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Recent Blog Posts
Certain CRE Sectors Experience a Surge in Value, Even as Others See a Decline
Real estate prices have risen since the recession, for the most part, but many seasoned investors believe that some of the markets are losing steam. The decreased foot traffic in malls, closure of former top businesses, and 10 percent dip in the hard-hit retail sector certainly suggests as much. Yet, even as these areas experience a decline in value, some CRE sectors are experiencing a major surge. Learn more about these niche markets, and discover how a seasoned real estate attorney can help you successfully break into them to further grow and diversify your portfolio.
A Closer Look at CRE Market Trends
At the end of the recession, the Commercial Property Price Index hit an all-time low of 61.2. Since then, the index has more than doubled, and investors have been able to borrow more easily, thanks to low interest rates. Unfortunately, the broad index started to plateau in 2016, hitting and holding right around 126.9. Experts and analysts say this plateau is due, at least in part, to the rising interest rates, which are making it more expensive for investors to finance their purchase. Investor demand is also decreasing, with investors buying $175 billion in U.S. commercial real estate property in the first five months of 2018 (a 2 percent decline from last year).
Real Estate Crowdfunding - What You Need to Know Before Investing
Commercial real estate (CRE) investment was once reserved for the elite, but changes in federal laws have opened up several methods that people can use to break into the CRE market. One such example is real estate crowdfunding. Of course, like most investment opportunities, there are potential risks that one must be aware of when participating real estate crowdfunding. Learn more in the following sections, and discover how a seasoned commercial real estate attorney can help you mitigate against the most common issues that investors may face in CRE crowdfunding.
How Crowdfunding Has Changed the Face of Commercial Real Estate
Prior to the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act of 2012, investors were only able to access institutional-quality real estate through private equity funds, real estate investment trusts (REITs), or direct investment. All of these options have serious limitations. In an REIT, individuals are investing their money into a pre-constructed strategy or portfolio rather than an individual property. Private equity funds are usually cost-prohibitive, and they often lack transparency for the investor. Direct investment can allow an investor to bypass these issues, but they require ample time, money, and labor - something that many investors lack.
Planning for the Future of Commercial Real Estate - A Closer Look at Generation Z
Generation Z now accounts for more than 25 percent of the current U.S. population, and they are expected to make up 40 percent of all consumers by the year 2020. As such, companies and commercial real estate developers are encouraged to start thinking with the “new generation” in mind. Learn how to better cater to this up-and-coming demographic, and discover how a seasoned real estate lawyer can assist you as you continue to expand your investment portfolio.
Getting to Know Generation Z
Generation X saw the start of the internet. Millennials were a part of the upward trend, but they still remember a time when stores were a place to shop. Generation Z grew up with the world at their fingertips, so their expectations are extremely different than the generations before them. They look at retail spots as places to do things, rather than buy things. A company's ecological footprint and treatment of their employees are deciding factors for this group of consumers, and they are less enthralled by experience than the ease of navigation. They want elements that promote health and emotional well-being. They are also less likely to work in a brick-and-mortar building, but when they do choose to work at a location, they want shared work spaces, unassigned seating, and quiet zones that help them “unplug” from their digital worlds.
5 Considerations to Make Before Investing in Commercial Real Estate
If you are looking for a way to diversify your real estate portfolio and have not yet ventured into commercial real estate, now could be the time to do so. However, there are some important differences between commercial and residential real estate transactions that one must understand before diving into the market. Gain a firm grasp on these variances with help from the following sections, and discover how the assistance of a seasoned real estate lawyer can help improve the outcome of your first (and hopefully all successive) commercial real estate transaction(s).
What is the Market Doing in Your Chosen CRE Sector?
Commercial real estate involves many sub-sectors (housing developments, office spaces, restaurants, etc.), so investors need to understand the various nuances and fundamentals of their chosen sector. Not only does this decrease the risk of project failure, but it can also increase one's chances of yielding a high return. Savvy CRE investors can also use their market knowledge to fine-tune their investment path and diversify their real estate portfolios.
Protecting Your Commercial Real Estate Properties in the Digital Era
Most commercial real estate investors recognize that the digital era is changing everything about business - from how retailers must advertise to the way they use space. Mitigating for this issue and maintaining a thriving portfolio can be difficult, however, as it t requires tenacity, creativity, and a willingness to think outside the “big box.” Learn more about how you can protect your CRE portfolio in the digital era, and discover how a skilled real estate attorney can assist.
The Digital Era's Impact on Commercial Real Estate
People used to spend countless hours at the mall and big-box stores. Now they go to their favorite store's website (or perhaps even a reseller) and purchase items from the comfort of their own home. Retailers like Amazon are even making it possible for consumers to order everyday items online and have them delivered, sometimes in the same day. In short, brick-and-mortar stores are seeing less foot traffic, and businesses that have failed to build a digital platform have already either gone under or are currently at serious risk of doing so in the future.
