REAL ESTATE NEWS, TRENDS AND ANALYSIS

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

DEALS China Developer to Take Majority Stake in Atlantic Yards

Bloomberg; October 13, 2013

TRENDS AND ANALYSIS REITs Turning to Office Properties for Future Growth
CoStar Group; October 12, 2013

Greenland Holding Group Co., a developer building one of Chinas tallest towers, agreed to buy a 70 percent stake in New Yorks Atlantic Yards, the 22-acre residential and commercial real estate project in Brooklyn. Greenland signed a memorandum of understanding with Forest City Ratner Cos. to co-develop the project, including infrastructure and apartment units, the companies said in a joint statement today. The deal excludes the Barclays Center, home of the National Basketball Associations Brooklyn Nets, and the first housing tower under development [READ MORE]

The nations equity REITs are selling more property this year than they are buying compared to the past couple of years. In fact, they have already become net sellers of industrial properties. Notably, however, the REITs are pivoting their investment strategies to increase their office property holdings at a faster rate than they are selling them. The spread has almost doubled so far this year compared to last year [READ MORE]

Colliers International Releases 2013 Global Retail Highlights Report

October 15, 2013

Freddie Mac Sells $195M in First Bulk Loan Sale

GlobeStreet; October 15, 2013

Retail markets globally rebounded in the first half of 2013, driven primarily by international and luxury brands expanding into new markets. Find the complete report here.

McLEAN, VA-Freddie Mac has launched its first multifamily bulk loan transaction, selling a portfolio of seasoned assets that had been residing on its balance sheet since before it entered conservatorship. The winning bidder was an affiliate of Colony Capital. The company purchased 27 performing mortgage loans that had an unpaid principal balance of $195 million. The purchase price for the portfolio was not disclosed. Freddie Mac retained Mission Capital Advisors as loan sale advisor. [READ MORE]

How Will Older Office Buildings Compete in the New Workplace?

CoStar Group; October 10, 2013

Office properties in core CBD markets have delivered

above-average returns for investors over the past two decades and remain a favored asset class today. However, with more than half the existing Class A office space in the CBDs of Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington, DC built before 1980, the increasing age and relative inefficiency of these properties present big challenges and risks for owners and investors as businesses increasingly reevaluate and re-engineer their office requirements to meet leaner 21st-century workplace needs [READ MORE]

CWCapital Asset Management LLC Selling $2.57 Billion Portfolio of Real Estate and Commercial Mortgage Loan Assets in U.S.
Sacramento Bee; October 12, 2013

CWCapital Asset Management LLC (CWCAM) is currently marketing a $2.57 Billion portfolio of predominantly cash-flowing real estate and commercial mortgage loan assets spread across the U.S. [READ MORE]