Working in the commercial real estate industry, you get a perspective of how large and multi-faceted this industry is, with hundreds of different jobs, roles, motivations, and ultimately types of assets that are managed, maintained, invested in, leased, and developed. For many outside of the industry, commercial real estate can seem like a "linear concept”, but it is far from that.
Read MoreIt’s well known that we still have a problem with the under-representation of women and visible minorities in the corporate environment. The great news is so many individuals of all genders are taking an active role in working to improve corporate policies and these statistics in all industries. In fact, from 2015 to 2020, the representation of women in senior-vice-president positions grew from 23% to 28%, and representation in the C-suite grew from 17% to 21% across all industries (Mckinsey). Unfortunately, these statistics are still not flowing through to the commercial real estate sector where the salary gap has actually widened for women between 2015 and 2020.
Read MoreI recently had the enjoyment of sitting down with my esteemed colleague and friend, Chad Griffiths, Partner at NAI Commercial, and Gerald Tostowaryk, host of The Real World of Real Estate podcast, to discuss the past year and our upcoming projections for the Alberta industrial real estate market.
Read MoreIt wasn’t so long ago that the Edmonton sub-markets of Nisku and Leduc were hailed as the oil and gas heartbeat of the Region. These industrial parks established themselves as the incubators for oil and gas manufacturers, service providers, fabricators, transporters, and many others, aiding in growing our Province’s resource production to all time highs. Edmonton is the capital of the North, but Nisku and Leduc are among the workhorses that allowed the real North to be developed.
Read MoreIf you’ve ever been interested in commercial real estate, and particularly investing in real estate, there are some simple calculations that you should be aware of and understand in order to determine the winners and losers for your portfolio. As you practice these calculations more often, you will be able to quickly pre-qualify potential opportunities to determine if they are viable for your pursuit, or for your existing assets, if they remain performers and worth holding.
Read MoreOver the past few years, investors have taken an increased notice in the temperature controlled real estate sector, expanding both their build-to-suit developments, as well as those speculative in nature. The ever-growing demand for fresh food on a global scale, in addition to the storage requirements for temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals, has created a uniquely desirable asset class, showcasing currently its added benefit of being relatively recession proof.
Read MoreIn the coming months, we will be entering into a global recession, unemployment will rise, liquidity will decrease and insolvency will be the ultimate looming presence. In the short-term it will be brutal, but in the medium term, it will be okay. In this blog, I’ve outlined the potential causal effects that this pandemic will have on the various, unique commercial asset types, and where the opportunities lie.
Read MoreTechnology is impacting the construction industry like never before. An impressive lineup of developments are aiming to improve the efficiencies of a sector that shapes how every human being is able to live their lives.
Read MoreAnd suddenly, you know…it’s time to start something new!
Read MoreWhile activity has stayed fairly constant with regard to tenant/purchaser requirements and listings, the deal flow has been slow as most companies continue to have a low risk tolerance in Alberta. Add to this the much anticipated Federal election expected in October of this year, and there has been a mentality of hurry up and wait…until there is a change up federally that is.
Read MoreUnless you’ve had the opportunity to be involved with real estate investments in the United States, you may not know what a 1031 exchange is. Also called a like-kind exchange, this is a unique and progressive policy under the IRS that allows allows an investor to sell a property, reinvest the proceeds into a new property, then defer all capital gain taxes until a future date. It improves asset liquidity, increases market transaction volume, and promotes larger capital investment into the market.
Read MoreIn what appears to be a long, slow road ahead for the Alberta marketplace, it is essential that the City of Edmonton and the City of Calgary find ways to spend smarter, not harder, in order to improve the entrepreneurial mindset in these cities, increase business confidence, and slow the outward migration.
Read MoreCore, Core Plus, Value Add and Opportunistic are terms used to define the risk and return characteristics of a real estate investment. They range from conservative to aggressive and are defined by both the physical attributes of the property and the amount of debt used to capitalize a project. Have a look at the following videos and sections, where I’ve briefly explained the differences between the four strategies.
Read MoreThis week I wanted to jump back into my ‘Hotelie’ roots and highlight trends of the Canadian Hospitality Industry. Though not discussed as frequently, the lodging industry in Canada makes up a large part of the commercial real estate transaction volume in our country. In fact, 2016 and 2017 saw roughly $4.1 Billion and $3.5 Billion, respectively, in total transaction volume, the highest numbers in over ten years!
Read MoreMonth after month, we discuss the effects of automation and advancing technologies on the changing landscape of the commercial real estate industry. Whether it's the billions of dollars being invested globally into distribution chain robotics and drones for logistics networks, or the rise of beacon technology emanating from our smart phones to create enhanced and tailored retail experiences, technology is changing the way we do business, and in fact, how we experience life as a whole.
Read MoreThe commercial real estate industry continues to transform, creating new opportunities and challenges for users and service providers alike. These trends are affecting the commercial real estate sectors individually (Industrial, Retail, Office, Hospitality and Multi-Family), as well as the industry as a whole. Being knowledgeable and able to adapt to these changes will create opportunities instead of threats for those [so lucky] to be involved.
Read MoreIf you've driven past or to the Edmonton International Airport (EIA) lately, you'll likely have noticed that it is a changing and growing landscape. The EIA innovatively came up with a Master Plan for the future of the land surrounding the Airport that involved making available much of the Airport's under-utilized land for the purpose of commercial development by private companies.
Read MoreWhat could Alberta's Capital City look like in five years? Here's some of the most influential projects being proposed!
Read MoreIt's safe to say that we are finally coming out of the trough of this current market cycle. However, we have been witnessing something interesting happening within our industrial market, particularly between the multi-tenant and single-tenant product classes. Click here to find out more.
Read MoreIt's like a flashback in time right now, a City and its prized NHL team at odds over the future of their athletic program and critically, the home that they will play in. Fortunately for Edmontonians, it's not groundhog day in this Town, but rather, this is occurring in our Sister City of Calgary just three hours south.
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