Three years ago, about 30 percent of renters in the Denver area paid rents below $1,000. That number now sits at 11 percent, as of the last Multifamily Housing Council survey. While rent increases are widespread, not all neighborhoods are experiencing the same effects as the macro environment. Using 21,000 available apartments listed on Zumper over the end of 2015, we examined which areas felt the greatest effects.

Renting is hot! For some, it’s a lifestyle choice. For others, it’s a financial decision. Whatever the motivation, the rise of renting means the U.S. added 1.6 million new renters over the past five years. These renters, from millennials to baby boomers, are driving new development and raising the expectations of amenities and services. Some in the apartment industry might say it’s sparked an amenity war in search of the answer to the question: What do renters really want?

The emergence from the economic downturn has fueled a robust development cycle in Denver and in the state of Colorado. This is an exciting time for the hospitality industry as consumer trends are having an incredible influence on leading edge thinking. In general, people are becoming more discerning with their choices and the impacts of those choices. As a result, consumers are now expecting the hospitality companies they do business with to do the same. A collective shift in consumer values and behavior began several years ago and likely will continue to evolve. The hospitality industry has already started to

Construction is fertile ground for complications. Beginning with the basic on-time/on-budget obligations despite circumstantial uncertainties like weather, and material and subcontractor availability, general contractors assume a fair amount of risk long before ever breaking ground. Mix in the need to truly understand and achieve the owner’s long-ter

Urban food markets are having a moment. Following the August 2013 opening of The Source in River North, this year will see the opening of two new urban food markets – The Central Market at 2669 Larimer St., and Stanley Marketplace at 2501 Dallas St., in Aurora. Additionally, The Source’s marketplace is adding 20,000 square feet of space along with a 7,000-sf roof-deck beer garden and pool, as well as a 100-key connected hotel.

Restaurateurs have an appetite for Denver, evidenced by the fact that 235 new restaurants opened in the greater metro area in 2015, according to the Colorado Restaurant Association. In 2014, approximately 300 new restaurants opened. The numbers might seem staggering, but dining trends and our desire to eat out are not only keeping many of these restaurants in business, but also allowing many to flourish.

Wow, 2015 was yet another strong year in the Denver retail market as the state continues to attract retailers from all over the nation. Our well-diversified economy, increase in population, almost record-low unemployment and increases in salaries contribute to the growth of Denver. It is the sixth fastest-growing city in the nation and the second-best city to start a new business, according to Forbes.

From the construction of tenements in the 1800s to the high-rise steel and concrete luxury residential towers built today, for-rent housing has come a long way. But one constant is the use of wood to build rental housing. Over the years, architects and engineers have pushed the limits of what wood can do, and the adoption of the 2015 International Building Code allows this to continue.

Purchasing an apartment building in Colorado has proven to be challenging due to the growing number of buyers lining up to acquire a limited number of available properties. For certain assets, it is not uncommon to receive upward of 20 offers.

The vitality and distinctiveness of the Denver economy are driving new businesses and households to relocate to the metro, propelling apartment demand at a rate greater than supply growth. Drawn by the strong job market and high quality of life, new residents boosted population growth in the last year to more than double the national average.