real estate investment trust

National Real Estate Investor - commercial real estate investing and development About Us | Contact Us | Advertising | For Search Partners | Privacy Policy Sort by Date Relevancy Resources and Services Capital Markets Center Retail Tenant Directory Best of the Best Industry News Developer News Broker News Area Reviews Executive Q&A Office Multifamily Retail Industrial Hotel Net Lease/1031 Exchanges REIT Updates Investors Capital Markets Property Management Corporate Real Estate Technology Tax Issues First Word Financing Today Money & Real Estate Tax Notes Washington Wire Last Word Retail Traffic Industry Associations Data Points Home -- Kelo Verdict Bolsters Private Development As Public Use -- TIME TO SELL? New research from National Real Estate Investor and Retail Traffic , and sponsored by Hutensky Capital Partners, provides insights on the climate for shopping center sales. Click here to download . December's Cover Story Forecast 2006: Five trends driving the industry Dec 1, 2005 12:00 PM While mounting pressures may produce cracks in the economic recovery in 2006, the nation is on track to close out 2005 on a resilient note. Real GDP growth... More -- FEATURED DOWNLOAD 100 Ways to Save Costs in your Retail Operation Supplement For ways to save on day-to-day operational products and services, be sureto to download a copy of our 100+ Ways to Save including a complete listing ofSimon Preferred Vendors and Service Providers. Clickhere to download . News Articles GE/Arden Deal Caps Big M&A Year Dec 28, 2005 3:32 AM When General Electric agreed to buy office real estate investment trust (REIT) Arden Realty last Thursday, the $3.2 billion deal capped a heady year for REIT mergers. Not only is the southern California-based office landlord the eighth publicly-traded REIT to change hands this year in roughly $20 billion worth of deals, but its also further evidence that institutional capital still has a voracious appetite for real estate. And December proved to be an especially active month for REIT mergers: Centerpoint Properties Trust was sold to a joint venture earlier this month for $2.4 billion.... More -- Ground Zero Waiting Game Dec 21, 2005 1:49 PM Four years after the 9-11 attacks, lower Manhattans office market is on the mend. But 7 World Trade Center, one of the first towers to rise along Ground Zero, is lagging behind the recovery with just 40,000 sq. ft. of its entire 1.7 million sq. ft. leased as of late December. The problem, say brokerage sources, are the above-market rents at 7 World Trade Center, which is being developed by Silverstein Properties and is slated for occupancy in March. ... More -- D.C. Hotel Property Sold Dec 21, 2005 10:57 AM LaSalle Hotel Properties has bought a downtown Washington, D.C. hotel for $44.6 million. The hotel REIT also plans to invest another $21 million into the Holiday Inn Downtown. ... More -- GE Buys Swedish Office Tower Dec 21, 2005 10:55 AM GE Commercial Finance Real Estate has bought the leasehold to Gta Ark, an office building located in downtown Stockholm. The purchase price amounts to roughly $57 million (U.S.). Approximately 28% of the property is leased to the Local Authority of Stockholm. This is the second office property that GE Commercial Finance Real Estate has acquired in Stockholm since last summer. ... More -- GE Lends To Investment Fund Operator Dec 21, 2005 10:54 AM GE Commercial Finance Real Estate has closed a $28.7 million transaction with HEI Hospitality for the HEI acquisition of the 250-room, full service Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Airport. ... More -- Hoteliers Eye Booming 2006: Report Dec 16, 2005 11:48 AM The U.S. hotel industry should post record profits in 2006, based on a recent report by PricewaterhouseCoopers hospitality practice. Not only is 2006 likely to bring record profits but also the industry should expect two more years of solid growth. ... More -- No Worries On Non-Core Industrial Development Spike Dec 14, 2005 1:34 PM Planned development activity in secondary and tertiary industrial markets set a blistering pace in the third quarter with 38.5 million sq. ft. of new construction starts, reports CB Richard Ellis. That was up from only 16 million sq. ft. in the second quarter. Whats more interesting, however, is that a full third of that third quarter activity was initiated in secondary and tertiary industrial markets rather than the major shipping hubs on the west and east coast. ... More -- Property Fund Launched Dec 9, 2005 4:24 PM Henderson Global Investors has launched an open-ended, commingled real estate fund that will invest in a range property classes. The fund will chiefly buy apartment, retail, industrial and office properties located in select U.S. markets. Henderson Global Investors manages more than $10.1 billion in assets. ... More -- CB Richard Ellis and Trammell Crow Agree… The top 2 U.S. asset managers -- CB Richard Ellis and Trammell Crow -- have all moved to