There are essentially four elements in developing a strategy to minimize property taxes: The law, dates and timing, risk and reward, and a professional team. As in many aspects of real estate, there are practical considerations and then there are details to be addressed by specialists. Here are some points to consider in your strategy [...]
By James DuMars As the commercial mortgage banking market has been discussing for the last few months, CMBS as a debt vehicle is essential to the functioning of our real estate capital markets. However, it is important to grasp how vastly different CMBS is from a portfolio loan at a life insurance company. When it [...]
The USC Lusk Center’s Richard Green blogs about the retail sector’s performance: positive trends, areas for concern and what to watch.
The value of property is influenced by demographic fluctuations. Thus, when property owners receive their tax assessment each year, it is essential that they and their tax professionals carefully examine demographic changes in the markets where their properties are located. Estimated demographics are available at any time, but the end of a census provides a [...]
The HVAC plant has made great strides in efficiency over the last 25 years. As the industry has evolved, variable-speed technology has emerged, heat transfer material has improved and automation logic has been refined. Some estimates put energy usage at up to 40% more efficient than it was just a quarter of a decade ago. [...]
With a growing number of high-profile Web sites such as those belonging to Sony, Citibank and even the CIA becoming victims to hacker attacks, there has never been a better time to re-evaluate the passwords you use for your online accounts.
The GSEs have continued to perform profitably the core business of providing long-term fixed-rate mortgage capital to the apartment market. But it wasn’t the corporate structure that created this excellent, well-operated business line within Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, it was the people who were there every day. And through the inaction and missteps–and in some cases careless negligence–of regulators and politicians, the multi-family businesses of the GSEs are on a path that, if not corrected soon, will lead to their effective demise.
In states recognized for their fair property tax systems, five characteristics account for their being called fair. 1. The tax appraisal process is separate from tax levy and collection. Giving an appraisal district sole responsibility for assessing tax values removes valuation from political influence. It also promotes transparency, because a single value is established on [...]
Shekar Narasimhan offers his thoughts on how the GSEs benefit the rental housing market, whether privatization is a viable alternative and the risks of not finding a solution quickly. Click on the link for his thoughts. And then weigh in with your own thoughts!
Commercial Property Executive asked CREOpoint to share some of the CREObuzz ™ highlights regarding the industry’s reaction to CoStar acquisition of LoopNet. Despite the clear fit between Research and Marketing, the sentiment was mixed. There was agreement that the combined company would be a “strong” (569 online mentions) “giant” “winner”. Although both CEOs Andrew Florance and Richard Doyle pushed upbeat messages about innovation, cost reduction and cross selling, most of the buzz ended up being about the “I own the market” culture of CoStar and likely price increases.
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