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Tourist-Market Investment Tips 

The atmosphere may be laid back in tropical tourist destinations, but solid investment opportunities can make some big waves. For example, Curtis A. Skomp, CCIM, senior commercial agent and broker associate with Coldwell Banker Commercial Schmitt Real Estate Co. in

Self-Storage Steps Up 

Despite the difficult economy and market challenges during the past four years, self storage as an asset class has continued to provide solid performance and stable returns for investors. Once dominated by mom and pops, or small, independent owner operators,

Tourist Attraction 

Serving as a powerful economic engine, travel and tourism generate an estimated $1.9 trillion in the U.S. each year, according to the U.S. Travel Association. And, where there are travelers and tourists, there are prime opportunities for commercial real estate

Student Housing Graduates 

In the early 1990s off campus student housing was primarily single family homes and small apartment buildings around universities. The owners were local mom and pop operators who rarely had properties in more than one market. But since then, institutional

Fast-Growing Fast Casual 

The fast casual food segment may be small, but its growth is outpacing the restaurant industry, attracting new competitors and spurring evolutionary changes from quick service and full service brands. Fast casual sales were about $31 billion in 2012, up

Medical Office Momentum 

The re election of President Barack Obama and last year’s favorable Supreme Court ruling on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act have removed some uncertainty as to whether or not the healthcare law will take effect. While some provisions

Healthy Seniors Housing 

Seniors housing demand will continue to be fueled by several factors, including the attractive spread between borrowing rates and capitalization rates, the resurgence of the housing market, and the improvement in the stock market. The continued demand growth is also

Unsinkable Investments? 

Even in today's real estate environment, specialty properties such as marinas hold a particular attraction in select markets and appeal to certain investors. But purchasing a marina is not like buying a retail strip center or a self storage facility.

Smooth Sailing 

Long ago considered the domain of sunburned sailors with red and white striped shirts, eye patches, and spyglasses, boating has blossomed into a trendy recreational activity, especially among families. In the past decade, the number of recreational boats owned has

Sizing Up Self-Storage 

The self storage property sector currently provides great opportunities for investors and developers across the nation. F.W. Dodge reports decreases in the number of self storage property starts during the last five quarters, which bodes well for the supply demand

Student Housing 101 

In 10 years, U.S. campuses will host a million more college students than they do today. To meet the steadily growing demand for student housing, college and university markets are seeing a proliferation of multifamily development projects driven by the

Uncle Sam Wants You 

Editor's note Government demand for safe, modern office space continues to grow, and no single tenant exists in the United States with better credit. Commercial real estate brokers increasingly will have opportunities to promote clients' properties to government entities. What

Call Now 

Despite the annoyance of having dinner interrupted by overeager telemarketers selling insurance or phone service, Americans have responded to phone sales in a big way. Nearly 100 million people purchase goods or services over the telephone each year, according to

Catering to Consumers 

Disenchanted with hamburgers and french fries that have dominated quick service and casual restaurant menus for decades, consumers now demand more flavor and variety when they go out to eat. But there's a catch They want it fast. What drives

Cleaning Up After Dry Cleaners 

While environmental contamination often is associated with industrial sites, dry cleaners—a staple of retail centers—sometimes have their own dirty laundry to air. Cleaning up dry cleaning solvent that has contaminated groundwater aquifers can cost millions of dollars. When the dry

Ready-Made Investments 

Ten years ago, mobile home parks suffered from an image problem and languished in the back of the proverbial real estate investment closet. Savvy investors were aware of their generally low acquisition price tags, attractive operating expense history, and stable

The Rising Tide of Seniors Housing 

To visualize the demographics of the seniors housing market, imagine a shoreline as the tide comes in, each wave slowly yet inexorably creeping higher up the beach. But out on the horizon is a tsunami, a tidal wave of unbelievable

The Self-Storage Transformation 

Self storage has evolved from the homely stepsister to the Cinderella of the commercial real estate industry. Once relegated to sites unsuitable for other productive uses and stigmatized as unsightly metal buildings, self storage properties historically haven't attracted sophisticated investors'

Score! 

In a country where most kids learn the names of sports stars before the name of the president, it is no wonder that cities across the United States place so much emphasis on building stadiums to house their local teams

What's Cooking With Restaurants? 

As day to day life becomes more hectic, Americans increasingly rely on services that save them time and energy. Nowhere is this more evident than in the restaurant industry. With projected sales of $354 billion, 1999 should mark the eighth

Triple-Net Triple Threat 

Looking for a rock solid investment in a shifting economy? Look no further than single tenant net leased properties. In markets where shopping centers sit empty and office buildings are dark, the lights are on (usually 24 hours) at the

Finding Value in Vacant Properties 

Despite its run down exterior, the 125 year old brick property located at Kingston, N.Y.'s busiest intersection evokes many fond memories. “Depending upon who you ask in town, it's the old Chevy dealership, a pool hall, an Army Navy recruiting

Historic Undertakings 

Historic properties may present commercial real estate professionals with many challenges, but they also offer both tangible and intangible rewards. While brokers and developers may have to meet current building codes and obtain government approval for redevelopment projects, they can

Manufactured Success 

When Warren Buffet&rsquo s Berkshire Hathaway acquired Clayton Homes Inc. for $1.7 billion in 2003, investors took notice. In commercial real estate circles, the acquisition drew attention to a sometimes overlooked specialty property manufactured housing communitites, also known as land

Niche Nosh 

What’s the No. 1 down market strategy from The Donald’s blog, Inside Trump Tower? Explore overlooked niches. And what could be more overlooked than boutique hotels catering to the gay and lesbian community? That’s where Jaime M. Rook, CCIM, broker