Job growth traditionally has been the driving engine for apartment demand in a city like Denver. Other influences assist to some extent, such as retirement housing and student housing, with the latter especially important in Boulder. The rebound from the Great Recession is helping to generate that demand, which is especially fortunate considering the number of new units that will be entering the market over the next year. Government backed financing served as the primary vehicle for apartment construction following the financial crisis in 2008. The lack of financing options limited development to smaller affordable apartment communities with less than 100 units rather than larger market rate.
