Features

Distressed Property Outlook: Valbridge Forecasts 2021 Opportunities

by Sarah Daniels January 19, 2021

When the pandemic took hold and rents of commercial properties began to waver, many experts in the industry expected a flood of distressed properties to hit the market in mid- to late 2020. To date, however, that hasn’t happened to a large extent. Valuation firms assumed they would get busier as properties fell upon hard times. Karl Finkelstein is vice president of Business Development and senior managing director for Valbridge Property Advisors, an independent, commercial valuation and advisory services firm based in Naples, Fla. with 80 offices nationwide. Finkelstein spoke recently to REBusinessOnline and explains that while not many high-profile sales have happened, other factors have kept those in his area of the industry busy in recent times. Finkelstein covers likely outcomes for distressed properties in 2021 and which sectors are performing well. A flight to quality, low rates and a reevaluation of shifting pandemic timelines have meant that the valuation business has its work cut out for it. Asset Type Winners and Losers There isn’t much surprising in the list of property types experiencing difficulties at the moment. Lodging properties (especially those tied to conventions), fly-to resorts, urban retail and standalone restaurants (particularly those without drive-thrus) all experienced a …

January 19, 2021

Features Loans

What an Uncertain Commercial Real Estate Outlook in 2021 Means for Financing

by Jeff Shaw January 15, 2021

By Steven Caligor, BHI In these early days of 2021, there appears to be some cautious prospects of hope. A COVID-19 resurgence both internationally and domestically, further lockdowns, and even a new variant of the virus create uncertainty. However, the vaccine rollout has sparked market rallies, along with hopes of returning to a degree of normalcy toward the end of the year. We now have a stimulus package and a new presidential administration. Yet this scenario is tempered by a focus on the predicted winter COVID activity, thus creating further question marks. Even the economic forecasts present a mixed picture. The base case from the Conference Board calls for a 3.4 percent annual expansion of the U.S. economy in 2021. Yet the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that GDP will increase 4.2 percent in 2021, and the CBRE Real Estate Market Outlook forecasts 4.5 percent GDP growth this year. The ambiguity of where we are in the COVID crisis — whether there is an end in sight and when — will determine prospects for the real estate sector. In 2021, the real estate story will be all about asset class, density and geography. For each of these aspects, to paraphrase …

January 15, 2021

Content Partner Features Multifamily Walker & Dunlop

Multifamily Market Offers Resilience in the Face of Economic Pressures

by Sarah Daniels January 14, 2021

A Tale of Two Cities “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” More than 150 years later, the iconic Dickens quote still strikes a chord. While every recession is different, the pandemic-induced shelter-in-place rules quickly sent the U.S. economy into the deepest recession on record in the second quarter. Fortunately, economic recovery, at least thus far, is proving to be just as swift — in certain areas. While unemployment rates dropped quickly from 14.7 percent in April to 6.7 percent in December, a more detailed look shows widening inequality that has yet to be resolved. For those with a bachelor’s degree or higher, unemployment peaked at only 8.4 percent in April and has since fallen to 3.8 percent — a rate that was once thought to be near the point of equilibrium for the economy. Unemployment rates for those with less than a high school education peaked at 21.2 percent and for those with a high school education, at 17.7 percent. To add to the current volatile environment, the contentious U.S. presidential election kept investors on edge, assessing political as well as economic uncertainty, at least in the near-term. Volatility indices remain somewhat elevated, although …

January 14, 2021

Features Retail

Reduce High Retail Occupancy Costs by Ensuring Property Valuation Isn’t Excessive