the Realm PAY Platform for Paper-Free A/P. Click here to discover why. The Best of the Best 2005 Oct 20, 2005 1:55 PM National Real Estate Investor presents its annual rankings of the leading commerical real estate companies. Intent on shedding its image as a highly fragmented industry, commercial real estate continues to experience a wave of consolidation. For industry veterans, it's like watching a game of PacMan. The giants of the industry are gobbling up smaller players and each other at a healthy clip.... More -- IN PRINT Current issue Hurricane Winds Blow Through Condo Market Dec 1, 2005 12:00 PM The condo market in Miami-Dade County, which is bursting at the seams with new construction and intense investor demand, took an unexpected hit in October... More -- Unlocking Building Value Through Repositioning Dec 1, 2005 12:00 PM One of the most striking buildings on Chicago's skyline is CNA Center. Since it was built in 1972, the 1.3 million sq. ft. red tower has operated as a... More -- Why Public REITs Are Going Private Dec 1, 2005 12:00 PM During the early 1990s, private real estate companies with large portfolios rushed to become public real estate investment trusts. Now the pendulum has... More -- Magazine Subscriptions Email Newsletter Advertiser Information Online Marketplace Back to Top © 2005 Primedia Business Magazines and Media. 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Denver Real Estate Site

Denver real estate; entertainment Denver entertainment Denver Weather Who ever said, "If you don't like the weather, wait a minute." must have been visiting Colorado! [ Click Here for More ] Education Denver's greatest asset as a business location is the high level of education of its citizens.. [ Click Here for More ] Newspapers The Denver area is serviced by two major newspapers and many neighborhood journals. [ Click Here for More ] Shopping Whatever you fancy, antiques, art, clothing; Denver attracts shoppers from all over the West. [ Click Here for More ] Recreation Colorado has unlimited recreational opportunities, there's something for everyone. [ Click Here for More ] Employment A list of Denver and Colorado's employers. [ Click Here for More ] Colorado Ski Mountains Enjoy the crisp, light powdery snow, only Colorado offers. [ Click Here for More ] Spectator Sports Colorado spectator sports encompass four seasons, there's always something happening. [ Click Here for More ] search Denver Real Estate Site Entertainment The Denver area is bustling with entertainment and cultural possibilities to accommodate the needs of its diverse population. Innumerable dining experiences are available to tempt nearly every palate. Movie theaters showing the latest first run films can be found in most neighborhoods. Nightclubs and dancing clubs geared to all age groups abound throughout the city, and with the development of Coors Field Stadium and Elitch's Amusement Park in lower downtown, "LoDo" has become an active location with many nightclubs, restaurants and shopping. Denver is the cultural center for the Rocky Mountain region. Covering four square blocks downtown is the city's Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Home to several resident dance, music and theater troupes, the complex has one of the nation's most unique concert halls, three theaters, an arena and a cinema. Broadway and major plays, musicals and musicians are presented throughout the year. Adjoining the center are several levels of parking and a shopping galleria. Colorado was the seventh state to require that agencies spend construction money on art. The impressive Denver Art Museum is inspiring for the treasures it exhibits and for its unique architecture. Small theaters and individual art galleries also abound in Denver, with music and dance performances an integral part of the cultural scene. Just west of Denver is Red Rocks Amphitheater, a natural wonder as well as a cultural facility, which has long been a favorite site for summer concerts featuring some of the country's most popular entertainers. Also featuring summer concerts is Fiddler's Green located southeast of the city. Denver's suburbs also contribute to the advancement of the arts. The Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities has become a model for many other cities contemplating similar facilities for their communities. Subsidized by the City of Arvada, federal grants and private donations, the center has a wide array of classes, theater and musical events. Downtown Littleton has a similar facility, known as the Littleton Town Hall Arts Center Kristal Kraft , ABR, CIPS, CRS Licensed real estate broker selling Colorado Since 1984 The Berkshire Group Realtors, Inc. 3801 E. Florida Ave, Suite 502, Denver, Colorado U.S.A. 80210 800-319-7738 toll free | 303-589-2022 direct | 720-554-7961 fax E-mail: Kristal Kraft, Realtor 1998-2005, © Reflective Motion Inc. | Privacy Policy | Site Credits | Disclaimer | Site Map ~2 ~3 ~4 Denver Relocation | Buy a Home In Denver | Sell a Home in Denver | Denver Map | Denver Neighborhood Profiles | Denver Sales Statistics | International Real Estate | A Bio | My Favorite Places | Real Estate Resources Denver Loft Homes | The Berkshire Group | Buy and Sell Denver | We Sell Denver | Denver Colorado Real Estate | Denver Blog

