Philanthropy Flourishes
After years of strong commercial property markets, many entrepreneurs are turning attention to giving away their fortunes. Companies that once made ad hoc donations have developed foundations and systematic giving programs....
China Tightens Rules
China is taking new steps to curb foreign investment in commercial and residential real estate and to quell fears that offshore investors are driving up prices to unacceptable levels. Announced June 11, the new rules extend licensing and equity-participation requirements for property purchases to cover investments in Chinese holding companies as well....
Going Once, Going Twice
When Pritzker Realty Group decided to sell a Kansas City office building last summer, the private investment firm didn't hand the listing to a local broker....
Tapping into Mexico's Coastline
Developers who are expanding along Mexico's coastline, hope to satisfy a strong and growing U.S. demand for residential and resort properties. ...
Riding the Deal Wave to New Heights
If it's true that records are meant to be broken, then certainly that was the case in 2006 when commercial property sales soared to ever-increasing heights, taking the nation's brokerage industry along for the ride....
Institutions Dial Back
After a major buying binge in commercial real estate in recent years, pension funds and endowments plan to curb investment by 22% in 2007...
The Art of Land Banking
While an ongoing housing correction has depressed residential land prices by more than 30% in some parts of the country, commercial property values are moving in the opposite direction, say experts...
Small Banks, Big Risks
America's 8,000 community and midsize commercial banks which account for the majority of all commercial real estate loan transactions in this country have bulked up on loans to the point that federal regulators are threatening to increase their oversight...
Canadian Investors Bullish on Brazil
Canadian real estate investors with deep pockets discovered Brazil in a big way in 2006, spending billions on commercial real estate ...
Real Estate: ‘The tallest midget in the investment world’
What’s the outlook for commercial real estate investment in the remainder of 2006 and beyond? A diverse and experienced panel of institutional investors and brokers assembled at the Lodge at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, Calif., outside San Diego recently to assess the state of the industry....
PREA Panel: Don’t Overlook Inner-City Investments
Half of the U.S. population lives in the nation’s top 50 urban centers. And the purchasing power of this inner-city populace is enormous. Largely African...
LIVE FROM PREA 2004: Offshoring Trend to Accelerate Through 2015
The offshoring of white-collar jobs to China and India has contributed to the struggles of the U.S. office market over the past few years — and the trend...
Why Borrowers Are Flocking to Mezz Debt
The insatiable investor demand for real estate over the last couple of years has touched off a mezzanine debt bonanza. Traditional lenders, opportunity...
Live from MBA/CREF 2004: Mold A Growing Concern for Lenders
ORLANDO — The financial fallout from mold could very well make asbestos look like "a day at the beach" for commercial real estate financiers and owners,...
Live from MBA/CREF 2004: GMAC Tops Annual List of Loan Servicers
ORLANDO – With $213.7 billion in master and primary servicing, GMAC Commercial Holding Corp. tops the Mortgage Bankers Association’s annual ranking of...
Live from MBA/CREF 2004: Don’t Expect an Office ‘Surge’ Until ’05
ORLANDO -- It will be 2005 before the office market sees a surge of demand, according to a panel of industry experts at the Mortgage Bankers Association’s...
Live from MBA/CREF 2004: Commercial and Multifamily Originations Set Record in ’03
ORLANDO -- Commercial and multifamily mortgage loan originations set a record during 2003, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. The $116 billion...
Live from MBA/CREF 2004: General Tells Bankers That WMD Probe Is a Good Idea
ORLANDO – Gen. Tommy Franks told several hundred commercial mortgage bankers gathered here Monday for an annual convention that he welcomes the creation...
CMBS Loan Delinquencies Climb in Fourth Quarter
Office and multifamily CMBS delinquencies continued to climb during the fourth quarter of 2003, reports Fitch Ratings. In fact, total delinquencies increased...
Debt Pipeline Is Bulging, Especially for Apartments
The calendar shows that it's a new year, but in commercial real estate lending circles it certainly feels like 2003. Persistently low interest rates the...
OFFICE SQUEEZE PLAY
Surging worker productivity is great news for the U.S. economy because ultimately it leads to job creation. But in the near term, high productivity gains...
Wells Poised To Buy Major Boston Office Tower
It appears that Wells Real Estate Funds — sponsor of the Wells real estate investment trust — is the front-running bidder on a 1 million sq. ft. Boston...
Beacon Buys L.A’s Citicorp Center for $170M
Beacon Capital Partners has acquired a prominent Los Angeles skyscraper. The Boston-based investment firm prevailed over a competitive field of bidders...
Wells Buys Major Chicago Office Building
Wells Real Estate Investments has bought Chicago’s 1.1 million sq. ft. Leo Burnett building for nearly $300 million. The unlisted REIT also purchased...
Loosening the Leash on Underwriting Standards
Commercial lending volume is bursting at the seams, the result of competitive, deal-savvy lenders willing to relax underwriting standards to get money...
