Features

Midwest Apartment Demand Isn’t Dropping Anytime Soon, Says JVM Realty CEO

by Kristin Harlow June 12, 2018

Apartment rents in Detroit are now the fastest rising in the United States among the nation’s largest cities, growing at an annual rate of 5.3 percent as of May 2018, according to Yardi Matrix and RENTCafé. Across the Midwest, the apartment market remains very strong with high demand and therefore increasing rents. Jay Madary, president and CEO of Oak Brook, Ill.-based JVM Realty, spoke with REBusinessOnline to discuss the state of the market, including the pace of investment sales. JVM owns and operates Class A and B apartment communities in Midwest markets such as Cleveland, Indianapolis, Kansas City and suburban Chicago. REBusinessOnline: How would you assess the overall state of the apartment market in the Midwest? Jay Madary: I think it’s really strong. In general, supply and demand remain balanced. We’ve certainly seen a surge of new construction in most Midwestern markets, and those new units coming online have cooled rent growth a bit. Whereas we were seeing growth of 5 to 6 percent a couple of years ago, now 2 to 4 percent is more typical. But the robust job growth in the region and the historically low unemployment rates have kept demand high, and those new units are largely being …

June 12, 2018

Features Retail

E-Commerce Works Because it Appeals to Human Nature, Says Coldwell Banker Commercial’s Scott McLain

by Jeff Shaw June 7, 2018

LAS VEGAS — After nearly 35 years of developing and brokering commercial real estate, Scott McLain has no doubt about the deep connection between retail and human nature. McLain, principal and managing broker of Huntsville, Ala.-based Coldwell Banker Commercial McLain Real Estate, sees e-commerce and other new forms of delivering retail products and services as mechanisms that hit on the most basic wants and needs of consumers. For all the talk about how e-commerce is putting retailers out of business, McLain’s view is that retailers that don’t offer value, convenience or the ability to delight consumers are the most vulnerable and have been exposed by online competitors. That holds equally true for online-based and brick-and-mortar retailers. REBusinessOnline.com caught up with McLain at the RECon show in Las Vegas in late May for a quick lesson in human psychology and how it applies to Amazon, store closures and retail real estate in the 21st century. His edited responses are as follows: REBusinessOnline.com: In your opinion, have we seen the worst of the store closures yet? How do you see the closures playing out over the next 12 months? Scott McLain: What I’ve discerned recently about this industry is that there’s a …

June 7, 2018

Conference Coverage Features Loans North Carolina South Carolina Southeast Southeast Feature Archive

Competition Intense Among Real Estate Lenders, Says InterFace Carolinas Panel

by John Nelson June 7, 2018

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Capital One Multifamily Finance’s Chad Thomas Hagwood kicked off with a fastball. When prompted with the often used “what inning are we in?” question, Hagwood’s response was indicative of how competitive commercial real estate lending is today. “I don’t know what inning we are in of the cycle, but I know I want to play ball,” says Hagwood, senior vice president of Capital One Multifamily Finance. “People are after it, and we intend to fight it out tooth and nail.” Hagwood’s commentary came during the closing capital markets panel of the ninth annual InterFace Carolinas, a half-day event that drew 212 attendees from North and South Carolina’s commercial real estate community. Bryson Thomason, senior director of Greenville, S.C.-based PMC Real Estate Capital, moderated the panel. The most intense competition for financing is in the multifamily space because of the proliferation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and their designated lenders. The two government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) have been competing against each other as well as other lenders. Hagwood describes the competition between the two agencies as a “bloodbath.” “It’s all out brutal warfare competition the two,” says Hagwood. “I do expect Fannie and Freddie to be very competitive …