Purchase Property

Construction News Special Focus X-Communication and X-presso Books: Tony Dierckins Around The Region Role of women in region's economy grows: wages are rising but it remains a perilous place for single mothers On The Move NRRI Forest Products promotes lean manufacturing processes News Makers Newsmakers for November-December Construction Minimize risk when you purchase real estate Thursday December 29, 2005 Business News CNNfn CBSMarketwatch Bloomberg Reuters BusinessWeek PRNewswire Political News Salon Slate The Atlantic The Nation Mother Jones Sports ESPN Local Sports Comment on This Story / Send This Article to a Friend Construction News Minimize risk when you purchase real estate 10/14/2005 by Paul Kilgore and Melissa Maloney Purchasing real property involves a substantial financial investment. Whether buying real property to start or relocate a new business, or solely for investment purposes, you can take certain steps to protect your investment. Together, a title insurance policy and survey can protect you from many of the risks. Title Insurance A title insurance policy insures the status of the title to a parcel of real property. Simply put, title means the formal right of ownership of property. While most insurance policies insure against unforeseen future risks, title insurance insures against possible defects in title based on events that have already happened. A title insurance policy may be an owners policy, issued to the purchaser of real property, or a lenders policy, issued in favor of the lender that finances the purchase. An owners policy provides for reimbursement of damages suffered by an owner as a result of title being different than that stated in the title insurance policy. Reimbursement is available up to the stated amount of the title insurance policy. Title insurance also covers attorneys fees and other costs of any covered claim. A lender financing a real property purchase almost always will require the purchaser to obtain and pay for a lenders policy of title insurance. Among other things, a lenders policy insures the lender has a valid, enforceable lien on the purchased property, and that the lien has priority over any other lien. A lenders policy should not be relied upon to protect the purchaser in case of a title defect. Most standard real estate purchase agreements require the seller to pay for and provide the purchaser with a commitment from a title insurance company to provide title insurance. The preparation of that commitment involves a search of the public records to determine the status of title. This process can take a title company a few days or a few weeks, depending on the complexity of the propertys title history. A title insurance commitment is the insurers proposal regarding the terms of the policy. To some extent, these terms are negotiable. The commitment includes the legal description of the property, its fee owner, the proposed insured party, and any exclusions from coverage. A title insurance commitment typically excludes coverage for liens, easements, or mortgages already recorded in the public records, as well as any facts - such as encroachments and roadways - that would be revealed by a survey. The purchaser, rather than the seller, typically pays the one-time premium for an owners policy. This responsibility may be negotiated between the parties. The premium is based on the purchase price. An owners title insurance policy provides coverage throughout the insureds ownership of the property. If it later is conveyed by warranty deed, coverage continues (for the insured party, not to the new buyer) even after the property is conveyed. Survey A property survey is the process by which a parcel of land is measured, and its boundaries and contents ascertained and mapped. The finished product of a survey most often is a scaled drawing that illustrates locations of buildings, fences, streets and other improvements in relation to property lines. A survey assists the parties to a real estate transaction in understanding exactly the property included in the transaction. In Wisconsin, only a professional land surveyor licensed by the states Department of Regulation & Licensing may perform a survey. The cost depends on the characteristics of the area to be surveyed, including the parcel size and level of detail required by the transaction. From the buyers perspective, the purchase agreement should make the obligation to purchase contingent upon an A.L.T.A.