Wakefield Inc., panelists included: Joaquin de Monet, president
& CEO of Arden Realty Inc.; Richard Pink, managing director of
ING Clarion; Tom Sherlock, senior managing director of Buchanan Street Partners; Michael Lowinger, senior regional director
of fund management at Wrightwood Capital; and panelist David
Binswanger, executive vice president at Lincoln Property Co.
“Over the last six months, a significant of capital has been sitting
on the sidelines waiting to take advantage,” said Scott Farb, managing principal at Reznick Group, in a presentation on private equity
funds, which followed the investment panel. “Clearly the sentiment
is, why buy today?” he added.
Going forward, Farb said that some trends to track for the rest of
2009 include: the US will take the lead in attracting worldwide capital; distressed real estate assets and debt will be the prime opportunity; funds with “dry powder” and no legacy issues will sit on the
sidelines waiting for compelling opportunities; and core compe-tencies, experience and asset management skills “will be required
to manage existing investments and will be in high demand.”
The brokerage panel, titled “How to Adapt to Changing Demands in the Market,” emphasized client solutions, echoing
themes seen recently in GlobeSt.com’s “Brokers: How Can We
Make Money?” webinar. (To view the webinar, go to http://www.
globest.com/webinars.)
Moderator Tony Natsis, partner of Allen Matkins, joined panelists Whitley Collins, senior managing director of Jones Lang LaSalle; Lew Horne, executive managing director of CB Richard Ellis;
Bill Lee, founder and ambassador at large of Lee & Associates; Martin Pupil, executive managing director of Greater Los Angeles for
Colliers International; and Joseph Vargas, executive vice president
of Cushman & Wakefield.
“Our clients are much more interested in the boarder perspective, and we are interested in accelerated commitment between
different lines of business,” explained Horne, when discussing the
changing client demands in the marketplace.
During a panel session titled “Office Market Update: When Negative Absorption Stops Being Negative—Where Do We Go From
There?” moderated by Jerry Porter, chairman of CresaPartners, participants debated over just how long tenants will rule the roost.
“People just aren’t at their desks,” said Porter, who noted “I’ve
never seen a bigger bid-ask in office rents than I have in the last
three years.”
Frank Campbell, market managing director for Equity Office,
agreed the market looks to be sluggish. "As I look forward, 2009 is
not projected to be a strong year for employment in California.” But
he expressed confidence that things will start to improve.
Other panelists included Rick Shlemmer, principal of Shlemmer
+ Algaze + Associates; Bert Dezzutti, SVP of Brookfield Properties;
and Michael Lynch, CIO at Arden Realty Inc.
As in the office session, panelists at the multifamily outlook session titled: “Is Bigger Really Better in Today’s Market?” said that
the markets are sluggish, but moderator Jim Hughes, a partner of
the real estate group at Greenberg Glusker, said that multifamily is
Two Hot Topic s... Two New N ational Real Share Virtual Co n ferences
Wed., Apr. 22, 2009 at 12: 30 PM (ET)
Finding opportunities in the apartment and condo markets
nationwide despite the unstable economy and housing market.
Conference Topics:
The impact of the housing crisis and the recession have had and
when--and how--multifamily market recovery will arrive.
Debt & equity capital markets update: Who is filling the credit void
and what is the cost of equity in today’s environment?
Buy, sell or hold: Is it safe to jump back into today’s investment market?
How to play and win in the competitive value-add and redevelopment
markets.
Making development deals work amid an equity-starved, high land
cost, prolonged entitlement environment.
Opportunities in niche product types: student housing and seniors’ housing.
Capitalizing on distressed multifamily assets.
For more information:
Colleen McShane Colleen.mcshane@incisivemedia.com (213) 430-0304
For details and to register:
www.realshareconferences.com/multifamily
Wed., May 6, 2009 at 12: 30 PM (ET)
The challenges and benefits of retrofitting an existing asset
or portfolio with green elements.
Conference Topics:
Highlights of the key additions and revisions within LEED 2009, the
newly approved version of the USGBC’s green building certification
program for commercial buildings.
The critical challenges of ensuring a successful green asset.
How office, industrial, multifamily and retail asset owners, investors
and developers can better their returns-on-investment.
Breaking down the costs of green improvements and designs and
how to get them financed when capital is locked-down.
How brokers can position themselves to gain new agency or tenant
rep assignments through understanding green elements.
How to navigate green building construction from site selection
through planning to approval processes.
For more information:
Jason Young Jason.young@incisivemedia.com (212) 457-9683
For details and to register:
www.realshareconferences.com/green
