Campus Advantage Student Housing Blog

Sustainability blog!

2009-03-26T19:52:00.000-07:00

Be sure to check out the Campus Advantage Greensite, our new sustainability blog. This is part of our effort to promote sustainable practices, not only in our management processes, but also with our residents. http://www.campusadv.com/green

Useful Student Housing Blogs

2009-01-20T08:41:00.000-08:00

Here are links to two useful blogs related the Student Housing industry:

http://www.studenthousing.pro
http://www.studenthousingplanet.com

College Towns Are Still A Smart Investment

2008-04-14T15:05:00.001-07:00

Campus Advantage in Globe Street

2007-07-17T11:51:00.000-07:00

http://www.globest.com/news/949_949/dallas/162302-1.html

Sell Me | in-unit technology

2007-06-19T12:04:00.000-07:00

As the world becomes more technologically advanced, we are seeing that the internet is playing an increasingly important roll in student housing. From high-tech websites to paying rent online, students, who are at the forefront of the technology movement, are looking for housing that incorporates all of these enhancements. In the following article, Dan Oltersdorf, Vice President of Residence Life, summarizes the measures Campus Advantage has taken to include the technologies that students desire in our communities.

http://www.multi-housingnews.com/multihousing/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003592798

Fire Safety in Student Housing

2007-02-20T08:17:00.000-08:00

Campus Advantage, as student housing managers, regards the safety of our residents as a top priority. The following article discusses fire safety and the use of fire suppression sprinkler systems in residence halls. Even though this article was based upon studies done in Iowa, this is a problem facing the entire United States. While most new residence halls are being built with these systems, many of the older halls are not equipped with sprinklers. In recent years, more universities and owners of student housing have begun to install these safety systems in their older residence halls, but it is still an issue facing student housing everywhere.

http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2007/02/05/news/breaking_news/doc45c7028d1465d213928368.txt

Off-campus housing cuts back expenses

2007-02-02T07:15:00.000-08:00

Campus Advantage recognizes that each market will provide students with different challenges; however, an overwhelmingly majority of students point to rate increases as the main source of monetary burden. With our vast experience in student housing management and drawing on our days as students, we try to understand the demand of each market. Speaking with universities and students provide us with the best insight to any rate increases, and we are then able to incorporate this feedback into our market studies. This article is the perfect example of students finding more affordable housing off-campus due to the increase in on-campus room rates.

http://poly.union.rpi.edu/article_view.php3?view=5252&part=1

Student Housing, Without the Scramble

2007-01-29T09:51:00.000-08:00

Student housing is always evolving, and Campus Advantage hopes to provide for these changing needs. In recent years, a large number of students have left their university for internships around the nation; this provides many challenges for the student. Through effective and personal management, Campus Advantage looks to alleviate the stress to universities and students. Please follow the link to read the entire article.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/27/AR2006102700016.html

Campus Advantage in the Austin Business Journal

2006-09-15T15:06:00.000-07:00

Taking Advantage of Building Boom

September 15 , 2006 | Article printed in the Austin Business Journal
Jenny Robertson

If your ideas of student housing consist of bunkbeds and communal bathrooms, throw them all out the window. Today's college living - both on and off campus - involves resort-like spas and pools, private bedrooms with cable TV and fully stocked kitchens.

With as many as 70 million college students expected to go to college in the next decade, a growing number of investors are building such properties. As the student housing generates buzz as the next hot real estate arena, one local company has piggybacked on its explosive growth by managing the properties.

Campus Advantage, Inc started in 2003 by intentionally avoiding investment in - or construction of - the projects themselves. Instead, the firm chose to specialize in the management of student housing, which differs from traditional apartment housing. Student properties tend to have unique lease situations, more social atmospheres and more people coming and going at different hours of the day.

"It's the part of the business that no one's particularly good ad, that no one wants to do," says Mike Peter, Campus Advantage CEO. "It's the 'washing the dishes' kind of stuff... but it's opened huge opportunities for us."