by Jeff Shaw January 11, 2021

By Morris Ellison, Womble Bond Dickinson E-commerce was here to stay even before the pandemic devastated small businesses and placed an even greater premium on technology. In the changed landscape, lowering occupancy costs by reducing property taxes is one of the most important steps businesses can take to remain competitive. Stay-at-home orders still prevent many shoppers from visiting their favorite brick-and-mortar stores, while fear of contagion exacerbates consumers’ reluctance to shop in person. Regardless of customer traffic, however, retailers still incur fixed costs including insurance, enterprise software, property taxes and, arguably, rent. Online-only retailers’ occupancy costs are much lower, making it difficult for small brick-and-mortar businesses to compete. Put differently, sales taxes decline with reduced sales but property taxes do not. Landlords and tenants in triple net leases often fail to examine property taxes, but the survival of both may depend on reducing this cost. Other costs such as insurance and the enterprise software needed to run the business generally lie beyond a small business’ control and do not diminish with reduced business volume. The active 2020 hurricane season certainly has not reduced insurance costs. During the pandemic, some landlords have deferred or forgiven rent, but this forbearance provides no …

January 11, 2021

Content Partner Features Lee & Associates Western Feature Archive

From Expanding Operations to Leveraging Technology, Lee & Associates Evolves in the Face of Change

by Sarah Daniels January 11, 2021

The situation is a familiar one from the past year: 2020 changed a banner year full of promise into a difficult scenario full of fear and challenges. Jeffrey Rinkov, CEO and chairman of the board at Lee & Associates reflects on how his company took an emphasis on technology and communications infrastructure and used the past year as a time for reflection and a period to promote growth and client engagement. He also discussed trends he’s seeing for the future, the lessons he’s learned from a most unusual year and why he’s feeling optimistic for 2021. Focusing on Clients from the Start It’s hard to believe that less than one year ago, Rinkov’s team was experiencing an industry-wide high of momentum with massive pipelines and robust capital. What happened when the unthinkable came to pass? Rinkov explains that the executive leadership team at Lee & Associates took a moment in the early chaos to pause and evaluate what was critical, “Employee and agent safety, client connectivity and how we could deploy resources throughout our platform in a completely different way to support our agents and their client pursuits and interactions.” Tech savvy, hours of leadership phone calls and ingrained communication …

January 11, 2021

Features Walker & Dunlop

Exit from Pandemic Will Mirror a Butterfly’s Flight Path, Says Economist Peter Linneman

by Kristin Harlow January 8, 2021

The U.S. economy’s exit from the COVID-19 pandemic will mirror the flight path of a butterfly, according to economist Dr. Peter Linneman. In other words, it will move forward but also up, down and sideways — quite erratic and not terribly fast. Linneman’s comments came during a “Walker Webcast” hosted by Walker & Dunlop CEO Willy Walker on Wednesday, Jan. 6. The butterfly stage will continue until enough people get vaccinated where Americans feel safe resuming pre-pandemic activities, argued Linneman. Once that occurs, we’ll enter the flight path of a more steady “migratory bird.” Linneman’s best guess for that timeline is June or July of this year. In order to gauge the economy’s progress, it’s best to monitor GDP growth and employment, not corporate profits or the stock market, said Linneman. In Linneman’s view, 15 percent of businesses and citizens are “really struggling” and will need continued relief and roughly six more months to get their footing. A stimulus focused on that 15 percent segment — including hotel, airline and restaurant workers — is needed, according to Linneman. “It’s not about spending; it’s about targeting,” he said. If the U.S. government can effectively target that 15 percent with stimulus relief, …

January 8, 2021

Features Heartland Feature Archive Multifamily

Pandemic Puts Outdoor Amenities, Middle Markets into Multifamily Spotlight

by Kristin Harlow January 5, 2021

The impact of COVID-19 on the multifamily sector may not have been as severe as its effect on the retail or office asset classes, but there are still many ways that those professionals active in the multifamily space adapted to pandemic-driven changes. Some of these adjustments, such as virtual apartment tours, are likely permanent. Here are four pandemic-related trends expected to influence the multifamily sector in 2021, according to a roundup of Midwest-based real estate experts. Incorporating biophilic design With the COVID-19 pandemic encouraging Americans to stay outdoors for gatherings in effort to reduce transmission of the virus, there is a greater emphasis on the outdoors and nature. Expect multifamily developers to focus more on bringing the outdoors in via building designs, floor plans and amenities. Large outdoor terraces and rooftop amenity areas are becoming increasingly prevalent in new projects, particularly those in urban environments. At Optima Lakeview, a Chicago-area multifamily project currently under construction, developer Optima Inc. incorporated a landscaped interior atrium that will run through the building’s core and bring in natural light. “Green spaces not only improve the air quality for our residents but also those living near our buildings because vertical gardens filter pollutants and carbon …

