CHICAGO-With the apartment market being the one skyrocketingsuccess story in commercial real estate right now, even the 50-unitor less property owners and managers are reporting gains. Comparedto last year, a survey by the locally-based credit companyTransUnion showed that these properties have had steady residentinterest and stable or increased rents.

TransUnion finished its survey with thousands of users of itsSmartMove rental screening service in Q3 2010, with a focus onthose who run rental properties of 50 units or less. The 476responders said this year is better than 2009, both in terms ofoccupancy and rents.

According to the survey, 70% of property managers said they arecompletely occupied, compared to last year’s survey showing 60%reporting full occupancy. Also, this year more than 76% of theresponders said their rents have either held steady with last yearor increased.