Western Feature Archive

Vegas Multifamily Renters Want Higher End Properties, Need More Affordable Options, Say InterFace Panelists

by John Nelson May 6, 2019

The Las Vegas Valley’s multifamily market is at an interesting crossroads, according to panelists at InterFace Las Vegas Multifamily. Hosted by InterFace Conference Group and Western Real Estate Business, the half-day conference was held April 24 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Las Vegas. The metro area’s population is growing at a rapid pace, with a net migration of 45,000 new residents in 2018, according to research from Marcus & Millichap. This is the largest annual total for Las Vegas since 2007, right before everything went south for the Southwest. “We started to recover later,” said Stephen Miller, professor and director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), who gave the conference’s special lunch presentation. “The recession here was deeper than the national average. It has been a slow slog, but in the last couple of years we’ve been growing more rapidly than any other state in the union in terms of employment.” He’s not wrong. Companies have already added 33,000 new positions to the Las Vegas Valley in 2019. This is a 3.2 percent gain that exceeds the previous five-year average, noted Marcus & Millichap. Most of these jobs were …

May 6, 2019

Conference Coverage Features Industrial Nevada Western Western Feature Archive

‘Mature’ Las Vegas Industrial Market a Safe Bet for Investors, Say InterFace Panelists

by John Nelson May 2, 2019

A stable economy, lower unemployment rate and diversification of industries are bringing more overall investment activity to Southern Nevada’s industrial real estate scene, noted panelists at InterFace Las Vegas Industrial. Hosted by InterFace Conference Group and Western Real Estate Business, the half-day conference was held April 24 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Las Vegas. Using the terms “investment” and “Las Vegas” in the same sentence can cause many veteran decision-makers to pause as they remember the state that this city was in 10 years ago. During the Great Recession, Las Vegas was struggling to survive and many were uncertain about the city’s long-term future as visitors shunned Vegas hotels and casinos as they went into self-preservation mode. “There was nothing more depressing here than the recession when you could drive from one side of town to the other in half an hour because no one was going to work,” said Larry Monkarsh, owner of LM Construction and moderator of the conference’s Developers/Owners panel. Times have certainly changed, ushering in a new era of investment, commerce and development that has brought a renewed sense of confidence to Las Vegas. Though market players will always have varying opinions, one word reigned …

May 2, 2019

Conference Coverage Features Retail Western Western Feature Archive

Key to Successful Retail? Know your Community, Says InterFace San Diego Panel

by Amy Works March 27, 2019

Being in tune with one’s self is always a positive thing — and San Diego seems to thrive at this. The county has such a keen sense of awareness that it even boasts a Self-Realization Center up in Encinitas. Knowing one’s identity extends beyond the spiritual world in this part of California, however. It is also a prudent retail strategy, as panelists at InterFace Conference Group’s San Diego Retail Conference, held March 19 at the Sheraton Hotel & Marina, attested. For retailers and shopping center owners, self-realization centers around your brand’s message. What’s your history? What are your core values? What story are you trying to tell, and what lifestyle are you trying to sell? These answers are important, as they will likely determine your physical location and potential success with that San Diego consumer. This, naturally, also means that retailers and shopping center owners must be just as knowledgeable about their consumer and submarkets as the consumers are about themselves. “We have to go back to the fundamentals that every property is different, every submarket is different,” said Pat Donahue, chairman and CEO of Donahue Schriber and a developer panelist. “We’re in a world where mall operators wanted to …

March 27, 2019

Conference Coverage Features Multifamily Seniors Housing Western Western Feature Archive