In three years, the company's staff has quietly grown to 479 - 110 of them in Austin - and it expects to employ as many as 650 people next year. With $900 million in real estate assets under its management, the Austin based firm has 36 locations around the country. Though Peter declines to give specific numbers, he says the privately held company's revenues have doubled each year since it started.

This month, the company hired Mark Hager as its new chief financial officer. Hager previously held the same position at American Campus Communities Inc. (NYSE: ACC), an Austin-based student housing behemoth that has properties in nearly 20 states.

For its part, Campus Advantage is eyeing other growth opportunities. It wasnts to provide consulting to help clients decide which markets are ripe for housing or work on due diligence projects. With that relationship on the front end, Hager expects more investors would then choose Campus Advantage.

Student housing has changed dramatically since the days of cramped dorm rooms and cafeterias. And with what experts are calling the "echo boom" of future college students, it's likely to continue.

According to Jim Arbury, senior vice president at the Washington, D.C. - based National Multi Housing Council, many universities don't have the money or the inclination to build big dormitories anymore. And a study that the council conducted a year ago showed that most universities only had room to house their freshman classes.

Meanwhile, off-campus apartments have gone from a smattering of spare room or mom-and-pop arrangements to large, expensive complexes. This secmester, for instance, American Campus opened an almost $40 million project in Colelge Station with three-story apartment unities, stat-of-the-art soundproofing technology and a gym that rivals those of resorts.

"Now, just about any major campus you go to, you'd see it completely surrounded for a mile or two by apartments," Aurbury says.

At the same time, companies have adapted tot he changing market. The student housing industry has launched several national, publicly traded companies. It captured the commercial real estate market's attention in the last two or three years, says Ryan Reid, national director of student housing investment at CB Richard Ellis.

Because some investors consider the projects a little riskier than more traditional real estate, he says, financial returns are generally higher. Both Arbury and Reid say that property management can mean the difference between a successful and unsuccessful investment.

"If you're a management company with expertise in student housing," Arbury says, "that's a big plus."

Campus Advantage Announces New CFO

2006-08-29T11:35:00.000-07:00

August 28, 2006

For Immediate Release:

Campus Advantage Announces New CFO

AUSTIN, Texas --(Service)—August 28, 2006—Campus Advantage, Inc. today announced that Mark J. Hager has joined the firm as Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer. Mark is the former Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer and treasurer of American Campus Communities (NYSE:ACC) in Austin, Texas.

Mark joins Campus Advantage from Lajitas, The Ultimate Resort, where during the last year he has served as interim CFO. He was an executive at ACC from 1999 to 2005 during their most significant period of pre-IPO growth, culminating in the company’s initial public offering as a REIT in August 2004. Previously, Mark also served as Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer for Oklahoma Christian University and Vice President, Corporate Controller for Crested Butte Mountain Resort . Mark is a CPA licensed in Texas and Oklahoma. and has held positions in the assurance practices of Ernst & Young , Grant Thornton and Price Waterhouse. Mark holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration–Accounting from Abilene Christian University.

“We are obviously very pleased to have Mark’s exceptional talent and experienced leadership on our team,” said Michael J. Peter, Campus Advantage President and Chief Executive Officer, “his in-depth student housing knowledge and track record for building strong financial and administrative infrastructure is unmatched in our industry. We know his contribution will further our efforts to become the recognized leader in the field of student housing management.”

About Campus Advantage, Inc.

Campus Advantage, Inc. manages & operates over 16,000 student housing beds in 32 communities located on or near college & university campuses throughout the
United States
.

