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UDR

udr · NYSE Real Estate
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Ticker udr
Exchange NYSE
Sector Real Estate
Industry REIT - Residential
Employees 1001-5000
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FY2010 Annual Report · UDR
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Dear Shareholder, 

The past year was a welcomed change to the challenges the world has recently endured.  A new ‘normalcy’ seems to 
have returned in which consumers and companies alike are learning to adapt to greater volatility in their everyday 
lives.  UDR has adapted as well, but let me be the first to say that does not mean we have settled for complacency.  I 
can say with great certainty that we will look back on 2010 as a year that UDR capitalized on some tremendous 
opportunities.  Specifically, we improved the business by executing $2.4 billion of transactions, delivering 
progressively better operating results throughout the year, while positioning the Company for further growth.  We 
enter 2011 a stronger more flexible company that will continue to capitalize on opportunities that deliver long term 
value to our shareholders.       

Our operating results for 2010 reflect the impact of the recession.  However, we were encouraged by the 
improvements in our operations as the year progressed, and are optimistic for 2011 as we begin the year with pricing 
power in a majority of our markets.   

Our long term strategic focus is on three objectives: strengthen the balance sheet, strategically grow the enterprise 
and make continued investments in our operating platform.   

Strengthened balance sheet.   We raised $468 million of common equity at a weighted average price of $19.06 per 
share.  We were also very active during a historically low interest rate environment completing $1.2 billion of debt 
transactions.  These strategic decisions directly reduced the overall weighted average interest cost of our $3.6 billion 
of debt by 30 basis points to 4.2% and increased our fixed-charge coverage ratio, adjusted for non-recurring items, 
to 2.3 times from 2.0 times.   

Expanded the portfolio.  We completed $435 million of acquisitions consisting of 1,374 homes, with average 
monthly income per occupied home of $2,000, and one land parcel with the potential to develop approximately 315 
additional homes. We also entered into a $2.4 billion joint venture with MetLife, Inc. that owns 26 communities 
with 5,748 homes and 11 land parcels with the potential to develop approximately 2,300 additional homes.  Total 
monthly income per occupied home for these communities is greater than $2,250.  The transaction with MetLife, 
Inc. was a significant step forward in improving the overall quality of our portfolio.   

We continue to focus on development and redevelopment as a means of enhancing our portfolio.  This past year we 
completed 1,849 homes at a total cost of over $380 million.  Additionally, we have 1,708 homes in seven 
communities that are still under development or redevelopment representing an estimated cost of $430 million.   

In the future, we will continue to grow our presence in urban markets that have favorable job formation, low single-
family home affordability and a favorable demand/supply environment for multifamily housing.  In 2010, we 
expanded our portfolio through investments in Northern and Southern California, Baltimore, Boston, Seattle and 
Washington D.C.     

Continue to transform operations.  Our investment in technology is twofold: a commitment to deliver the best 
experience for our residents while at the same time increase our operating efficiency.  We will continue to make 
considerable investments in the training and development of our associates to ensure that technology and customer 
service together create a flexible service-oriented culture.  As a result, we saw electronic payments by residents 
increase from 62% to 79% and service requests entered via our resident portal increase from 40% to 79%, year-over-
year.  We believe that the benefits of these technology initiatives will provide our residents with a higher level of 
convenience and service as well as help us drive higher revenue and reduced expenses leading to greater operating 
margins.   

 
 
 
 
Since unveiling the third generation of our apartment search website visitor traffic is up nearly 35%.  Additionally, 
we completed the rollout of our online renewal program and UDR residents now have the ability to renew their 
expiring lease entirely online.  The results are encouraging as we have improved our ability to manage resident 
turnover and enhance our pricing power.   

2011 Outlook and Beyond: The current operating environment is attractive to our business and as you will read 
below you will understand why we are excited for the future of our Company.    

Decline in homeownership.  From its peak in 2004 of nearly 70%, the rate of single-family homeownership is 
expected to decline and stabilize closer to the long-term average of 65%.  This precipitous decline in 
homeownership is expected to increase the number of renters by more than four million.    

Positive change in demographics.  The growing population of 18 to 35 year-olds will be a significant driver in 
apartment demand as this demographic has a 60% propensity to rent.  Over the next ten years, the population of 
those in their primary renter years is expected to increase by almost five million.  

Record low supply of new apartments.  New apartment home construction is at a 50- year low.  Additionally, the 
supply of new apartments coming to market in 2011 is projected to be approximately one-third of the long-term 
average.     

Looking to the Future.  The combination of an industry-leading operating platform and an experienced 
management team, along with favorable supply and demand tailwinds, positions us favorably to grow our cash flow 
and continue to create shareholder value.  Based on our expectations for strong cash flow growth in 2011, our Board 
of Directors increased the common share dividend declared in 2011 by nearly 10% to $0.80 per share.   

Finally, I would like to thank our more than 1,600 associates for their hard work and dedication and our customers 
and shareholders for their continued loyalty and support.   

We look forward to a prosperous future together.   

Thomas W. Toomey 
President and Chief Executive Officer