida Apartment Association is launching a smoke-free multifamily housing program at the upcoming Annual Conference & Trade Show. In addition to sharing information about how multifamily communities can benefit by becoming smoke-free, FAA is developing a certification that will enable to show their commitment to healthy smoke-free living.

Cecilia Ford, president of the Bay Area Apartment Association and regional property manager for Pinnacle, was quoted in a recent Tampa Bay Tribune article about the arrest of a suspected ring of rent thieves. Ford explained that Pinnacle and other property management companies are eliminating drop boxes in response to recent thefts.

Although online registration is closed, you can still register onsite for FAA University, the 2015 Annual Conference & Trade Show.

Despite a 5.4 percent increase in monthly rents, 51.1 percent of renters whose leases were up for renewal last month chose to stay in their existing apartment communities — a 300-basis-point increase over August 2014. It is the highest retention rate increase in nearly 10 years, and it marks the continuation of a 20-month trend of retention rates above 50 percent.

Do you know how much money is trapped in your energy and utility expenses? No? Then you'll definitely want to register now for MAXIMIZE: 2015 Multifamily Asset Management Conference October 12-14 at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort in Amelia Island, Fla.

Renters are having difficulty affording rising rents, which makes renter’s insurance seem like more of a luxury than a necessity. Data from 2014 show that only 37 percent of renters had insurance, compared with 95 percent of homeowners.

The "summer of Trump" has come to a close, so now we will see whether or not "the Donald" can continue his dominance of the GOP presidential field into the fall. Style-over-substance only carries a candidate so far before he or she must show some ability to tackle the issues.

Highlights of Multifamily Housing Deals and Projects Around Florida

FAA University, our Annual Conference & Trade Show, is only a few weeks away, and we need your help. We couldn't produce this conference without the hundreds of volunteer hours donated by our dedicated members.

FAA's Apartment Political Action Committee (APAC) has already collected silent auction items ranging from fun to useful to luxurious, but we can still use more. Donating items for the auction at our Annual Conference & Trade Show is a great way to show your support for APAC.

Mark your calendars! The FAA annual legislative platform meeting is being held on October 28 at Apartment Association of Greater Orlando (AAGO) headquarters.