Nov 9, 2020
Today’s guest is Zach Feldman,
Vice President of New Development of Aptitude Development, one of
the country’s top student housing firms. He leads the company’s new
development endeavors, as well as a pre-development entitlement,
capital markets, and investor relations. Before joining Aptitude
Development, Zach launched ENJOI 77 Holdings, a real estate
investment company on student housing. When he’s not working, Zach
is focusing on The Wildcat Fund, which provides mentorship and
financial aid to students of color from his high school alma
mater.
Let’s dive into Zach’s story and
learn more about building a community that students
enjoy.
[00:01 – 06:00] Opening Segment
- I
introduce our guest, Zach Feldman
- Zach
shares where he came from and how started his journey in real
estate
- He
shares how he got into student housing after struggling at the
start of his professional career
[06:01 – 11:50] Building a Community That Students
Enjoy
- Zach
talks about how they try to improve the experience of students in
their properties
-
- Identify the market demand and find ways to
deliver it in the best way possible
- Zach
talks more about the student housing business
-
- Student housing is focused on how university
students interact and want to live at the school
- Bed-to-bath parity is one of the main
differentiators of student housing from multi-family
properties.
- Student housing business aims to build a
community for students
[11:51 – 18:01] The Value of Student
Housing
- Zach
shares their process of building student housing
properties
-
- Determine the supply and demand in the target
market
- Identify potential buyers
- Determine where the students are coming
from
- Consider enrolment, rent rates, and occupancy
within the market
- Zach
talks about how different markets are
-
- You
cannot build the same properties in another market
- You
should do your market research
- Zach
talks about the amenities they offer to the students
[18:02 – 25:55] Dealing with COVID-19 and Looking into
the Future
- Zach
talks about how his company funds their projects
- He
shares how his company is adjusting during the COVID-19
pandemic
-
- They’re planning long-term even though the
company is still performing well
- He
shares how student housing is arguably the most prepared to deal
with pandemics due to the privacy and convenience it
offers
[25:56 – 29:37] Closing segment
- Let’s imagine it’s hundred years from now and
your grandkids and great grandkids want to write a book about you.
How would you want that book to be titled?
- He
shares that this is related with Enjoi 77
Holdings.
- Enjoy
both the good times and bad times
- Connect with Zach. See the links
below
Tweetable Quotes
“Student housing in
terms of building design is probably the best prepared to deal with
a mass infection.” –
Zach Feldman
“Take life as it goes and
make the most out of it.” – Zach Feldman
Resources Mentioned:
You can connect with Zach
Feldman via LinkedIn, email him at zs@aptitudere.com, or
call him at 7817894354. Visit their website, Aptitude Development.
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