Looking Back and Ahead at the Market: Real Estate Issues – Questions and Answers with Mark Zandi

Volume 34, Number 3 Winter 2009-2010 Participants: PETER C. BURLEY, CRE Editor in Chief, Real Estate Issues Larkspur, Colo. MARK ZANDI, PH.D. Chief Economist and Co-Founder Moody’s Economy.com West Chester, Pa. Introduction MARK ZANDI isn’t an easy person to catch up with. He’s very busy these days, always moving—sometimes in Washington advising policymakers, and sometimes… Read more

Review: The Next 100 Years: A Forecast for the 21st Century

Winter 2009-2010, Vol. 34, No. 3 Abstract: In reviewing this geopolitical perspective by author George Friedman of the next several decades and beyond, CRE Julie McIntosh recalls the days of school children hiding under desks in the event the U.S. would be “nuked.” Today, and over the next several decades, we are and will be behaving… Read more

Review: Active Private Equity Real Estate Strategy

Winter 2009-2010, Vol. 34, No. 3 Abstract: In his review of CRE David J. Lynn’s recently published book, Active Private Equity Real Estate Strategy, CRE Scott Muldavin takes us through various chapters and concludes the book “…effectively achieves what it intends, providing readers with an inside look at the kinds of issues, investment factors and other considerations… Read more

Going from Mark-To-Market to Mark-To-Make Believe

Volume 34,  Number 3 Winter 2009-2010 By Robert J. Pliska, CRE, CPA Have we gone from “mark-to-market” to “mark-to make-believe?” Financial regulators consisting of representatives of the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Comptroller of the Currency, and others released their guidelines, “Policy Statement on Prudent Commercial Real Estate Loan Workouts,” in late… Read more

Regional Economics – View from the Middle

Winter 2009-2010, Vol. 34, No. 3 Abstract: This article reviews commercial real estate market conditions in the Chicago area and provides a forecast of conditions for 2010. Authors Bach and Schuppan take a look at the office, industrial, retail and investment markets, with insight into vacancy rates, rental rates, lease rates, and local tax hikes and… Read more

Public Homebuilders Look To Build in 2010

Winter 2009-2010, Vol. 34, No. 3 Abstract: The U.S. housing market began its precipitous decline in 2006–2007. As late as the winter of 2009, the outlook for any new near-term construction was bleak, to say the least. However, beginning in the late spring of 2009, public homebuilders began buying residential lots in certain markets intending to build and sell new homes. Despite conflicting metrics in housing supply and demand criteria, public... Read More