CONTACT:

Michael Peter, President & CEO, 512.472.6222 or www.CampusADV.com

Campus Advantage Selected To Manage The Dobie Center

2006-06-22T07:18:00.000-07:00

Campus Advantage Selected To Manage The Dobie Center

For Immediate Release:

June 22, 2006

Campus Advantage now manages the luxury high rise Dobie Center student housing complex, serving students attending the University of Texas in Austin. Dobie Center offers premier student living with exceptional amenities and services including a four screen movie theatre, 96,000 feet of student oriented retail space, a 668 parking space garage and a full service dining facility. Campus Advantage brings their award winning Residence Life program and outstanding customer service to this modern community serving students attending the largest university in the United States. Campus Advantage was chosen to manage the property based on their experience and dedication to student housing management. “Apart from the core mission of learning, there are few things more important to a student than their housing and quality of life” says Chip Schell, Vice President of Operations for Campus Advantage. “Our team consistently exceeds expectations.”

Dobie Center is comprised of fully furnished suite styled units with a total of 975 student beds. Leasing at the Dobie is by-the-bed, allowing students to avoid the hassle of traditional leases yet providing all of the benefits of living with other roommates and includes weekly housekeeping. The property includes a mall, 500 seat food court, video arcade and boutique stores. Also available to students are the pool, gym, tanning deck, volleyball and basketball courts. The Dobie is directly across 21^st Street from the UT campus and has direct access to popular student restaurants and social venues.

The mall enjoys an outstanding location at the corner of 21^st Street and Whitis Avenue. This is one of the three primary routes for vehicular and foot traffic onto the campus from the densely populated West Campus area or from Guadalupe Street. This intersection is the only one between MLK Boulevard and 26^th Street that has a protected left turn for south bound Guadalupe traffic. This allows for easier access to the mall and tower. Over the next few months, you will begin to see changes in the mall that will provide for an updated look. For further information on these spaces or possible future openings, please contact Chip Schell with Campus Advantage at 512-472-6222, extension 206 or Stuart Davis at extension 211 or visit www.campusadv.com

Other important demographic features of this area include:

· Approximately 70,000 students, faculty, and staff that populate the university on a daily bases during the regular school year

· 36,000 office workers within a 12 minute walk or 3 minute drive

· 25,000+ cars per day cross the intersection of Guadalupe and 21^st Street.

For more information about Campus Advantage, please go to www.CampusAdv.com or call Michael Peter at 512.472.6222.

Join the team! Business Analyst

2006-03-08T07:28:00.000-08:00

POSITION FILLED - Business Analyst needed by Campus Advantage (CA). We are a young, fast-growing, dynamic firm specializing in the development and management of premier student housing communities. The CA team is currently seeking a talented and motivated individual to join our team. Property management experience is required, preferably in multi-housing. This opportunity includes due diligence and market studies, budget construction and up to 25% travel. If this is you, please visit our website at www.campusadv.com to learn more about starting a career with us. Email your resume and salary requirements to info@campusadv.com. No phone calls, please.

Campus Advantage Selected to Manage Greenville Tech Student Housing Complex

2006-02-09T15:05:00.001-08:00

Campus Advantage Selected to Manage Greenville Tech Student Housing Complex

For Immediate Release:

February 9, 2006

Demand for student housing, currently under construction by the Greenville Tech Foundation on Greenville Tech’s Barton Campus, has exceeded expectations in its early stages. Leasing projections indicated that 98 applications would be received in the first month. Instead, 343 applications have been received. This demand has necessitated the hiring of a part-time staff to assist the General Manager, Tiffany Lee meet administrative needs in the office. “I am amazed at the number of inquiries and early feedback the office has received.” Lee states.

The garden-style apartments will be located on Cleveland Street. Four buildings composing 121 units will house 438 Greenville Tech students. Options include 4 bedroom/4 bath (4/4), 4 bedroom/2 bath (4/2), and 2 bedroom/2 bath (2/2) units. Along with individual lockable bedrooms, each furnished apartment will offer living and dining space along with a fully-equipped kitchen. Housing costs will range from $410 per month for the 4/2 units to $425 for the 4/4 units to $550 per month for the 2/2 units. Costs are per person and include a generous electricity allowance of $80 per unit.

A highlight of the community is the state-of-the-art clubhouse which includes a game room, fitness center, computer lab, and vending area. Laundry facilities will be available on the ground floor of each building. Michael Hanley, Vice President for Campus Advantage, Inc. says, “This community will support each students’ educational and social needs. Residents, here, will definitely live where they learn and love where they live.”

