Despite the residential market's woes, we have experienced very solid appreciation in the commercial market. Even the "bad news" of this article reminds us of our good CRE market.

... The Pacific West defied the downward trend with an annual return of 8.8% in September, though that gain isn’t as strong as August’s figure of 9.8%. The Desert Mountain West improved from a 5.6% gain in August to a 6.1% climb on the index in September. By property sector, office remained the best performer with a 13% annual return while apartments brought up the rear among sectors with a 2.7% loss year-over-year, S&P reported. [...more...]

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COMMERCIAL LOANS

In a "slow" economy, there are always benefits to the prepared investor. The article below is a great benefit:

Fed's Liquidity Rain Dance May Reduce CRE Loan Rates

Commercial real estate investors should see lending rates drop heading into 2008 thanks to a triple play of actions by the Federal Reserve this week intended to stimulate lending and inject credit into the ... [more]

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RETAIL CRISIS?

Probably not a crisis, but population growth will bring retail growth.

International Council of Shopping Centers

The retail real estate industry faces a major challenge — meeting the needs of the burgeoning U.S. population, which is expected to grow from about 301 million today to an estimated 420 million by 2050, René Tremblay, chairman of the International Council of Shopping Centers said Monday. [...more...]

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Tenants Go for the Green

Tenants have a lot of choices in today's market, and Energy Efficiency is one that is not only in style, but also brings savings year-over-year. This article speaks to the LEED designation.

Office Building Owners Getting the Green Message

Given the U.S. Department of Energy's forecast for electricity use in commercial buildings to increase by 50% by 2030, more tenants are now demanding highly energy-efficient facilities. [...more...]

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Multi-Family Investments STRONG

With buying a home getting a bit tougher, multi-family investments are seeing great returns and low vacancy rates.

Apartment properties, strong in commercial real estate market

Apartment properties remain one of the strongest investments in the commercial real estate market, says Brian McAuliffe, managing director and chief investment officer with RREEF Alternative Investments.

Demand for multifamily housing has surged as potential homebuyers... [more]

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The GREEN Revolution

Big Box retailers are beginning to raise the standard for environmental concerns.

Kohl’s Goes Green

Kohl’s Corp. plans to make all its newly built stores environmentally friendly through measures such as using sustainable materials and cutting down on energy costs, starting with stores open next fall.

The company plans to follow guidelines... [more]

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GOOD TIME TO INQUIRE ABOUT MULTI-FAMILY?

The fact that apartment pricing is consistently increasing, along with the trend of rents going up and vacancies going down, it may be a great time to evaluate your multi-family holdings. A great market to realize past appreciation in, but also a positive forward look for appreciation for those who buy in now.

Growth In Apartment Pricing Soars

Condo conversions had pushed overall apartment prices up dramatically through mid-2006. While that activity has abated, apartment prices have held up well due to improving occupancies and rents.

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CoStar's Retail News Roundup: Septs 30-Oct. 6

This CoStar report highlights, among many other things, the Fresh & Easy markets that are flooding the Phoenix market.

U.K. grocery leader Tesco has revealed its plans to penetrate California's Inland Empire with its U.S. grocery store format, Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market. [...more...]

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MEGA WAREHOUSES RISE IN PHOENIX

For investors that prefer long-term leases and low turn-over, this article stresses the strong, and strengthening, Phoenix industrial market.

Most observers think Phoenix's robust industrial real estate market will get even stronger. “We are not at peak yet,” says Jonathan Keyser, a principal with CresaPartners in Phoenix. Demand is coming from users distributing within Arizona, and national users seeking a distribution and manufacturing site.
[...more...]

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BARGAIN PRICES

Interesting article by America's "Rich Dad". If you have always wanted to "buy low, sell high", this may be your moment. For those armed with a solid down payment and good credit, many commercial investments are there for the taking.

"The silver lining to all this is that it's a very good time to be bargain hunting. In the current economy, cash is king. As more institutions and individuals are forced to sell assets to raise cash, you may come across that one investment you've been waiting for." [...more...]

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IS RETAIL INTEXTRICABLY TIED TO HOUSING?

The current housing slump may not be quite the downer for the commercial market. Read what some experts are saying:

Retail sales are resisting a historic tendency to follow drops in home prices and sales, but whether consumers maintain spending levels hinges on which way the economy goes from here, according to one economist. [...more...]

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1031 EXCHANGE DO'S AND DON'TS

Selling an investment property and do not want to see all of the proceeds go to the IRS? This is a great introductory article for the power of a 1031 Exchange.

With 1031 exchanges, the investor has the potential for financial growth greater than an investor receives by simply buying and selling. He or she has the potential of saving between 15% and 30% or more in taxes because of the ability to defer tax obligations to a later date.
[...more...]

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IS STARBUCKS RUNNING OUT OF STEAM?

Interesting article about the VALUE of Starbucks as an anchor tenant. If you've been to one lately, anywhere, you know you waited at least 3 deep to get your order in. It doesn't seem to me to be a risky follow.

"The coffee wars scorch on. Retail wunderkind Starbucks Corp. has come up with a few new tricks in recent months in its attempts to widen the lead it has built over other java sellers at a time when Dunkin' Donuts has its sights set on becoming a national player and upscale upstarts try to erode the chain's marketshare..." [...more...]

