Rentals.com Partners with Java-based Tools to Streamline Website.

Rentals.com, an NAA and NSC member, has partnered with Java-Based Tools. Rentals.com provides owners and managers of residential rental properties with the most advanced online suite of tools currently available to help them manage their properties more efficiently. Together with today's leading Internet technology providers including Oracle, MapQuest, CyberSource and iPIX, Rentals.com is the first Web site serving the rental housing industry to provide Java-based tools that enable Rentals.com to meet the needs of an unlimited number of customers without compromising service.

"Rentals.com is providing residential property owners and managers with a unique online experience by implementing technologies from this group of superior service and technology providers," said Vince Giovannotto, Chief Executive Officer of Rentals.com. To create the first Web-based property management and communications platform that streamlines the rental business both online and off, Rentals.com has implemented proven technology from well-established service and technology providers.

Oracle Internet Application Server 8i supports Enterprise Java, enabling Rentals.com to easily integrate services from other Internet companies that provide Java-based services directly from the Oracle database.

Rentals.com makes payment easier for owners, managers and residents by employing CyberSource Payment Services that enable owners and managers to accept rent payments either by credit card or EFT via Rentals.com. Owners and managers can also pay for utilities and generate emailed statements of rent collection.

Integrating MapQuest technology directly into the database saves time for prospective residents by enabling them to quickly generate maps and download directions to properties anywhere across the country. MapQuest, a wholly owned subsidiary of America Online, Inc., is a leader in providing online, voice and wireless mapping, directions and destination information solutions.

Rentals.com has partnered with Internet Pictures Corporation (iPIX) to provide visual content solutions to property owners and managers who use Rentals.com. iPIX's Virtual Tours(tm) enable owners and managers to show prospective residents full, 360-degree views of units they are interested in renting.

World-renowned Chef Charlie Trotter and Maytag Corporation, an NAA and NSC member, have announced an agreement under which Trotter will endorse and use Maytag residential and commercial kitchen products.

Beginning next year, Trotter will spotlight several of Maytag Corporation's residential appliances on his weekly PBS show, "The Kitchen Sessions[R] with Charlie Trotter." Additionally, Trotter's new prepared foods market, Trotter to Go!, will feature a kitchen completely outfitted with commercial equipment from Maytag's Blodgett and Jade food-service brands.

"I'm excited about the future of this relationship," said Trotter. "Maytag and I share a common vision to make cooking easier and more enjoyable for the end user, whether it's in a restaurant or at home. I've long been a fan of Maytag products. In fact, my grandfather owned a Maytag store in Illinois for 30 years. The relationship between Maytag and me isn't new -- it goes way back."

Ridgewyck, a 120-unit property in the Southeast submarket of Memphis, Tenn., recently sold for $6.5 million or $54,167 per unit. A private investor purchased the property. Blake Pera of CB Richard Ellis Memphis brokered the transaction.

Ridgewyck has 20 one bedroom, one bath units with 868 square feet, 40 two bedroom two bath flats with 1,245 square feet 30 two bedroom and one-half bath townhouse untis with 1,352 square feet and 30 three bedroom two and one half bath units with 1,661 square feet. At the time of closing, the property was 95 percent occupied.

Overall occupancy for the second quarter of 2000 for Southeast old, 1980's and 1990's construction properties averaged 91.6 percent, 94.5 percent and 80 percent respectively. The overall occupancy for the Memphis area as of second quarter 2000 was 93.9 percent. CB Richard Ellis is the largest real estate services firm in the world, serving 29 countries. The Multifamily Division of CB Richard Ellis Memphis specializes in brokerage and market research of multifamily real estate.

Trend Talk

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Ace Hardware Corp., of Oak Brook, Ill., is recalling about 22,000 Ace-brand shingling hatchets. The heads on these tools can detach when used, striking the user or bystander. Ace Hardware has received two reports of this happening, one of which struck a bystander in the head, resulting in a cut requiring 32 stitches.