January 5, 2021

Features Multifamily Seniors Housing

Seniors Housing Struggles Will Continue Through Mid-2021, Say InterFace Panelists

by Jeff Shaw January 4, 2021

With two approved vaccines to combat COVID-19, the end of the pandemic is visible on the horizon. However, some seniors housing experts say it may be the third quarter of 2021 before the sector starts to see the turnaround take hold. “We have a much clearer picture of what the post-COVID world will look like,” said Adam Heavenrich, managing director of Heavenrich & Company. “The COVID world of 2020 will hopefully look drastically different from the post-COVID world of 2021.” The comments came during a panel titled “Investment Update: Should Today’s Investor Buy, Sell or Hold?” during France Media’s InterFace Seniors Housing Investment, Development & Operations conference, held virtually in early December. Heavenrich moderated the panel, which included Kevin Carden, senior vice president of acquisitions, REDICO/American House; Joe Weisenburger, senior vice president and relationship manager, Welltower; Isaac Dole, founder and CEO, Birchwood Health Care Partners; and Curtis King, senior vice president, HJ Sims. King noted that, while the vaccine is certainly good news, turnaround properties and new construction can expect occupancy woes to continue for the near future. “We’re saying 2021 is still going to be a very tough year,” said King. “Pre-vaccination news, we were out there lending, looking …

January 4, 2021

Features Office

OfficeSpace Survey: 71 Percent of Employed Americans Eager to Return to the Office

by Katie Sloan December 21, 2020

ATLANTA — The trend of working remotely swept the nation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic this year. While some are relishing the opportunity to test drive their home offices, a large number of Americans are ready to return to the workplace. According to a recent survey of employed Americans commissioned by OfficeSpace Software, 71 percent of respondents currently working from home are eager to move back to the office once it is safe to do so. Over 70 percent indicated that they feel more engaged and more productive in the office, and 80 percent indicated that they miss in-person collaboration with their coworkers. The novelty of virtual meeting programs like Zoom — a boon for keeping colleagues connected during the pandemic — has also worn thin, with 57 percent of respondents indicating that they are tired of meeting through video. The survey, which was conducted online by The Harris Poll in early December, canvassed 1,206 employed U.S. adults above the age of 18. Fewer than half of the respondents indicated that they are going into the workplace each day, with 17 percent having returned to their offices on a staggered schedule. Safety First While many are ready to …

December 21, 2020

Affordable Housing Conference Coverage Features Multifamily Southeast Southeast Feature Archive

Southeast Enjoys Outsized Multifamily Demand Due to Stellar Job Growth, InterFace Panelists Concur

by John Nelson December 18, 2020

The pace at which global corporations are expanding in the Sun Belt is extraordinary. To name just a few companies generating headlines, Amazon is making a sizable investment at its HQ2 in Northern Virginia and new office tower at Nashville, a number of life sciences and pharmaceutical firms are opening in Raleigh-Durham, Microsoft recently executed a full-building lease and commitment of 1,500 jobs in Atlanta and Oracle and Tesla are relocating to Austin, Texas. Researchers believe this corporate migration is a direct contributor to the region’s multifamily demand. Adam Couch, market analyst of asset optimization at RealPage Inc., said that after experiencing a decade of job creation wiped out in March and April, the region is now leading the charge in the economic recovery, which directly benefits the apartment sector. “For the Southeast, after suffering big losses, we’re in recovery mode now,” said Couch. “Local markets are best performing in places like Salt Lake City, Texas, Denver and Atlanta, where [job growth] is only 2 to 3 percent below February levels. The comeback in [multifamily] leasing was concentrated in some of these Sun Belt areas.” Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta and Houston led the nation in terms of apartment demand in the …

December 18, 2020

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