Multi-family housing is starting to see revived interest from investors and perhaps it's a good time to consider such investments. According to a Dec. 29, 2010, article in Multi-Housing News, the sales volume of apartment properties through the third quarter of 2010 was 97 percent higher than the same period in 2009.

The National Association of Realtors recently updated its online Field Guide to Multi-Family Property, which is available to the public. The updated guide offers information on trends, investing in multi-family property, property management, and on useful websites, books, ebooks, and other resources.

Online visitors can also get a list of landlord investment tips. To access the new guide, visit www.realtor.org and type in "Field Guide to Multi-Family Property."

Learn how apartment buildings, condominiums or rental housing can be successful investments in your real-estate portfolio.


December sales of single-family homes in Santa Fe city and county were on track with sales last year. They totaled 73 in 2010, compared to 75 in December 2009. This is a positive trend for Santa Fe as last year during this same period, buyers were benefiting from federal tax credits for both first-time and step-up homebuyers, which created a temporary increase in buying activity.

The Santa Fe housing market also saw an uptick in prices during December, with a combined city/county median price up to $400,000 in December 2010 compared to a median of $379,500 in December 2009.

Condominium and townhome sales were nearly steady at 17 in December 2010 and 18 in December 2009. However, the median price decreased from $280,000 in December 2009 to $255,000 in December 2010. Inventories are down due in part to the seasonal trend.


A new 3.8 percent tax on certain investment income will take effect on Jan. 1, 2013, to raise an estimated
$210 billion to help fund the nation's health care and Medicare plans. The tax was part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passed last year by the U.S. Congress.

The tax will NOT be imposed on all real-estate transactions, which has been a common misconception. When the legislation becomes effective, it may impose a 3.8 percent tax on some (but not all) income from interest, dividends, rents less expenses, and capital gains less expenses.

The tax will be imposed on individuals with an adjusted gross income above $200,000 and on couples filing a joint return with more than $250,000 adjusted gross income.

To access a variety of scenarios and examples of the new real estate tax, visit www.sfar.com/newsite/content/govaffairs/default.asp.

Donna Reynolds is chief executive officer of the Santa Fe Association of Realtors (www.sfar.com).