WASHINGTON, DC – Fannie Mae announced its Healthy Housing Rewards initiative aimed at providing a financial incentive for borrowers who incorporate healthy design features for newly constructed or rehabilitated affordable multifamily rental properties. Healthy Housing Rewards is one of several partnerships that Fannie Mae is advancing as part of a corporate-wide effort called Sustainable Communities Partnerships and Innovation.

The first phase of the Healthy Housing Rewards initiative will provide a pricing break for borrowers who incorporate design features that improve air quality, encourage physical activity, and incorporate common space, community gardens, and playgrounds into newly constructed or rehabilitated affordable rental properties.

“Incorporating healthy design features in affordable multifamily properties can have a huge impact on residents – from increasing physical activity and social interaction to reducing environmental triggers for asthma,” said Jeffery Hayward, Executive Vice President, Multifamily, Fannie Mae. “When we strengthen the connection between affordable housing and the long-term health and stability of the people and families who live there, we help make more sustainable communities across the country. This new initiative will provide a financial incentive to borrowers who invest in the health and stability of the people who live in their affordable housing properties.”

Borrowers will be required to demonstrate that properties meet or exceed the minimum achievement score of 90 points under the Center for Active Design’s Healthy Housing Index, as well as other affordability requirements defined by Fannie Mae. This initiative will target properties where at least 60 percent of the units are serving tenants at 60 percent of average median income or less. Fannie Mae aims to provide below-market-rate financing for properties that meet the Healthy Housing standards.

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ORLANDO, FL – Avesta announced that it has bought a 354-unit portfolio in the Greater Orlando market for $32 million. The Altamonte Springs portfolio adds to Avesta’s growing presence in Central Florida, which currently includes over 1,500 apartment homes.

Avesta has rebranded and operationally merged the communities in the portfolio, Altamonte Villas and Palms at Altamonte, as East Pointe at Altamonte.

East Pointe at Altamonte is located in the ideal, family-friendly submarket of East Altamonte Springs. The community is located near a wide variety of commerce and entertainment options, including Uptown Altamonte and Cranes Roost Park, Central Florida’s premier outdoor event venue. 

“We are proud to offer another Avesta community to the Orlando market,” said Rachel Ridley, partner at Avesta. “The East Altamonte Springs submarket is a perfect fit for our investment thesis, underlined by declining vacancies and more than 20 percent rent growth over the last three years. We are confident that continued population growth in the Central Florida region will continue to drive demand for multifamily assets.”

The East Pointe at Altamonte portfolio offers a mix of one and two bedroom apartment homes, including townhomes, and features the following amenities: two swimming pools, a fitness center, sports court, dog park, central laundry facilities and select covered parking.

As part of Avesta’s strategy to reposition the East Pointe at Altamonte portfolio, it has commenced a $5 million renovation program to modernize the interior units and upgrade the exterior aesthetics of the property and its amenities.

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NEW ORLEANS, LA – 365 Connect, a leading provider of award-winning marketing, leasing, and resident technology platforms for the multifamily housing industry, announced today that the company has received a gold Muse Creative Award for its Resident Lifecycle Platform. This prestigious, international award recognizes 365 Connect’s capabilities to deliver innovative and creative solutions to meet the rapidly-changing needs of the multifamily housing industry.

The Muse Creative Awards is an international competition for creative professionals who hold the unique ability to inspire through concept, writing, or design in both traditional and electronic media. From broadcast and print to social media and emerging platforms, winners were selected in a broad scope of categories.  Administered by the International Awards Association, winning entries are carefully selected by a panel of creative professionals from around the globe. This year’s competition  boasted entries from 35 countries including Argentina, Brazil, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

“We wish to recognize the singular achievements of small and medium-sized firms, and the creative professionals who represent the heart and soul of the global marketing communications industry,” stated Kenjo Ong, co-managing director for the Muse Creative Awards. “We are honored to present 365 Connect with this award, which illustrates their creativity, skill, passion, and dedication to their work.”

365 Connect was recognized for its revolutionary Resident Lifecycle Platform. The platform encompasses the entire spectrum of resident services with multi-channel digital marketing, seamless transactions to convert prospects into residents, and an integrated mix of content and communication, allowing the next generation of renters to request services, pay rent, and renew leases. The platform is proven to reduce operating expenses, increase qualified prospect traffic, and retain residents for multifamily housing operators.

365 Connect Founder and CEO, Kerry W. Kirby, responded, “365 Connect is excited to have its technology acknowledged on an international level, and we are truly honored to receive this highly acclaimed award. Our focus is to connect both future and existing residents with where they live by providing a host of services, resources, and communication tools. This award emphasizes our unwavering commitment to transforming how apartment communities market, lease, and deliver services.”

Ong added, “Winning a Muse Creative Award is a significant career accomplishment for the recipients.  With vetted panelists, tough criteria, blind judging processes, and strict bylaws limiting winners, only the best entries received recognition. The creative work this year was truly outstanding and inspiring.”

365 Connect has received an array of regional, national, and international technology awards. The company is highly recognized by its peers for its unique ability to market communities across the Internet, automate social media postings, and deliver choice-making resources and transactional tools across multiple devices. Today, 365 Connect’s innovative Resident Lifecycle Platforms are utilized across the nation by the most respected multifamily housing operators in the industry.

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