Real Estate Investing Basics - Understanding the Fundamental Differences Between Single Family Homes and Commercial Property
While it is not uncommon for an investor to focus on only one type of real estate, the wealth that they seek is often easiest to achieve with a diverse investment portfolio. Not only does this allow for multiple streams of income, it also provides investors with better protection from fluctuations in any given market. Unfortunately, when investors do not understand the fundamental differences between the two most common real estate models - single-family residential real estate units and commercial real estate (CRE) - they risk significant financial loss.
Use the following sections to gain a better understanding of the key differences between these real estate sectors and how they can be used to determine the potential return on investment (ROI) on any given property, and discover what a seasoned real estate attorney can do to help improve the outcome of your next residential or commercial real estate transaction.
Examining the Potential Impact of Sears’ Bankruptcy on the CRE Market
In 2012, there were approximately 4,000 Sears stores in the United States. A little while after hitting that peak, Sears started to experience a downturn. Now, with less than 700 stores, nationwide, the company is facing bankruptcy. What might the mean for the commercial real estate sector? The following examines the possibilities, and it provides some viable solutions for commercial real estate owners who are looking to start on a new investment venture.
Sears’ Bankruptcy Restructuring Plan Involves More Store Closures by End of Year
In their Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring plan, Sears is set to close another 142 stores before the end of the year. Many of these closures will happen in top two tier malls (those that generate at least $350 in revenue per square foot). There has been no word on just how many employees will lose their jobs, but the company has already downsized its workforce from over 90,000 employees to just 68,000.
Examining the Characteristics of a Successful Commercial Real Estate Investor (and Why They Matter)
Commercial real estate investment (CRE) has become known as one of the most effective strategies for building wealth and a healthy retirement fund - but it may not be the best industry for every everyone. Transactions often happen quickly, the working hours can be long and intense, and it is not uncommon for an investor to buckle under the pressure in such a highly competitive market. Examine the five characteristics of a successful CRE investor to determine if commercial investing may be appropriate for your real estate portfolio, and discover how a seasoned real estate lawyer can help to mitigate the risks in areas where you may fall short.
Characteristic #1 - Adept Listening Skills
Of all the skills that a successful commercial real estate attorney should possess, adept listening skills are, perhaps, the most critical. It is required during every phase of the commercial real estate transaction process, and it is how you ensure that you are meeting the needs and demands of your customers. If you struggle with listening, consider practicing this skill to improve your potential profitability in the CRE industry.
Is Your CRE Firm “Punishing” Entrepreneurs or Agents Who Display “Feminine” Traits?
Although women have made great strides in the workplace, they continue to struggle when it comes to advancing within their own companies. Female entrepreneurs also tend to receive less funding than their male counterparts when pitching their business model or idea to a prospective investor. It has long been assumed that this bias was based on gender, but a new study offers a different perspective - that women are not being penalized for being female, but for displaying what society considers to be “stereotypically feminine traits.” Is your CRE investment firm guilty of punishing its agents and potential entrepreneurs in this way? Is there anything that can be done to mitigate the issue? The following information explains.
Study Examines Gender Bias in the Business World
Women are generally seen as warm and nurturing, and though they take risks, they tend to be more concerned with easing people's fears than closing the deal. Published in the journal SAGE, the recent study pitted both male and female entrepreneurs against one another in a pitch competition. Investors selected finalists after hearing all of the pitches.
How Can the Owners of Malls and Shopping Centers Recover from the Impending Downsizing of Specialty Stores?
Mall and shopping center owners have barely had the time to develop a game-plan for the expected closures of 142 Sears stores, a requirement in their bankruptcy; now they are learning that several other specialty stores may not be renewing their commercial leases in the upcoming years. Gap and L Brands, which owns popular stores like Bath & Body Works and Victoria's Secret, are among two of the biggest retail chains that are expected to scale back between now and 2020 - and that is creating all kinds of issues for the owners of malls and shopping centers. How can they recover? Is it even possible?
Instinct, Intelligence, and Intuition Necessary for Navigating the Volatile CRE Market
The real estate market will shift and change; dips and recessions are going to happen. These are simple facts that commercial real estate life must accept. Moreover, the way an investor navigates the challenges of their market (deciding whether to sell or hold, remodel or slash prices on existing space, negotiate a deal with an existing tenant or find a new one, etc.) often has a significant impact on their real estate portfolio's future health. As such, the commercial real estate (CRE) market practically demands that investors are intelligent, intuitive, and able to listen to their gut instinct - even when it bucks the trend.
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630-778-3818