(American Land Title Association) survey by a registered land surveyor, with the results acceptable to the purchaser. The purchase agreement also should state who will pay for the survey. It should be ordered early in the purchasing process to allow sufficient time for completion. Obtaining the survey early also will leave time to deal with title defects or other issues the survey may reveal. To remove the title insurance policy exclusion regarding facts ascertainable by a survey, a recent survey performed by a registered land surveyor must be presented to the title insurer, along with the surveyors certificate of no encroachments. An encroachment occurs when a building or other improvement to a parcel of real estate overlaps the boundary line and encroaches onto a neighboring land parcel, or when a neighboring improvement overlaps onto the insured property. Therefore, unless a survey is obtained and the survey exclusion is deleted, a title insurance policy alone does not protect a purchaser if an encroachment is later discovered. The title insurance commitment and survey should be examined by the purchasers attorney well in advance of closing to allow time to work out any title issues and to negotiate the terms of the title insurance policy. The bottom line: A comprehensive title insurance policy and survey protects the buyer from undiscovered title issues and minimizes risk in a real estate purchase. Paul Kilgore is a shareholder at Fryberger, Buchanan, Smith & Frederick, and practices in the areas of real estate acquisition, finance, litigation and mineral rights law. Hes a certified real property law specialist. Melissa Maloney is an associate attorney at the firm, practicing in the areas of commercial and residential real estate. They can be reached at the law firms Duluth office at 218-722-0861. 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Buy Property

MONEY Magazine: Buying property with family or friends - Oct. 21, 2005 Web CNN/Money Home News Markets Technology Commentary Personal Finance Autos Real Estate Real Estate SAVE | EMAIL | PRINT | SUBSCRIBE TO MONEY | Buying property with family or friends Is it a blessing or a curse? The right due diligence makes all the difference. October 21, 2005: 4:10 PM EDT By Gerri Willis , MONEY Magazine Top things to know Are you ready? Lining up cash Picking a team The hunt Closing the deal For sellers only NEW YORK (MONEY Magazine) - John D. Rockefeller once said that "a friendship founded on business...is a good deal better than a business founded on friendship." He might have added: "Except in real estate." That's because some of the most successful real estate companies have started as alliances of friends and family. Orange County, Calif. megadeveloper the Irvine Company was created in the 19th century by James Irvine and his son. Donald Trump's dad Fred taught his Apprentice plenty about the family biz. Chicago real estate guru Sam Zell credits much of his success to his longtime partnership with his college pal, the late Robert Lurie. (Old John D.'s spawn didn't fare too badly either with a family venture in the 1930s called Rockefeller Center.) To be sure, if you're just starting a real estate project, you'll find it difficult to resist the temptation to bring in friends and family as partners and investors. After all, those are the people you know and probably trust the most. But how do you avoid the seemingly inevitable "Dallas"-style dramas? 1. Trust but verify Even if she's your sister or cousin, you should investigate a would-be partner's finances before doing business with her. Handy Web sites like Intelius.com and Public-records-now.com can help you unearth basic background info like tax liens or bankruptcy filings. Ask her to share a copy of her latest credit report. Talk to her former business associates. To avoid ill will, tell her from the get-go that you'll be prying -- and invite her to do the same with your background. If she balks, calmly explain that such precautions will only make for a stronger team, suggests Nicole McAllister of the University of Southern California's Lusk Center for Real Estate. "Remember, this is business." 2. Share a vision It's critical that you and your partners agree to common goals before you buy. Will you renovate that apartment house to a level that would make a Hyatt Regency manager blush? Or do you want to rent the property "as is"? Is the goal long-term cash flow or cashing out quickly? Many partnerships founder on these simple points. 3. Get it in writing Lawyers and their contracts can't prevent every calamity, but a written agreement -- think of it as a prenup before your partnership marriage -- can prevent headaches (and heartaches) for you and the family or friends who invest with you. At the very least, an operating agreement will force you to plan for the unexpected, including death, divorce or a change of mind. You must also spell out exactly what happens if one of your partners wants to sell. Establishing a contingency plan "gets everything on the table," says Philip Davis, a C.P.A. and principal at accounting firm Kauffman & Davis in Boston. "It's like going to a therapist." 