The community is still leasing, yet spaces are moving fast. The apartments also offer student-friendly lease terms. Specials are now available. To save on housing costs, the earlier students lease, the more they will be able to save. Please contact Tiffany Lee at (864) 298-0716 or toll-free (866) 492-8483.298-0716 for more information. The Student Housing office, located at the Admissions and Registration Center at McAlister Square, provides roommate matching and works with student with Financial Aid.

Campus Advantage, Inc. has been selected by the Greenville Technical College Foundation to provide complete management services for the new community. Campus Advantage is a leader in the professional student housing management field with over 10,000 beds nationwide. The firm provides specialized consulting, management, and residence life services for colleges, universities, and private owners of student housing. Campus Advantage is headquartered in Austin, Texas and employs over 250 people. The senior staff have over 150 years of cumulative experience managing student housing.

For more information about Campus Advantage, please go to www.CampusAdv.com or call Michael Peter at 512.472.6222.

Campus Advantage Selected to Manage Baylor Student Housing Complex

2006-01-20T15:09:00.000-08:00

Campus Advantage Selected to Manage Baylor Student Housing Complex

For Immediate Release:

January 20, 2005

Baylor University students now have a new luxury housing option with the development known as “The Union”. Located just six blocks from campus at 1410 James Street, this 54 unit community will house 120 students.

"The Union will provide the ultimate living experience for Baylor students. This community will be unique and urban but tailored for the more discriminating student lifestyle," says Michael Hanley, Vice President of Campus Advantage, Inc.

Other highlights of the community include contemporary leather furniture, stained concrete and wood flooring, second floor resort-style pool, and a full-sized washer and dryer in each unit. The apartment complex will also include state-of-the-art technology such as high speed Internet and a premium cable television package. Each bedroom is leased on an individual basis, eliminating the financial liability for one’s roommates in a group or shared leasing situation. The community also offers students garage parking in a controlled access building.

Kenyada Kennon, a sophomore pre-med major and future Union resident says “This apartment is going to be amazing. I cannot wait to move in. It is close to campus and even on the campus shuttle line. This place is going to be the best.” The grand opening for The Union will be August 2006 with some units available for summer 2006 occupancy.

Doxa Development Group has selected Campus Advantage to provide complete management services for The Union Apartments. Dallas-based Doxa Development Group, LLC creates high-quality, high-value communities for discerning students nationwide.

Campus Advantage is a leader in the professional student housing management field with over 10,000 beds nationwide. The firm provides specialized consulting, management, and residence life services for colleges, universities, and private owners of student housing. Campus Advantage is headquartered in Austin, Texas and employs over 250 people. The senior staff have over 150 years of cumulative experience managing student housing.

For more information about Campus Advantage, please go to www.CampusAdv.com or call Michael Peter at 512.472.6222.

Welcome back, students!

2006-01-09T16:30:00.000-08:00

Campus Advantage, Inc welcomes all students back to school and reminds us not to turn these days of promise into days of tragedy by drinking and driving. When you volunteer as a designated driver, check an ID, or call a cab for someone who’s had too much, you keep everyone in our community safer.

Campus Advantage selected to manage Austin student housing complex

2006-01-09T13:50:00.000-08:00

Campus Advantage selected to manage Austin student housing complex
For Immediate Release:January 9, 2005

Campus Advantage now manages the luxury University Canyon student housing complex serving students attending the University of Texas in Austin. University Canyon offers premier student living with exceptional amenities and services. Campus Advantage brings their award winning Residence Life program and outstanding customer service to this modern community serving students attending the largest university in the United States.

University Canyon includes 192 units with 660 beds comprised of 3 & 4 bedroom suites. Leasing at University Canyon is by-the-bed, allowing students to avoid the hassle of traditional leases yet providing all of the benefits of living with other roommates. The property includes a fantastic year round outdoor pool, hot tub, game room, media room, fitness center and exquisite clubhouse. Security is provided through electronic gated-access with plenty of parking on-site for residents and their guests. University Canyon is close to campus and served directly by dedicated bus lines.

