SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 6, 2006 - Real Estate Investment Brokerage Company, the nation's largest real estate investment brokerage firm, recently released its National Apartment Research Report for 2006, which indicates the San Antonio apartment market will benefit from strong employment growth and declining construction activity.

Also included in the report is the firm's annual National Apartment Index (NAI), a snapshot analysis that ranks 42 apartment markets based on a series of 12-month forward-looking supply and demand indicators. San Antonio drops four spots this year to No. 32.

"The strength of the local economy and restrained development will make apartments in San Antonio a very stable investment in 2006," comments Bradley H. Bailey, regional manager of M & M's San Antonio office. "While properties across the metro continue to increase in value, investors may find more significant appreciation potential in the Southwest and Central San Antonio submarkets, where vacancy is low and population growth continues to stimulate demand."

Following are some of the most significant aspects of the San Antonio Apartment Research Report:

• Owners are expected to achieve higher rents in 2006.
  
  Asking rents are expected to rise 2.5 percent this year to $659 per month, with effective rents increasing 2.8 percent to $621 per month.
  

• Robust job creation will increase demand for housing, resulting in a 40 basis point drop in vacancy this year to 8.3 percent.
  
  Southwest San Antonio will have the lowest vacancy in 2006, declining 80 basis points to 5.8 percent.
  

• Job growth will increase significantly in San Antonio this year.
  
  More than 32,000 positions are expected to be created in San Antonio this year, compared with less than 12,000 jobs in 2005.
  

• New apartment deliveries are expected to fall to 1,800 units in 2006 after 2,700 units were added last year.
  
  The Far North Central and Northwest San Antonio submarkets will receive the bulk of new construction, with a combined 1,000 units scheduled to come online in these two areas.
  

• Buyers may experience some relief this year as prices reach a near-term plateau. 
  
  The strong economy, though, makes San Antonio a solid bet for long-term stability and appreciation potential.