4. Hire strangers Unbiased advice is essential for all involved. Brooklyn real estate broker Tammy Shaw knows plenty about the business, but she says she'd never have bought her brownstone with family without professionals at her side. "Build a team ahead of time -- an attorney, mortgage broker or banker, and contractor," she suggests. "They have to be people all of you feel comfortable with." 5. Be an open book Garry Klein, co-founder of real estate fund Highpoint Equities in Scarsdale, N.Y., knows both the hazards and huzzahs of working with friends and family. He started buying real estate nearly a decade ago with his buddy Jeff Gault; family members have been a big source of capital ever since. "The upside is that these people know you and know what you're about; they cut you more slack," he says. "The downside is these are people you're going to see at Thanksgiving dinner." Klein shares thorough, detailed investment results every six months. Ultimately, success depends on your own ability to find good deals and execute. Friends and family can make a newcomer feel more comfortable, but you'll need to adopt professional practices for your effort to really pay off. ____________________ Gerri Willis is host of CNN's Open House. Write her at real_assets@moneymail.com . For more articles on Real Estate, subscribe to MONEY Magazine . The Hot List Most profitable renovations How risky is your 401(k)? Big new tax credits for hybrid cars More Real Estate How to buy and build on rural land Most overvalued housing markets When booms go bust... contact us | magazine customer service | site map | glossary | RSS | press room OTHER NEWS: CNN | SI | Fortune | Business2.0 = Money subscribers = Premium content -- * - Time reflects local markets trading time. † - Intraday data is at least 15-minutes delayed. Disclaimer © 2005 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Terms under which this service is provided to you. privacy policy Reprints of site stories are available. Top Stories Most overvalued housing markets Risks to the economy in 2006 Which was the worst ad of all in 2005? After the ride, a rest Hilton brands reunite after 40 years YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS Follow the news that matters to you. Create your own alert to be notified on topics you're interested in. Or, visit Popular Alerts for suggestions. Manage alerts | What is this?

Real Estate Prices

Home price increases may have flattened - Nov. 15, 2005 Web CNN/Money Home News Markets Technology Commentary Personal Finance Autos Real Estate Real Estate Buying & Selling SAVE | EMAIL | PRINT | SUBSCRIBE TO MONEY | Outlook sours for real estate Many indicators point to a major slowdown in home prices. November 15, 2005: 5:47 PM EST By Les Christie, CNN/Money staff writer Most overvalued markets The real estate markets most vulnerable in a housing bust Metro market Median home price Percent overvalued Naples, FL $489,875 79.35% Santa Barbara, CA $609,999 73.69% Merced, CA $256,348 71.71% Salinas, CA $539,273 70.49% Stockton, CA $307,849 68.66% Medford, OR $246,245 64.78% Port St. Lucie, FL $210,727 64.17% Riverside, CA $291,170 62.92% Modesto, CA $287,030 62.77% Madera, CA $256,417 60.39% Source:National City NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Did homeowners who sold in September get out just in time? The latest report on third-quarter home prices, released Tuesday by the National Association of Realtors, showed continued strength. But increasingly there are signs that prices have plateaued. Of 147 markets tracked , 69 had gains from a year ago of more than 10 percent -- only six metro areas experienced declines. But from the second quarter to the third quarter, the national median home price rose to $215,900, up just 3.8 percent. That contrasts with a 10.4 percent jump in the prior quarter. And more and more leading indicators are pointing to a slowdown. In Boston, real-estate investor Matthew Martinez reports recently having spoken to five condo converters. "They all said the party was over," Martinez said. In Florida, Elena Filipa, vice president of the Corcoron Group in West Palm, said "We've leveled off. I would say prices will go up this year, but not as fast as they have." None of this surprises the many economists who have been waiting for a downturn. Richard DeKaser, chief economist for mortgage banker National City, has been reluctant to call the top, but thinks it has finally passed. "We're coming down the other side of the mountain," said DeKaser. The signs include: Builder pessimism The builders DeKaser surveys are less optimistic than they were even a few months ago. Separately, one leading builder, Pennsylvania-based Toll Brothers, announced last week that expected demand for 2006 would be down, resulting in moderating price increases and fewer sales. New-home sales declining DeKaser also notes that the number of new homes sold have fallen sharply since peaking in July at an annual rate of 1.3 million units. DeKaser calls