Has Seniors Housing Gone ‘Mainstream?’ InterFace Panelists Weigh In

by Kristin Harlow March 26, 2019

LOS ANGELES — Seniors housing has generally been considered a niche asset class with niche residents. After all, there are age restrictions, finite timelines for most residents, third-party advocates (namely, the senior’s family), elevated rental rates, highly trained operators, a limited selection of amenities and oftentimes residents with special needs. None of the above has changed in recent years. What has changed, however, is the onslaught of Baby Boomers inching toward that stage in life where seniors housing services can accommodate their growing needs. What has also changed is the larger investment community’s perception of this product type and its potential, noted Investment Market Update panelists at InterFace Conference Group’s Seniors Housing West event, held March 7 at the Omni Los Angeles. The amount of capital chasing deals was a theme throughout the day-long conference, with numerous speakers noting there just isn’t enough supply to keep up with demand. “Seniors housing and skilled nursing has all this capital chasing it because it’s suddenly not an alternative asset class,” said Talya Nevo-Hacohen, CIO of Sabra Healthcare REIT. “The perception is that this is suddenly mainstream.” Panelists expressed concerns that this sudden interest may entice the wrong type of investors — and …

March 26, 2019

Conference Coverage Multifamily Western Western Feature Archive

InterFace Panel: San Diego Leaves Multifamily Investors Wanting More

by Amy Works March 22, 2019

SAN DIEGO — Multifamily properties in San Diego are in high demand — and not just among Millennials and empty nesters who long for convenience, walkability and beautiful ocean views. Panelists at InterFace Conference Group’s San Diego Multifamily Conference, held March 19 at the Sheraton Hotel & Marina, viewed this market as a hot one… if you can get in. “There hasn’t been a ton of multifamily transaction activity in San Diego,” said Aldon Cole, senior managing director at HFF and moderator of the “Who’s Lending?” panel. “It’s an interesting market that we’re all trying to navigate. We have to adapt in a low-trade environment.” San Diego’s reputation for being a stable market and one where people want to be are two of the factors contributing to this lack of opportunity. “During the last downturn, San Diego was the most stable market,” noted Mark Gleiberman, CEO of MG Properties Group and Developers/Owners panelist. “It always tends to be one of the most stable markets that we’re in. It’s not totally resistant to a downturn, but San Diego tends to fare better in most recessions than other markets.” Desirability paired with strong market fundamentals has created a very competitive landscape among …

March 22, 2019

California Conference Coverage Features Healthcare Western Western Feature Archive

Healthcare Real Estate Investors Choose to Diversify in Face of Fever-Pitch Property Demand, Say InterFace Panelists

by John Nelson March 14, 2019

It’s a highly competitive environment when it comes to healthcare real estate out West, so say InterFace Conference Group’s Healthcare Real Estate West panelists. One of the central themes of the day-long conference, which was held March 6 at the Omni Los Angeles and attracted 219 attendees, was the pent-up property demand from investors. However, most panelists agree the opportunities are somewhat limited due to a lack of new product and the long-term holding pattern many healthcare investors have adopted. “You have all this demand, yet transaction volume is staying flat,” said Darryl Freling, managing principal at MedProperties Realty Advisors and moderator of the 2019 Outlook panel. “Where’s the bottleneck? So much is held by healthcare systems and they’re not letting go because clearly there’s just so much demand.” Shane Seitz, fellow panelist and senior vice president at CBRE, doesn’t see this level of trading picking up, at least not with the current healthcare supply. “REITs don’t get incentivized to turn over their product,” he noted. “They buy and hold. They treat it just like the nonprofit health system does. They want to have it forever. We also have foreign and domestic groups coming in. They historically invest in funds, …

March 14, 2019

California Conference Coverage Features Seniors Housing Western Western Feature Archive

ProMatura’s Wylde: Seniors Housing Must Get Back to Basics

by John Nelson March 12, 2019

LOS ANGELES — Bells and whistles may be a distracting way to get a prospective seniors housing resident’s attention, but Margaret Wylde, CEO of ProMatura Group, believes they can take away from the core purpose of providing a safe, welcoming environment for seniors. “We spend so much money in this industry on amenities that people will never use,” she said. “People want a place they can call home. A place they can live in. A place where they don’t have to hide their things. We can cut out some amenities and invest more in rentable space and give them a better home to live in.” Wylde made the comments during her keynote address at InterFace Seniors Housing West, held March 7 at the Omni Los Angeles. The audience for her address was nearly 300 seniors housing industry professionals. The latest data from Mississippi-based research firm ProMatura notes that amenities aren’t identified as a priority to seniors, though they can make their families feel optimistic about a facility. The actual residents are focused on the type of unit, floor plan and price. “Gardening areas, libraries — they don’t help,” said Wylde. “It’s not about how much we can cram in to entertain. …