June 7, 2018

Features Lee & Associates New York Northeast Northeast Feature Archive

Manhattan Sees Major Growth Spurt of Service-Oriented Retailers, Says Lee & Associates’ JP Sutro

by David Cohen June 6, 2018

LAS VEGAS— Since joining Lee & Associates in the New York City office in 2012, JP Sutro has closed over $200 million in retail lease transactions. The executive managing director specializes in representing both retail landlords and tenants throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn. REBusinessOnline caught up with Sutro during the RECon show in late May to get his take on the state of the retail market in New York City. The three-day deal making and networking event is the world’s largest global gathering of retail real estate professionals and typically attracts about 37,000 registrants. REBO:Nordstrom’s first foray into New York City has begun. A three-story, 47,000-square-foot men’s store opened at 57th Street and Broadway in April. How significant is it that Nordstrom has entered the market? Sutro:It’s fantastic. All the owners I know that have property on 57th Street have been waiting for this moment. They really think they are going to see an influx of more shoppers and more retailers playing off the Nordstrom’s idea — especially when you hear of other department stores not doing so well. It’s interesting to see Nordstrom having such confidence in the market, especially 57th Street, which has historically been a very strong shopping district. …

June 6, 2018

Conference Coverage Features North Carolina South Carolina Southeast Southeast Feature Archive

‘Broadening’ Economy on Track for Longest Expansion Cycle in U.S. History, Says Wells Fargo’s Mark Vitner

by John Nelson June 5, 2018

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It’s been nine years since the Great Recession ended, and if the economy can make it to June 2019 without suffering a relapse, it will be the longest business cycle in U.S. history. Mark Vitner, managing director and senior economist of Wells Fargo Securities, believes that will happen because of how broad-based the recovery has been. “For the most part, over the last nine months to a year all 50 states have been growing, which is something that hasn’t happened before,” says Vitner, who is based in Wells Fargo’s Charlotte office. “Typically, when the economy broadens it makes for a more durable expansion. When the strength of the economy begins to narrow, with fewer industries and states expanding, that’s usually a sign that a recession is a year to 18 months ahead.” Vitner’s commentary came during his keynote address at the ninth annual Carolinas InterFace conference. The half-day event, which took place on Thursday, May 31 at the Hilton Charlotte City Center hotel in Uptown Charlotte, drew 212 attendees from across the commercial real estate industry in North and South Carolina. The veteran economist says that the United States is currently at full employment with a majority …

June 5, 2018

Features

Jobs Report: Unemployment Rate Hits 18-Year Low at 3.8 Percent

by Taylor Williams June 4, 2018

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its monthly jobs report on Friday, June 1, revealing that the U.S. unemployment rate dipped to 3.8 percent following the addition of 223,000 jobs in May. The total increase in nonfarm payrolls exceeds the running 12-month average of 191,000 new jobs per month. The job growth numbers exceeded economists’ expectations, which according to Reuters was estimated at 188,000 new jobs. This performance contributed to the unemployment rate reaching its lowest mark since April 2000. “The new unemployment rate shows that April’s rate of 3.9 percent was not an anomaly,” says Ryan Tharp, director of research at Houston-based Transwestern. “But it’s important to note that the drop is partially attributable to tepid growth in the size of the U.S. labor force, which added just 12,000 workers in May following drops in the previous two months.” Year-to-date wage growth clocked in at 2.7 percent for May and relative to April 2018, wages increased by 0.2 percent. The inflation rate, which currently sits at 2.4 percent, is close to the Federal Reserve’s target rate. Tharp says that the current rate of inflation is a point of concern because it is only slightly higher …

June 4, 2018

Features Retail

C&W Analyst: New Wave of Store Closures on Deck for American Retail Market

by Jeff Shaw June 1, 2018

LAS VEGAS — Another massive spate of store closures is coming in America, and both retail landlords and operators should expect to feel the strains of an over-retailed market until the next recession, according to one of the nation’s leading analysts of retail real estate. Garrick Brown, vice president of retail intelligence at Cushman & Wakefield’s Rancho Cordova, California, office, believes that an overall economic downturn will be a key catalyst in alleviating America’s excess retail space, as a recession will push retailers that are eking out a profit over the red line. The arrival of an economic slump that reduces consumers’ disposable incomes should trigger the next wave of store closures, said Brown. The victims are bound to be retailers that have yet to distinguish themselves from their competitors in terms of either product pricing or shopping experience. Brown spoke to REBusinessOnline at ICSC RECon in Las Vegas, the world’s largest retail trade show that was held on May 20-23. In addition to laying down some tough realities for American retail, Brown noted that the next couple years are likely to see more leveraged buyouts of struggling retailers as well as a rise in food hall concepts. Brown’s edited …

