Business Specialties
ING Divests CRE Holdings
ING is making major moves in its quest to decrease its presence in the commercial real estate market. The company has entered into an agreement to sell the majority of its ING Real Estate Investment Management business to CB Richard Ellis Group Inc., and in a separate agreement the company committed to sell Clarion Partners to Lightyear and Clarion Partners management.
Vornado Secures $150M in Financing
Many office asset owners are scrambling to refinance or restructure debt as maturities approach. However, Vornado Realty Trust is in no such position as it closes financing for its 506,000-square-foot office property at 2121 Crystal Drive in Arlington, Va.
Economy Watch: Whither Fannie and Freddie?
It’s a radical notion: no more Fannie and no more Freddie. Can it happen? Should it?
Q&A with Shekar Narasimhan: Government and Real Estate
Beekman Advisors managing partner Shekar Narasimhan spoke with editor-in-chief Suzann D. Silverman about the real estate and real estate finance markets. Here are his thoughts on government policy and real estate.
White House Presents Housing Finance Reform
The U.S. Congress is now in receipt of a long-awaited report by the Obama administration on a plan for reforming the country’s housing finance market. The crux of the plan is to wind down government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and decrease the federal government’s role in housing finance.
SPECIAL REPORT: MBA Bullish on Economic Growth
The Mortgage Bankers Association issued positive assessments of the economy, job creation and financing activity during the annual MBA Commercial Real Estate Finance/Multifamily Housing Convention & Expo.
Building the Firm of the Future
Beekman Advisors managing partner Shekar Narasimhan spoke with editor-in-chief Suzann D. Silverman about the real estate and real estate finance markets.
Liberty to Develop 205,000-SF Project
GlaxoSmithKline is in the market for a new headquarters facility in Philadelphia and Liberty Property Trust plans to deliver it. At a cost of $81 million, the REIT, along with Synterra Partners, will develop a 205,000-square-foot office building at the Navy Yard Corporate Center for the research-based pharmaceutical company.
Transwestern Debuts in NYC Market
It’s been a long time coming. After years of eying New York for expansion, Transwestern has made its entry into the city with the creation of its Northeast region, and the company has put two industry veterans, Patrick Robinson and Lindsay Ornstein, in place to spearhead the endeavor.
SPECIAL REPORT: Turning Point in CRE
Speaking at the opening session of the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Commercial Real Estate Finance/Multifamily Housing Convention & Expo, panelists expressed optimism, but suggested there remain significant weaknesses in the sector.