March 12, 2019

California Features Multifamily Walker & Dunlop Western Western Feature Archive

Expect Multifamily Debt Market to Grow Overall in 2019, Says Walker & Dunlop’s Jeff Burns

by Taylor Williams February 28, 2019

SAN DIEGO — While agency volume may decrease slightly in 2019 due to tougher energy conservation standards in green lending programs offered by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the multifamily debt market overall is expected to grow this year, according to a veteran mortgage banker. Jeff Burns, managing director at Walker & Dunlop’s Walnut Creek, Calif., office, spoke to REBusinessOnline at the MBA 2019 Commercial Real Estate Finance/Multifamily Housing Convention & Expo. The event, held at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, took place Feb. 10-13. Although the 10-year Treasury yield is down about 50 basis points since reaching 3.2 percent in early November, most economists expect long-term rates to rise in 2019. (Investor worries over trade conflicts, a volatile equities market and falling oil prices led to a precipitous drop in the yield on the benchmark Treasury note.) Burns, who is responsible for new loan origination in California and the western United States, discussed trends in agency lending as well as the state of the multifamily market. What follows are his edited responses: Rebusinessonline.com: What trends are you seeing in agency financing for the multifamily sector in the western region? Jeff Burns: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac continue to …

February 28, 2019

Features Retail Western Western Feature Archive

10 Ways to Screw Up a Retail Investment Sale

by Amy Works January 9, 2019

By Philip D. Voorhees, Vice Chairman, CBRE During more than 730 retail investment transactions in the Western U.S. totaling more than $11 billion, we’ve identified some sure-fire ways to make an already tough retail investment sale transaction even more challenging. Our pain is your gain. In the cases below, we’re giving you the test after the lessons! 1. Move Slowly, and Lack Urgency. Nothing kills a retail investment sale transaction like a lack of urgency. All too often, sellers fail to have a Purchase and Sale Agreement (PSA) ready when an agreement is reached on the Letter of Intent (LOI), subsequently squandering a week or two while their attorney completes the draft PSA. It can also be difficult to circle the partners to obtain consensus on the next action step if you don’t have a “point” person designated as the lead for a partnership. Sellers will oftentimes mirror slow PSA comment turnaround times from a buyer, assuming the stance that, “if the buyer is slow, we’ll take our time, too.” This makes no sense: Eyes on the prize, sellers! Solutions: • Approve template LOI/counter proposal and PSA drafts early in the marketing process. • Put legal counsel on standby when …

January 9, 2019

California Features Retail Western Western Feature Archive

Revival is Afoot at the Nation’s Regional Malls

by John Nelson October 30, 2018

The malls of yesteryear are not dead, but many are in need of a revival if they want to thrive tomorrow and beyond, believes Leslie Lundin, co-founder and managing partner at LBG Real Estate Cos. Lundin, who held the “Transforming Challenges into Opportunities” workshop on Monday at ICSC’s Western Dealmaking Conference at the Los Angeles Convention Center, asserts that many mall properties are situated in prime traffic corridors — meaning the traffic is there but it’s up to the owner to take advantage of these numbers. She points to the Shops at Hilltop, a 1.2-million-square-foot shopping center in the San Francisco East Bay submarket of Richmond, as one example. LBG acquired the asset, which is currently undergoing a rebranding and re-tenanting just off Interstate 80 in a dense traffic corridor that sits 20 miles northeast of San Francisco, in July 2017. It is set to become an Asian-themed shopping and entertainment destination that includes a movie theater, live theater, grocery store, food hall, and more than 100,000 square feet of restaurants along with various entertainment-related tenants. The Shops at Hilltop will also include off-price, valued-based tenants such as H&M, Forever 21 and Saks Off Fifth. Rich Walter, executive vice president …

October 30, 2018

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