ROLLING MEADOWS, IL, Dec., 14, 2009 - (by Pam Vincent) As the year comes to an end, Tom and I have been reflecting on this past year and making assumptions of what the next few years will bring to CRE. I have been looking at the photo Tom took on New Year’s Eve a couple of years ago when we were surprised by a heavy snowfall – it actually looked blue! Looking at the photo helps me realize we have a lot to be thankful for this year and instead of fretting about what the new year will bring, I will look forward to new challenges.
Archive for 2009
Florida Commercial Real Estate Is a Land Of Opportunity
Monday, November 16th, 2009Every month there seems to be more and more negative reports about commercial real estate. The downturn brings out doom and gloom forecasts from every direction. But with so much information available investors are ignoring important facts and assets of my home state of Florida. If ever there were a time of opportunity to take advantage of market conditions; it is now. As the national press reports “with vacancy growing and rents falling, commercial property values are in the midst of the biggest drop since the Great Depression”. I couldn’t agree more – thus the opportunity! But how and where you ask?
Interview: Commercial Real Estate Auctions Rev Up
Monday, November 16th, 2009ATLANTA, GA, Nov., 16, 2009 - (by John Johnson, CCIM)
Recently, I lent my perspectives on the real estate auction world to Investor’s Business Daily. Auctions are gaining focus right now, with hopes to bring back a realistic sense of fair market value:
Many owners who bought property in the last five years are now upside-down on their loans and have no way out, says John Johnson, head of the Accelerated Marketing unit of Sperry Van Ness.
The commercial real estate firm conducts dozens of live auctions across the U.S. every year. But in today’s market, it runs few reserve sales, which allow the seller to accept or decline the final bid.
Going From Mark-To-Market to Mark-To-Make Believe!
Saturday, November 7th, 2009By Robert Pliska
Have we gone from “mark-to-market” to “mark-to-make believe”? The FDIC just released its policy statement - Prudent Commercial Real Estate Loan Workouts. The FDIC’s purpose is provide transparency and consistency to commercial real estate workout transactions and not curtail the availability of credit to sound borrowers. While the FDIC’s intentions are honorable, the policy may provide the opposite effect – lack of transparency and consistency and extending the lack of credit to sound borrowers.
Retail interview in The Virginia Gazette
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009RICHMOND, VA, Nov., 3, 2009 - (by Jim Tucker, CCIM) Last week a great article came out in the Virginia Gazette about a relatively new retail project in the James City-Williamsburg area called New Town. In this economic climate of course the project has faced the same challenges as every other retail center large or small, old or new, but in New Town’s case they are surviving better than most despite the conditions.
Bringing the Pieces of the CRE Puzzle Together
Sunday, November 1st, 2009By: Jerry Hall, CCIM
Now may be the most opportune time to acquire investment real estate. All of the pieces of the Commercial Real Estate puzzle are starting to align – reasonably priced properties are on the market, loans are being approved, and the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is on the rise. I have been advising my investors to seriously look at the market now!! Sitting back and waiting for the market to hit the absolute bottom will have you entering the game late. Every other investor, local and institutional, will be there competing against you in a feeding frenzy and you will most likely get caught up in a bidding war, thus paying more for properties.
How do we make the realities work for CRE?
Thursday, October 29th, 2009CHICAGO, IL, Oct., 28, 2009 - (by Tom Vincent, CCIM) In the last post, Media’s mixed messages on the downturn: Your Feedback, we reviewed the abundant feedback and many perspectives on where the economy is headed. Most agree that the recession is not over and that economic conditions may get worse before they begin to improve.
Media’s mixed messages on the downturn: Your Feedback
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009CHICAGO, IL, Oct., 28, 2009 - (by Tom Vincent, CCIM) A few weeks ago we posted the question “Getting mixed messages from what you’re reading?” in our blog. We sought out answers here and in our social networks and our readers did have some feedback and opinions on where we are and where we’re headed. The answers are very interesting and most reflect my opinions on this that the recession is not over and that economic conditions may get worse before they begin to improve. But we’re hearing from all sides… this is a great discussion.
“What’s The Spead?”
Monday, October 26th, 2009
An Analytical Walk Down Commercial Real Estate Main Street
Fort Collins CO 10-26-09 (by Steve Kawulok, Sperry Van Ness / The Group Commercial LLC)
Many investors are interested in taking advantage of distress commercial loan situations. Theoretically, if one can purchase an existing note at a discounted price, there should be a decent return on investment. To play out this investment requires the note-purchaser to perfect ownership of the commercial asset through a foreclosure action and then sell off the asset which collateralized the loan.