The hatchet, used to remove and hammer on roof shingles, is about 13-inches long. It has a hickory handle with a leather strap on the end and a forged steel head with a hatchet on one side and a hammering face on the other. The word "ACE" is etched on one side of the tool head and "TAIWAN" on the other side. These hatchets have item number 2014710, which is printed on a label on the handle.

Hatchet owners should stop using them immediately and return them to any Ace Hardware Store for a refund. For more information, call 877/223-4391 between 8 am and 4:30 pm, Central time, Monday through Friday.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a voluntary safety recall for two Pull 'N Spray pesticide products. The alert only affects products sold in Pull 'N Spray containers; the problem is with the faulty container, not the pesticide. The products are Monsanto Corporation's Roundup Ready-to-Use Weed and Grass Killer (item #s 70183-58064 or 70183-58065) and the Scotts Company's Ortho Ready-to-Use Home Defense Indoor & Outdoor Insect Killer 5 (item #s 71549-01991). Both products are sold in 1.33 gallon plastic containers with a t-handle and application wand.

The manufacturers reported to the EPA calls from users experiencing mechanical failures with the pump spray causing exposure to the pesticide. Purchasers may return the container with any remaining contents to the retailer where purchased for a full refund. Users can also call the Manufacturers' Consumer Helpline at 800/225-2883 for additional information.

Love Funding Corporation now offers Multifamily Accelerated Processing (MAP), a new procedure designed to establish national standards for approved lenders to prepare, process and submit loan applications for FHA multifamily mortgage insurance. "Accelerated processing" will enable Love Funding to prepare the necessary forms and preliminary underwriting for certain applications in approximately half the time it normally takes to process an FHA loan.

Love Funding was chosen to join 62 nationally approved lending companies in offering MAP to its customers because of its previous experience in working with FHA loans. The company has been offering FHA loan options for multifamily and healthcare properties since 1987 and has secured more than $576 million in such financing for its clients.

Movers & Shakers

Picerne Real Estate Group's Rivergate Apartments in Tampa, Fla., has been selected by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as one of the nation's top 1,000 high performing properties. The award recognizes work done by private multifamily housing owners to provide quality and safe, affordable housing for those who need it the most.

Picerne Regional Property Manager Wilda "Tink" Norwood was received the commendation on behalf of the company from HUD Secretary Andre Cuomo.

"We are so pleased to receive this award from HUD," said Norwood. "Such recognition is really a tribute to the hard work of our employees and of the pride in their homes displayed by the residents of the Rivergate Apartments community."

Rivergate Apartments, built in 1974, is comprised of 116 units, and is regulated by HUD in accordance with Section 236 of the National Housing Act as to rent charges and operating methods. The facility has been managed by Iris Cox since 1979.

JPI, on the of the nation's top apartment builders, has promoted John Hopkins to Central Division Senior Vice President and Construction Manager. Hopkins will be responsible for facilitating and structuring all construction activities for the firm's central division. He will oversee the construction services for the firm's developments in Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, Missouri and Colorado. Hopkins joined JPI in 1998. Hopkins has over 25 years of experience in the construction profession, including 10 years with Lincoln Property Co., and Property Corporation of America.

HandySource CEO John Lie-Nelson announced the promotions of Patrice K. Coral to vice president, client services; Larry Kratz, regional director, technology solutions; Bob Milhoan, vice president marketing communications; and Eric Price, senior software engineer. Each will perform their duties for the company's HandySource, an NAA and NSC member, and HandyTrac products.

Coral will be responsible for overseeing the installation of national customers service strategies and programs for the company's new business-to-business e-commerce site. Kratz will be in charge of cultivating relationships with new customers and generating sales for the company's new virtual marketplace of the Internet. Milhoan will be responsible for implementing advertising, marketing and public relations programs that effectively promote the company's mission, products and services. Price will be responsible for designing and developing software applications that help streamline the entire internal and external procurement cycle for the company's e-commerce Internet site.

HandySource.com is a business-to-business e-commerce bid and purchase portal for the multifamily and commercial industries. The company was formed in 1999 as a sister company to HandyTrac Systems, Inc., a leading supplier of computerized key control systems to the multifamily housing industry.