new-home sales (rather than existing-home sales) the canary in the coal mine. "Developers tend to be more sensitive to market conditions," he said. They have cash flow issues, payrolls, and loans that put more pressure on them to sell. Ordinary home sellers are often more selective than developers, even taking properties off the market if they don't get the price they want. Developers have to drop prices to move inventory. Inventories rising Supplies of new homes are way up, to nearly 500,000 units, from 350,000 a few months ago. "That's an all-time high for new homes," says DeKaser. The higher the inventory, the more likely prices will fall. Sell times are up Houses are sitting on the market longer. New homes now take about 4.1 months to sell and existing homes 4.7; both figures are up substantially. What to expect In a recent survey, NAR members say they predict home prices to rise only 5 percent in the next 12 months. Nearly half of the realtors predict prices will rise less than five percent and 6.4 percent actually expect prices to fall. "You can't expect double-digit price increases to go on forever," said Walter Molony, spokesman for NAR. "We're seeing a market in transition in which there'll be an easing of price increases in the future." While DeKaser expects a slowdown, he predicts an "orderly transition" for the most part, with some exceptions. "There will be busts in some markets," he said. "Mostly, we'll come out of it unscathed." For the most part, DeKaser doesn't envision losses on that scale. He thinks home prices will decline 1.7 percent during the fourth quarter of 2005 and stay almost flat all the way through 2007. But history shows that some over-valued markets could fare much worse. Molony points out that the most severe drops in real-estate prices are usually triggered by an underlying economic crisis. After oil prices went into a six-year decline in the late 1970s, housing prices in oil cities experienced steep drops. In Oklahoma City, prices plummeted 26 percent in real dollars from 1983 to 1988. With inflation, the "real" loss was more than 40 percent. Houses in many oil patch cities are worth less in real dollars than they cost more than 20 years ago. How to protect yourself It may already be too late to cash out at the top, which some residents of hot markets have already done. About 500,000 California residents moved out of state since 2001, according to economy.com, many to take advantage of lower housing prices elsewhere. But houses are not really investments in the same way stocks or bonds are. As an investment, timing the market is touchy -- miscalculate and it can cost you. If, for example, you cashed out a year ago in Los Angeles, expecting to buy back in at a lower price, you'd have to spend nearly 23 percent more for a similar house this year. Add closing and moving costs and commissions and it could cost 30 percent more to get back into the market. Cashing out just doesn't make sense except for retirees or others in a position to relocate or downsize. People looking to buy right now should shop carefully. Look at a number of homes, try not to fall in love, and be realistic about prices. Don't be afraid to bid low. The days of multiple bids may be over for a while. With interest rates rising, try to get into a fixed-rate loan. Adjustable rate loans could adjust to a much higher level when they come due, making monthly bills much costlier. ARMs rates are so close to fixed at this point, it costs little extra to forego the risk of higher rates in the future. ________________________________________________________ Latest prices for 147 markets. Housing affordability is at a low point. For more, click here . Just as the good times may be ending, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange is beginning to offer futures trading in home prices. For more click here . For more articles on Real Estate, subscribe to MONEY Magazine . The Hot List Most profitable renovations How risky is your 401(k)? Big new tax credits for hybrid cars More Buying & Selling Least affordable rental markets Take this home market...and love it Double jeopardy for landlords contact us | magazine customer service | site map | glossary | RSS | press room OTHER NEWS: CNN | SI | Fortune | Business2.0 = Money subscribers = Premium content -- * - Time reflects local markets trading time. † - Intraday data is at least 15-minutes delayed. Disclaimer © 2005 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Terms under which this service is provided to you. privacy policy Reprints of site stories are available. Top Stories Most overvalued housing markets Risks to the economy in 2006 Which was the worst ad of all in 2005? After the ride, a rest Hilton brands reunite after 40 years YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS Follow the news that matters to you. Create your own alert to be notified on topics you're interested in. Or, visit Popular Alerts for suggestions. Manage alerts | What is this?