Campus Advantage was chosen to manage the property based on their experience and dedication to student housing management. "Apart from the core mission of learning, there are few things more important to a student than their housing and quality of life" says Chip Schell, Vice President of Operations for Campus Advantage. "Our team consistently exceeds expectations."

Campus Advantage is a leader in the professional student housing management field with over 10,000 beds nationwide. The firm provides specialized consulting, management, and residence life services for colleges, universities, and private owners of student housing. Campus Advantage is headquartered in Austin, Texas and employs over 250 people. The senior staff have over 150 years of cumulative experience managing student housing.

For more information about Campus Advantage, please go to www.CampusAdv.com or call Michael Peter at 512.472.6222.

Campus Advantage Selected to Manage Student Housing Complex

2006-01-06T22:13:00.000-08:00

Campus Advantage now manages The Edge student housing community serving students attending the University of South Florida in Tampa. The Edge offers premier student living with exceptional amenities and services. Campus Advantage brings their award winning Residence Life program and outstanding customer service to this exciting community serving students attending this preeminent academic institution.

The Edge is a private residence hall with food service that includes 412 units with room for 818 students. Leasing at The Edge is by-the-bed, allowing students to avoid the hassle of traditional leases yet providing all of the benefits of living with roommates. The property includes an exceptional game & billiards room, year-round pool, media room, state-of-the-art fitness center, and a new indoor basketball court.

Campus Advantage was chosen to manage the property based on their student housing management experience. “Our team is dedicated to education,” says William Levy, Senior Vice President, and an alumnus of USF. “Our commitment to student development distinguishes Campus Advantage as student housing managers”.

Campus Advantage is a leader in the professional student housing management field with over 10,000 beds nationwide. The firm provides specialized consulting, management, and residence life services for colleges, universities, and private owners of student housing. Campus Advantage is headquartered in Austin, Texas and employs over 250 people. The senior staff have over 150 years of cumulative experience managing student housing.

For more information about Campus Advantage, please go to www.CampusAdv.com or call Michael Peter at 512.472.6222. For more information about the Edge, visit http://www.theedgeat42nd.com

Fire Safety in Student Housing

2005-11-22T13:15:00.000-08:00

Please take a few minutes to read this excellent press release on fire safety issues in student housing. As student housing managers, we always need to make sure we are on top of these issues, and that we are consistently proactive, particularly when it comes to student safety: http://www.asse.org/press471.htm

DES PLAINES (July 19, 2005) — Each year not only do many students lose their lives in a fire, but fires also cause millions of dollars in property damage, injuries and grief to victims' families, friends and classmates. As students move into college dorms, off-campus housing or sorority/fraternity houses for the new school year, the American Society of Safety Engineers' (ASSE) Fire Protection Branch urges students and parents to arm themselves with fire prevention knowledge such as what to do in case of a fire, what fire safety tools are needed, how to prevent fires and more, to avoid further tragedies. Read entire story at http://www.asse.org/press471.htm
Here you will find 7 Fact Sheets referenced in the article:
Fact Sheet 1 — College Fires: Statistics and Causes
Fact Sheet 2 — How to Prevent On- and Off-Campus Fires
Fact Sheet 3 — Fire Escape Planning: What to Do In Case of a Fire
Fact Sheet 4 — Fire Safety Equipment for Off-Campus and Greek Housing
Fact Sheet 5 — Recent College Fire Tragedies
Fact Sheet 6 — Parents Guide to Fire Safety: What You Need to Know When Your Child Leaves Home for College
Fact Sheet 7 — College Fires: Key Safety Resources

Welcome to the Campus Advantage Student Housing Blog!

2005-11-22T11:55:00.000-08:00

We are excited to announce our new blog. We will be posting useful information for the student housing management industry, as well as Campus Advantage updates and news.