It’s never too early to think ahead. In today’s economy, though, that’s easier said than done. What with the continuously changing marketplace, the daily struggle to value assets, and the general reluctance of investors to get some skin in the game, many industry players are pressing pause on their long-term plans and waiting to see what happens. That would be a mistake. After all, the here and now is what it is. And the likelihood of being able to change it is slim. You simply have to adjust to the new realities, dust yourself off, and move forward.

This month, we’re looking ahead to 2010, and conducting a survey of financial officers at various apartment firms in the industry. Our goal: to gauge where they stand on the economy, where they plan to invest and budget dollars in 2010, and the cost-cutting and revenue-generating strategies they are employing going forward. Interested in taking the survey? Drop me a note. Otherwise, stay tuned for our September/October issue, where the results will be reported. It’s sure to help us all think that much more in advance.