Blog
Retailers re-energize in 2010
For those strong national and international brands that leaned out their operations, shifted merchandising to address new consumer attitudes (demanding both value and luxury), and for those who held back expansion and renovation plans during the steep slide of the past 18 months, 2010 is looking brighter. In working with leaders of brands across fashion, food, and service retail, I hear some common themes. Survivors feel stronger and fitter than they did going into the recession, and more confident about their ability to change and move into the future. They are more in tune and focused on the behavior and…
Jeff Dunne – Note Sales in Lieu of Foreclosure
As banks and special servicers continue to take charge of distressed assets ($200 billion at the end of 2009 reported by Real Capital Analytics), they have three primary options to recapture at least some of the value: Foreclose on the asset, complete a short sale or sell the non-performing note. The first two options can be both very time consuming and expensive or require the non performing borrower’s cooperation, neither which may be appealing or possible. As a result, we expect Note Sales will be an emerging trend in 2010 and into 2011. For states like Connecticut, New York and…
James DuMars: The New Positive
I attended the annual lending conference attended primarily by major commercial real estate lenders, mortgage bankers & servicers. NorthMarq hosts a couple suites and we meet on the half hour with each lender over a four-day period. We also host a reception and had 250 lender representatives join us. � FINDINGS: Generally the convention can be summed up as follows: “Less Negative is the New Positive” Things are getting better in the capital markets and interest rates are coming down: Specific capital providers are outlined below: LIFE COMPANIES Life Companies – almost all are back in the market. Many reported…
Jeff Dunne – Momentum for 2010
While 2009 was primarily a year of survival and revised expectations, the 4th quarter provided signs of leasing and capital markets momentum for 2010. On the capital markets side, note sale activity has picked up around the country, though the New York Suburban region is just beginning to see this trend. In fact, our team is currently marketing the note sale of Greenwich Atrium, a 101,394± SF Class A office property located at 75 Holly Hill in Greenwich, Connecticut. While this is the first significant senior mortgage note sale on an office building in Fairfield County, we expect the note…
China Snapshot
Market analysts report that China will be the world’s largest construction market by 2018, at $2.4 trillion – 19.1% of global construction output. The new report by Global Construction Perspectives and Oxford Economics was issued last week in London. The pace of development can still be seen and felt on the ground in the juxtaposition of old methods and new technology. Bamboo scaffolding spans between steel superstructures, and hand carts weave their way through tower crane supports. Construction sites turn into archaeological digs on development sites in the historic centers of ancient cultures, now the epicenters of modernizing cities. Urbanization…
RealTech with Peter Boritz: Get More Website Traffic
Your website speed can be a key indicator of how many visitors go to your website and spend time learning about your organization. In addition, potential and current clients who wait too long for web pages to load may be reluctant to return to your site. It has been proven that as little as a five percent increase in your website speed can increase page views by as much as twenty-five percent. Below are some tips to increase the speed of your website. When it comes to your homepage, use facts and keep the page clean and simple. Avoid using…
Greenbuild 2009 – Main Street Green: Connect to the Conversation
Each year, the U.S. Green Building Council hosts its Greenbuild Conference & Expo, the world’s largest green building conference. Greenbuild 2009 is heading to Phoenix. The American Southwest is a region with unique environmental and social challenges and opportunities, and the imperative is clear: green building can and must come home to all people, boosting the quality of life on main streets across the country and the world. Every year, Greenbuild attracts leading architects, building owners, developers, contractors, educators, students, service providers and manufacturers, providing education and networking opportunities for everyone connected to the building industry. ith its humble beginnings…
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