June 1, 2018

Features Southeast Feature Archive

Creating a ‘Personal Experience’ is Key for Retail Landlords, Says CREC Partner

by Camren Skelton May 31, 2018

LAS VEGAS — The combination of significant population growth and a shortage of supply makes it an ideal time to develop retail projects in the South Florida market, according to Sabrina Stimming, director of retail leasing and partner at CREC, a full-service real estate firm. The population of Miami-Dade County was estimated at 2.75 million in 2017, up from 2.25 million in 2000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That’s a 22 percent increase over a 17-year period. However, stiff competition from e-retailers is among the biggest issues facing landlords today. REBusinessOnline sat down with Stimming at RECon, the world’s largest retail trade show held last week in Las Vegas, to discuss South Florida’s retail scene. Discussion topics ranged from store closures and backfilling vacant space to embracing internet-proof tenants for today’s shopping centers. What follows is an edited interview: REBusinessOnline: When you reflect on the past year in the South Florida retail market, is there one trend, project or hot-button issue that stands out and why? Sabrina Stimming: Store closures for sure — the continuation of some major boxes that are closing. This past year hhgregg, Winn-Dixie and Toys ‘R’ Us have all closed. That’s big stuff. Toys ‘R’ …

May 31, 2018

Content Partner Features

Credit Unions: An Overlooked Source for Commercial Real Estate Loans

by Amy Works May 30, 2018

Credit unions may not be top of mind for commercial real estate investors seeking financing. In fact, many people do not realize that these lending institutions offer commercial financing alongside a variety of consumer and residential loans. These not-for-profit organizations fundamentally operate to serve their members, typically by providing attractive yields on depository accounts and by offering lower interest rates on vehicle loans, mortgages, and yes, commercial loans. As a not-for-profit organization, a credit union essentially returns profits to its membership as opposed to shareholders. Credit unions can widely vary in their ideas about what type of services and offerings best benefit their members, notes Larry Silberman, manager of commercial loan originations with Chicago-based Alliant Credit Union. Some credit unions may focus on serving a local geographic region, while others offer loans nationwide. Some may target niche markets and employers, while others look for a diverse membership base in a local community. Alliant offers nationwide commercial real estate financing from $7.5 million to $35 million with terms up to 15 years. As a credit union with a national membership base, Alliant’s commercial lending platform has no geographical limitations. Silberman notes that for Alliant, the enhanced returns that the national commercial …

May 30, 2018

Features Heartland Feature Archive Lee & Associates Retail

Retail Conversation Is All About ‘Rightsizing,’ Says Lee & Associates Principal

by Jeff Shaw May 29, 2018

LAS VEGAS — At RECon, the world’s largest retail real estate trade show held last week in Las Vegas, REBusinessOnline sat down with veteran Chicago broker Rick Scardino of Lee & Associates. A principal with the Chicago office, Scardino spearheads the retail division at Lee & Associates of Illinois. Discussion topics ranged from backfilling vacant space to local, independent grocers and the movement of online retailers embracing brick-and-mortar locations. What follows is an edited version of that conversation. REBO: According to Mid-America Real Estate Corp.’s Shopping Center Report, development has tailed off about 5 percent year over year. Is that a surprise or not? Scardino: This has been going on for a few years. It’s well known that the United States is the most over-developed retail country in the world by far. It’s all about rightsizing, simple supply and demand. I don’t see it as a bad thing. Certainly existing landlords who aren’t developing are thrilled to see less new competition coming online. There really hasn’t been a need for it. Mellody Farm in Vernon Hills, Illinois, is one of the few new projects with Whole Foods Market, REI and Nordstrom Rack as anchor tenants. Regency Centers Corp. is the …

May 29, 2018

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