Bigger, better, faster—the refinements keep coming. That may be human nature, but today it reflects the nature of the retail market as manufacturers and retailers harness ever-advancing technology to attract and retain customers. Over the years, there has been much concern about where technology’s new tools will lead. Real estate owners have feared a waning…

The U.S. commercial real estate industry has made some significant strides on the sustainability front recently.

There is nothing more inspiring than talking with a group of achievers about how they got to where they are today. I never walk away from such conversations without new ideas, insights and energy. Indeed, their advice can be widely applied, for despite variations in background, there always seem to be similarities in how they…

It remains a tumultuous time for the U.S. and world economies, and the post-deadline “fiscal cliff” deal did little to calm the waters.

Kicking the can down the road: In real estate finance circles, it’s become a common phrase for the delaying tactic employed by banks that are unable to refinance mortgages in the face of recession and tight lending practices. In the final days of 2012, kicking the can threatened to become national policy as the White…

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, we are once again facing the fallout from what we haven’t done, what we haven’t learned, how we haven’t prepared—and how vulnerable we are when the unexpected occurs.

It’s been a long time coming, but November is finally here, and with it — the much anticipated presidential election. Throughout the past year’s economic roller-coaster ride, real estate executives have offered a steady mantra: “Sit tight and wait until after the election.”

Every cycle brings changes to development. Back in the go-go ’80s, corporations favored elegant, high-profile headquarters, and such trophy assets attracted foreign investors, as well. That changed in the mid-’90s, as the United States emerged from recession.

It takes a record recession and tumultuous recovery to turn the real estate investment market on its ear. But when Washington, D.C., falls out of favor, one has to sit up and take notice. After all, through years of ups and downs, Washington has often been regarded as recession-proof, the market that doesn’t falter.

The dog days of summer are being dogged by less languid thoughts this year. Now that we’re solidly into the second half, cautious optimism has given way to uncertainty, and even pessimism. Consumer confidence remains shaky, and our own second-quarter CPE 100 Sentiment Survey likewise shows fading hopes among real estate’s decision-makers for short-term economic improvement.