If you own apartment real estate in Dallas, then this is a great time for you. According to statistics, rental units are in incredibly high demand right now. In fact, research shows that the market looks better than it has in nearly a decade. The last time units were this full was 2000. This good news can’t come soon enough after the impressive hits to the real estate market caused by the recession in recent years. North Texas rentals showed a net decline for both 2008 and 2009, after all. Now, suddenly, they’ve recovered and even risen.

The Source of the Boom

Experts say that the foreclosure market is in large part responsible for this newly active rental market. People who were buying homes are no longer doing so and those who lost their homes to foreclosure are not in a position to buy new ones either. This leaves most people with the option of apartment rentals. These renters as a group represent an additional net demand for Dallas apartments. At last count, the market showed a ninety one percent total occupancy and even in the last quarter of 2010, an additional 470 Dallas apartments were rented to new tenants.

The Consequences of the Boom

This boom in the apartment market has had an important effect on the Dallas area. To begin with, it has revitalized interest in the sale and construction of apartment real estate. In the last year 10, 753 new apartment units were built. Insiders say that we can expect that number to rise in 2011. Of course this boom in rentals will also have an effect on potential renters themselves. You can see it already in statistics that show turnover rates are at historic lows. People do not want to give up their apartments without good reason. As the demand rises, so too will the difficulty involved in finding an appropriate unit.

If you are buying a home in Oregon , choosing an Oregon real estate agent may be the most important decision you make. A good real estate agent can help ensure that you are notified of homes that meet all your criteria. A good agent will also answer your questions and will walk you through the buying process, which is an invaluable service for first-time homebuyers. Despite all this, most buyers choose their agent in a completely haphazard way, simply falling into a relationship with the first real estate agent they encounter. A much better strategy is to do some sleuthing to uncover the agent who will truly help you find that perfect property. You can find the right professional by:

1) Interviewing candidates. It may seem like a lot of work, but comparing different real estate agents from different agencies can quickly show you which agents you respond best to and which ones seem to offer the best service. Interviews also allow you to assess experience, education, and other factors important in a good real estate agent.

2) Checking qualifications and sales. Look for a real estate agent who has some experience and has been on the job long enough to have expertise in the area. Ideally, you want someone who has worked as an agent for years in the same area and has an impressive sales record. In every community, you will generally find a few agents who perform very well because they know what they are doing and are good at what they do. Look for these agents and check to make sure that no complaints have been filed about them with the State Board of Realtors.

3) Lining up personalities. Buying real estate is highly emotional, so it is important to find someone you are compatible with. Look for a real estate agent you can really communicate with. If your personalities do not match, you may feel that your real estate agent is not doing enough for you and your real estate agent may get frustrated that you are not placing any bids. Find someone that registers a high comfort level with you and you can avoid these problems.

4) Making sure that your real estate agent is creative. Your agent will use the Multiple Listing Service (M.L.S.) to find homes, but he or she should also use their knowledge, contacts and experience to find homes that match your needs. You don’t want someone who can simply run simplistic searches you can run yourself from home.

5) Ensuring that your agent knows the area. A real estate agent who knows the area where you hope to buy can help you understand what is available and at what prices.

6) Checking customer service before you enter into a relationship. Real estate agents are busy people, but they should still be able to offer you good care. Your phone calls should be returned, your concerns should be addressed and you should be able to contact your real estate agent when you need to. If your agent uses an assistant, you need to ensure that it is the real estate agent themselves who will handle all work with contracts as well as the closing. That is what you are paying your real estate agent for. Stay away from agents who seem distracted, disorganized, and are not able to interact with you personally. You may find that your home buying experience suffers with these sort of agents.

The good news is that there are plenty of terrific, highly qualified real estate agents out there. Now that you know what to look for, you can hunt them up and have superlative help when it is time for you to buy property.

Luke Rummell, leading Real Estate Agent in Oregon, is serving The Oregon Coast from Astoria, to Lincoln City – the Oregon exclusive buyers agency only.