Retail Landlords Sigh in Relief as Leasing Activity Gains Momentum

May 21, 2012 8:58 PM, By Elaine Misonzhnik

After several years of concentrating on portfolio consolidation, retailers are coming back to the negotiating table ready to talk new deals, according to leasing brokers, property managers and landlords. What’s more, growth is coming from a variety of sectors, including dining, specialty apparel and department stores, which means that the recovery that up till now has been occurring on a selective basis is starting to become market-wide.

One of the most encouraging signs for the industry is that… [Full Article]

CRE Price Recovery Continues Despite Seasonal Volatility

By Randyl Drummer
May 21, 2012

Despite a generally flat March for pricing of commercial property, prices recovered to mid-2003 levels in the first quarter as improving fundamentals and liquidity causing a broadening of the recovery into non-core commercial real estate and secondary markets, according to this month’s CoStar Commercial Repeat Sale Indices (CCRSI) report.

The U.S. Composite Index ended the first quarter 4.3% above the same period in 2011, although prices are still 34.5% lower than the peak levels in 2007. The U.S. General Commercial Index, … [Full Article]

Buy or Sell? Current Multifamily Conditions Favorable for Either Strategy

By Mark Heschmeyer
May 23, 2012

Behringer Harvard Multifamily REIT I, a $2.8 billion nontraded REIT, is weighing a number of diverse options, in light of the current hot market for multifamily properties.

The Dallas-area-based REIT has hired an investment bank to explore strategic alternatives including a sale or merger of the REIT. Or, on the other hand, whether it should explore more acquisition opportunities, …[Full Article]

Apartment Industry Marks 5th Consecutive Quarter of Growth

The apartment industry has enjoyed its fifth consecutive quarter of uninterrupted growth, according to the latest results of the National Multi Housing Council (NMHC) Quarterly Survey of Apartment Market Conditions.

The report proves that optimism continues for the multifamily industry. The findings reflect a gradual recovery for the multifamily sector that faced a 50-year low in apartment starts in 2009.

“Market conditions improved across the board, even from the rather strong level of three months ago,” said NMHC Chief Economist Mark Obrinsky. “Demand for apartment residences – and apartment properties – continues to grow. [FULL ARTICLE]