Perspectives

The Coronavirus, the End of the Cycle, and U.S. Commercial Property Markets: Early Thoughts

The coronavirus has seized the global economy. With the number of confirmed cases globally and in the U.S. growing by about one-third per day – that is, doubling every three days – a broad range of economic activity is rapidly shutting down, either by fiat or collapsing consumer demand, dramatically compounding the supply chain disruption… Read more

Features

Real Estate Ethics in Practical Applications

Ethics: At the Core of Real Estate Education and Practice This piece is continued from Volume 44, Number 1, “The Case for Real Estate Ethics Education”. The first part of this paper spoke to the subject of ethics as a core element of the body of knowledge, an element that should be – but largely… Read more

The Case for Real Estate Ethics Education

Ethics: At the Core of Real Estate Education and Practice This piece is continued in Volume 44, Number 2, “Real Estate Ethics in Practical Applications”. This is the first part of a two-part consideration of the topic of ethics as an element of real estate education and a foundational element in sound real estate practice…. Read more

Features

Depreciation Strategies Under the New Tax Law: What You Need to Know

Originally published in 2019, this piece was updated on October 23, 2020, to reflect additional tax changes in the CARES act. Click to view the original version. On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA)—the most sweeping tax reform since 1986—was signed into law. The TCJA has had a tremendous impact on… Read more

Features

Do Value Assurance Programs Reduce Property Values? A Hedonic Analysis

Over the last several decades, the discovery of off-site contamination from various sources such as manufacturing and industrial facilities or disposal sites has become commonplace. The offsite contamination often affects residential properties and results in concerns that it has reduced property values. These concerns can lead property owners to threaten to sue or actually sue… Read more

Features

Think Eminent Domain Doesn’t Apply in a Closing? Think Again

Why a Search of Public Projects Should Be On Every Closing Checklist From title reports to tax assessments and surveys, due diligence checklists provide a comprehensive way to ensure that all the complex and various demands and risks of a commercial real estate transaction are discovered and addressed on the front end to ensure no issues arise on the back end. Most transactions, however, typically overlook one important contingency – public... Read More