Author: James Anderson

The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it is considering selling off hundreds of “non-core” federal properties, according to the General Services Administration. “GSA’s decisive action to dispose of non-core assets leverages the private sector, drives improvements for our agency customers, and best serves local communities,” the agency said in a news release linking to a list of 440 properties that included the headquarters of the FBI and the Department Justice. Later Tuesday, however, the list was scaled back to 320 properties, with all DC-based properties removed. By Wednesday, the list of federal buildings had been removed from GSA’s website, which now says the list…

Last summer, rule changes from the National Association of Realtors, the powerful real estate trade organization, threatened to upend the way Americans buy and sell homes. Some experts predicted the 6% commission, the unofficial fee for buying or selling a home, would be finished. Now, six months later, as the 2025 spring homebuying season kicks off and the turbulence caused by the new rules has faded, real estate professionals say the actual effects have been muted. “Paperwork has changed, and I think some really good things have happened in the way most of us discuss commissions upfront with our buyers and sellers,”…

By Brielle Scott Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, shared an overview of the macroeconomic environment and potential policies of the new administration on a recent webinar hosted by Marcus & Millichap. A panel discussion followed, and NAIOP President and CEO Marc Selvitelli joined Zandi, along with Jeffrey D. DeBoer, president and CEO, The Real Estate Roundtable; Hessam Nadji, president and CEO, Marcus & Millichap; and Sharon Wilson Géno, president, NMHC, to discuss key trends for commercial real estate. Key takeaways from their discussion: Overall, panelists see reason for optimism in 2025. As Zandi put it, “The American economy…

By Lucy Cromwell Private equity firms often consider commercial buildings a smart place to invest their money, and property may be perceived as a stable investment option. As with all types of investing, it is vital to keep up to date with the latest trends in the industry. In recent years, there have been huge advances that have changed the how, where and why of commercial real estate investment, including PropTech, big data and rising interest in mixed-use developments. Here are some of the key emerging trends in the sector that you could consider leveraging for greater profit. Adoption of…

By Toby Burke Logistics and warehouse facilities play a critical role in goods movement and the supply chain for meeting the needs of consumers, governments and businesses across North America. The essential role that these facilities play, as well as their economic contributions and job creation, must be taken into consideration in policy debates that could affect their viability. However, many state legislatures are currently considering anti-warehouse legislation, similar to California’s Assembly Bill 98, that would hinder future development of these facilities. As background, California lawmakers quickly “gut and amended” Assembly Bill 98 in the final three days of the…

By Marie Ruff A new year always generates a flurry of activity on Capitol Hill, and a new presidential administration amplifies the flurry into a whirlwind of new policies, initiatives, personnel and more. During NAIOP’s Chapter Leadership and Legislative Retreat (CL&LR) earlier this month in Washington, D.C., members had the opportunity to hear from someone with extensive experience as both a presidential advisor and political analyst. Keynote Scott Jennings, CNN contributor, conservative columnist and former advisor on four presidential campaigns, has decades of experience at the intersection of politics and the media. He began his career as a reporter and…

By Maria Gatea In 2023, approximately 7.5 million people moved interstate in the United States, a trend that remained relatively constant over the past decade. At the same time, local moves are on a downward trajectory. In 2014, nearly 12% of the population – 37.6 million people – relocated within their state. By 2023, that number had dropped to 9%, or 30 million. High mortgage rates and unaffordable housing are discouraging many Americans from upgrading to larger homes or better neighborhoods. However, state-to-state relocations remain strong as people seek access to dynamic job markets and more affordable housing. Who’s moving…

By Albert de Plazaola Among shifting cultural dynamics, corporations are increasingly asking employees to revert to pre-pandemic work models. While many companies continue to embrace and evolve a hybrid work model, in September 2023, a trio of the old guard – Goldman Sachs, Blackstone, and JP Morgan – abolished hybrid in favor of an all-in approach. Their reasoning centered on mentorship, cultural cohesion and the irreplaceable value of in-person deal-making. Throughout 2024, announcements of U.S. corporate giants mandating a return to office (RTO) came in waves. Five-day mandates arrived from UPS and Boeing, from AT&T and Citi, from IBM and…

By Ryan Severino It’s been more than two months since the Federal Reserve (Fed) cut interest rates by 25 basis points (bps), but the market optimism around monetary policy has shifted significantly since then. This move was widely anticipated by most; however, the market reaction was complicated and confused by other follow-up statements. Commercial real estate (CRE) investors want to understand how shifting monetary policies will affect the CRE environment. The answer may not be so cut and dry. The Fed had initially projected four rate cuts in 2024, however, it then scaled back its guidance to just two. That…