- Tourist-Market Investment Tips
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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?
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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.
- Score!
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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
- Niche Knack
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When it comes to commercial real estate brokerage, the days of trying to be everything to everyone are numbered, experts say. Instead, many commercial real estate professionals are discovering a wide range of opportunities in narrow niches. “Today's broker must
- A Maturing Market
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By 2030, an estimated 20 percent of Americans will be older than 65 years of age. Accordingly, the long term prospects in seniors housing look more promising as the baby boom generation retires, presenting developers with a unique set of
- Lots of Opportunity
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Many commercial real estate developers today realize the importance of functional parking structures. If a parking structure is inefficient due to poor design or inadequate site dimensions, the development's cost may be too high to make it feasible. And if
- Ready-Made Investments
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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
- Old School, New Analysis
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While real estate activity has picked up so far in 2011, investors are still very cautious about their property investments. The areas that have remained relatively strong are those niche market sectors that allow easy identification of a market’s demand
- Place Your Bets on Gaming
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Gaming in the United States has changed dramatically over the years. Originally perceived as a sinful activity that was enjoyed predominantly by the very rich, gambling today has been accepted as entertainment and is enjoyed by mainstream society. Likewise, as
- Triple-Net Triple Threat
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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
- Capitalize on Campus
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Rundown campus properties often languish in colleges' real estate portfolios with their revenue potential unrealized. To capitalize on these opportunities, commercial real estate professionals can create joint ventures with educational institutions. The key is to identify the best prospects for
- Healthy Investments
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When southeastern grocery store chain Ingles Markets needed help subletting its 32,000 square foot box in an ailing strip center, the prognosis for leasing to another retail tenant didn't look good. But John D. Spake, CCIM, president of Spake Real
- Manufactured Success
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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
- Investing in the Arts
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"John says he found us a needle in a haystack," says Diane Litsey, executive director of the Children's Dance Foundation in Homewood, Ala. "And he did." The needle was at least 10,000 square feet of dance studio space with 50
- Polish Your Portfolio
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Specialized retail businesses pose risks for commercial real estate investors, but they also can provide rewards in the form of strong return on equity. Carwash investments are on the fast track to becoming a top performing retail niche in many
- Cleaning Up After Dry Cleaners
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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
- Flying High
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Editor's note Air cargo facility development is a growing niche in the commercial real estate industry. This case study examines one CCIM's journey from initial site selection to successful completion of an air cargo facility for Emery, a worldwide air
- Finding Value in Vacant Properties
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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
- Indoor Waterparks
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In 1994, indoor waterpark pioneer Stan Anderson expanded his Wisconsin Dells, Wis., Polynesian Resort to include an indoor waterpark. Since then, other investors have followed suit by getting involved in this lucrative niche. Madison, Wis., based Great Lakes Cos. issued