COMMERCIAL PROPERTY RETAIL MARKETS UPDATE

Reporting from the first quarter of 2008 shows definite slowing nationally for the number of transactions; however, pricing remains stable. Financing is more difficult to attain, but the asset value remains constant, and CAP rates probably will rise through 2008.

As the industry makes its way through the second quarter of 2008, the outlook for the U.S. retail property market remains muddled, according to the first quarter report from Reis, Inc., a New York City-based provider of commercial real estate information. Transaction volume during the first quarter continued its downward slide, but pricing for the assets that did trade hands remained relatively stable.[...more...]

NAR Sees Slim Ray of Light for Commercial Sectors

NAR's predictions for future transaction volume and vacancy rates in the commercial RE markets show slowing, but overall the market still shows strong. Read below...

The U.S. economy will likely avoid a recession and pick up in the second half of this year, according to the National Association of Realtors, which expects the commercial property market to turn in a mixed performance.

“Commercial fundamentals are good, but investment has been hurt by the credit crunch. Investment in the commercial sectors decelerated in the first quarter after setting a record in 2007,” says Lawrence Yun, chief economist at NAR. [...more...]