As an organization starts down this path, the first logical step is to create a home-grown database on the internal network -- sometimes it's even as simple as using Microsoft Access. This can work well for a proof of concept, but usually the project suffers from the lack of expert database administrators and programmers. This problem is compounded when remote access is required by offsite staff or external parties. A web-based approach thus becomes the necessary solution, but there are many pitfalls along the road of developing such a tool in-house; what begins as a simple, inexpensive endeavor often escalates to something expensive and awkward as new requirements are gathered and more people become involved.

Starta formed to create a semi-standardized pipeline tracking tool that could help organizations assemble all of their various needs without the high cost and steep learning curve that are otherwise experienced. We have seen firsthand that every organization has its own processes and priorities, just as does each working group within a single organization. We developed our web-based tool to provide consistency of input through an "enter once, show many times" design that allows for custom approaches to data analysis, drill-downs, and reports. In short, we have built a framework to allow our clients to track and mine the information that they actually care about at every level -- from investors to upper management, all the way down to the field offices or individual property managers.

If your business is young, take advantage of a simple tool but ready yourself to overcome the future challenges of managing a larger portfolio. Be thinking ahead to what information is really needed by your staff for them to make the best possible decisions. If your portfolio has grown beyond a handful of projects, it's probably time to start considering efficiency and consistency. Prototype databases are an excellent way to codify your vision, and then it's good to move to a centralized, web-based tool. Whatever stage of growth your organization is at, whatever tool is the best fit for you at the present time, pipeline tracking is not something to be neglected. You can't know where you're going unless you know where you've been and where you are.



		by Starta Development, Inc. The Value of Pipeline Tracking Pipeline tracking consistently emerges as one of the most valuable activities for housing developers, syndicators and other organizations that manage funds such as loans, grants, LIHTC or NMTC allocations. Having accurate information about your entire portfolio can lead to the discovery of new opportunities as well as streamlining existing efforts. Whether discussing new business or the maintenance of existing business, staff must have access to timely, relevant information that is structured in an understandable format. Incorrect or outdated assumptions can result in devastating consequences, especially as budgets shrink and funds disappear. Young organizations with small portfolios should start by managing information in a spreadsheet tool like Microsoft Excel. This allows for rapid changes as the business matures, and allows staff and executives to learn what data is most important when evaluating various opportunities and other essential decisions. As portfolios grow, however, most businesses start to feel the limitations of the spreadsheet approach. With many projects in various stages of development and management, the complexity of obtaining, compiling, and presenting data increases exponentially. At the same time, additional headcount causes an increased need for information sharing -- initially, a few key staff members can track everything that is occurring, but this becomes increasingly infeasible. Organizations that fail to recognize this before their staff grows from dozens to hundreds or even thousands of individuals are setting up the organization for some costly hiccups in the future. The ideal solution to this problem is to have a database that tracks all the relevant data, and which then allows for the export of the many various reports that the organization has discovered are required; thus the knowledge that was gained during the spreadsheet phase can be used. Each department or working group tends to require a different slice of this accumulated knowledge -- attempting to build a "one size fits all" report is likely to create something large and unwieldy that is useful(ish) to upper management and no one else. VPs and middle managers need a view of their portfolios, too -- and, in fact, having a single database that feeds reports to all parties can help produce high quality data, since more people have a chance to identify and correct errors and omissions.		As an organization starts down this path, the first logical step is to create a home-grown database on the internal network -- sometimes it's even as simple as using Microsoft Access. This can work well for a proof of concept, but usually the project suffers from the lack of expert database administrators and programmers. This problem is compounded when remote access is required by offsite staff or external parties. A web-based approach thus becomes the necessary solution, but there are many pitfalls along the road of developing such a tool in-house; what begins as a simple, inexpensive endeavor often escalates to something expensive and awkward as new requirements are gathered and more people become involved. Starta formed to create a semi-standardized pipeline tracking tool that could help organizations assemble all of their various needs without the high cost and steep learning curve that are otherwise experienced. We have seen firsthand that every organization has its own processes and priorities, just as does each working group within a single organization. We developed our web-based tool to provide consistency of input through an "enter once, show many times" design that allows for custom approaches to data analysis, drill-downs, and reports. In short, we have built a framework to allow our clients to track and mine the information that they actually care about at every level -- from investors to upper management, all the way down to the field offices or individual property managers. If your business is young, take advantage of a simple tool but ready yourself to overcome the future challenges of managing a larger portfolio. Be thinking ahead to what information is really needed by your staff for them to make the best possible decisions. If your portfolio has grown beyond a handful of projects, it's probably time to start considering efficiency and consistency. Prototype databases are an excellent way to codify your vision, and then it's good to move to a centralized, web-based tool. Whatever stage of growth your organization is at, whatever tool is the best fit for you at the present time, pipeline tracking is not something to be neglected. You can't know where you're going unless you know where you've been and where you are.
		Community Spotlight Louetta Village Apartments is a new construction development of 116 units of affordable housing located in Spring, Texas in northern Harris County. Partnered with financial experts, HCHA Louetta, LLC serves as the Managing General Partner. Amtax Holdings, a Paramount Financial Group affiliate, provides an investor relationship. 4% tax exempt bonds are issued by the Harris County Housing Finance Corporation and purchased by GMAC Commercial Holding Capital Markets Corporation. With a $1.8 million HOME grant, the Harris County Housing Authority is 100% owner of the General Partnership while Thomas H. Scott of Coach Realty Services, Inc is 100% owner of Developer.		The developer, general contractor, and property manager are related entities supplying keys to a successful real estate development that serves the community while fulfilling the partnership's goal. Construction loan and Bonds closed on January 13, 2005. This well-styled property of ground floor walk-up entrances began leasing up January 2006. Today there are over 20 seniors on a waiting list for an empty unit.
		About Starta Development, Inc. Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, Starta provides standard and custom technology services for all members of the affordable housing industry. The Starta Enterprise System was initially released in February 2001 as a turnkey solution for managing development portfolios, from the initial concept through development and asset management. Learn more at www.StartaDev.com.