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1031 EXCHANGE: TAX BENEFITS

At its core, a 1031 exchange is designed to accomplish one simple goal: to avoid taxes. But owners turn to 1031 exchanges to carry out a variety of business strategies. A retail owner might use an exchange to trade an old mall for a newer, trendier shopping center. In a more complex deal, an exchange can be part of an exit strategy for a partnership.
[...more...]

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SMOKIN' HOT: Retail Markets

Metro Phoenix is experiencing tremendous population growth. There a lot of people moving here from other states," said Milinovich. "In addition, Phoenix has very low unemployment, very good job growth, and a relatively low cost of living; all of which is helping to draw people to Arizona. Entry-level new homes can still be found for less than $200,000 in several parts of the valley.

As new people arrive, they're buying new homes in high growth parts of our market where retail developers are planning and building creative retail projects. Our new home growth has slowed, but the level is more sustainable than the heated growth we experienced in the last few years," he added. US Census and Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates back up those assertions. The Phoenix area experienced 23.2% population growth from 2000 to 2006. Unemployment has decreased from 3.7% to 3.0% and the workforce has grown by 2% over the past year while authorized housing starts are down 14% over the past year.

According to Alba, "Most of our retail development is following the Loop 101 & Loop 202 freeway system, which provides access to these new home communities and allows retailers to tap easily into these suburbs [he listed the communities of Gilbert, Chandler, Glendale, Peoria, Avondale, and Goodyear as prime examples]. A lot of new regional power shopping centers are dotting the Loop Freeway system and bringing regional retail tenants closer to the suburbs."
[...more...]

Phoenix Gateway Center Sells for $96M

Transwestern Purchases Three-Bldg Class A Center

CMD Realty Investment Fund IV, LP, c/o CMD Realty Investors, sold the three-building Phoenix Gateway Center to Transwestern Phoenix Gateway, LLC, for $96 million, or nearly $222 per square foot, in an all-cash deal.<br>

The properties include Gateway One, located at 426 N. 44th St.; Gateway Two, located at 432 N. 44th St., and Gateway Three, located at 410 N. 44th St. They total 432,592 square feet over 12.57 acres. The buildings were constructed between 1985 and 1988 and renovated in 2002-2003.
[...more...] ps. this is my office

MORTGAGE BROKERS: THE SALESMAN FACTOR

... Does this mean you should shun mortgage brokers? Not necessarily. A good one can save you time and thousands of dollars over the life of a loan - but it's up to you to understand the loans you're being offered and the fees involved. Here are the key questions ... [...more...]

Renters Lose More Ground

Wherever possible, renters renewing contracts or moving in for the first time, especially those who plan to sit on the owner-occupied housing market fence for some time, should negotiate for the longest lease feasible. Concessions are rare as many landlords have shut the door on move-in bonuses.
... more ..

Commercial Real Estate News

Commercial Real Estate News: "Glimcher Ventures Plans $20M Shopping Center

By Amy Wolff Sorter of GlobeSt.com
Tuesday, June 19, 2007 - CHANDLER, AZ-Glimcher Ventures Southwest plans to immediately break ground on a 19.5-acre tract to develop the 100,000-sf Shoppes at Chandler Heights. The 19.5-acre land deal is slated to close Aug. 1; site work begins the next day.

David Glimcher, president of the Scottsdale, AZ-based company, says the $20-million project will go vertical in November, but it's already 90% preleased. He expects the project will be 100% leased when it opens in late 2008."

[...more...]

Report Sheds Light On Retail Darkhorses

Report Sheds Light On Retail Darkhorses

Albuquerque and Charleston, S.C. don’t immediately come to mind as
retail strongholds. But a new research report finds that these and
eight other cities hold the greatest potential for income growth over
the next few years.



Last week, Irvine, Calif.-based investment sales firm Sperry Van Ness
released its annual “Top 10 Markets to Watch” report. The report
examines economic trends that directly lure future retail investment
dollars. Unlike most research surveys that focus on current market
data, the Sperry Van Ness report is highly speculative. (...more...)

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QUOTABLE

"They have taken language hostage. We wanted numbers but this is bureaubabble. ... It is not real in any language. We are looking for accountable language and numbers. I might be a rock star but I can count."





- Bono, denouncing G-8 leaders for a lack of timelines and other substantive details in their recent pledge to fight AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. (Source: Reuters)

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TAKING THE PLUNGE

At some point, you've probably thought about starting your own company. Maybe you want to get rich and famous from it, but most likely you just want to have fun, learn a lot, and try something new. The trick is getting the guts to do it.



...more

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The marketer's guide to personal finance

Seth's Blog: The marketer's guide to personal finance: "I spent many years window shopping restaurant menus and driving all night to get to meetings where the plane cost just a bit too much. I thought at the time that I had no choice, but now I realize that I could have borrowed money on my credit cards and lived a little easier. I'm glad I didn't."

research and development.

the importance of r&d is evident when "new" is rolled out. without hours, days, months, even years of trial and failure, there would be no advance. no "new" thing. nothing better.

new phones. new tv's. new music. new strategies. new inroads. new methods. better technology. better investments. more efficient. smaller. faster.

we love, appreciate, and spend our earnings for someone else's results -- only after volumes of research & development; or trial and failure.

without trial & failure there is no development & advancement.

welcome.

welcome to my newly remodeled site. simple is good.