Retail News Blog

The Portland Metro Area (PMA) apartment market was experiencing low vacancy trends (5% and below in most areas) and increasing rental rates from 2005 through late 2008. Since that time; however, the rental market has seen steady decline in rental rates and increases in concessions and vacancy due to the national recession that has seen [...]

Now that the reality of the credit market crisis, which really began in July 2007, has fully taken effect, 2009 has been a period of repositioning within the market.  Ironically, the repositioning will be a “return-to-the-old”.  Commercial real estate values are returning to the core fundamentals that always drove the market prior to the rise [...]

Commitment to the Arizona Market Highlights Continued Growth of Firm
PHOENIX, AZ – PGP Valuation, Inc. (PGP), the industry-leading real estate appraisal firm with offices worldwide, has announced that Phil Steffen, MAI, has been named executive managing director of the firm’s new office opening in Phoenix, AZ. Steffen is a recognized member of the valuation community [...]

Establishment of Senior Leadership Role Highlights Company’s Dedication to Expanding Services for Government, Institutional and Corporate Accounts
CARLSBAD, Calif. – PGP Valuation Inc., the industry-leading appraisal services firm with offices worldwide, has announced that Lance W. Doré, MAI, FRICS, has been appointed to the newly created position of Vice President, Client Services. In his new corporate [...]

In a recent article by Bloomberg titled ‘Starbucks Pushing Landlords for 25% Cut in Cafe Rents‘ Starbucks is still trying to cut operating costs. Their business model is changing and they no longer can sustain paying outrageously high rents and still turn a healthy profit. When their profits dipped down 69%, they began laying as [...]

Arriving at a decision on the best strategy for how to successfully navigate the commercial real estate market during these challenging economic times is vexing to many an investor. Do I, or don’t I??? That is the conundrum facing most commercial real estate investors in today’s market. Do I, or don’t I liquidate my portfolio (or at least my non-performing assets)? Do I, or don’t I stand on the sidelines and wait-out these turbulent times? Do I, or don’t’ I get aggressive and take advantage of the decline in property values and the spike in acquisition cap rates? In the text that follows I’ll put forth counsel based not upon the emotions of the times, but rather the forthcoming advice is based upon my years of experience in successfully advising clients in both advancing and declining commercial real estate markets.

Do you think the collapse of the real estate market place is determinism (by design) or randomness (everything means nothing)? We can not deny that we have experienced a “bubble”. A bubble merely transfers a share of the future demand into the present. It’s linked with dramatic valuations and always debt funded. It is this [...]

The dislocation in the commercial real estate capital markets that exists today in the second quarter of 2009 has frustrated users of capital and left them feeling hopeless. The small universe of debt and equity providers that are willing and able to provide capital today want to advance less loan dollars on your deal while also taking on less risk. Most of the time that means that it’s a deal you cannot make. Thankfully, after successive quarters of bad news, most of us are past the denial stage and are making attempts to exist in a broken market. The leverage being offered by capital providers today would make sense if cap rates were closer to double digits, but unless and until that market correction happens, there will be further frustrations as both borrowers and lenders are fighting to preserve their equity and maintain returns seen earlier in the decade. The following are some survival tips that could help your deal:

According to the most recent Real Capital Analytics® Quarterly Retail Report the national retail asset sales volume at $1.9 billion (1st Quarter 2009) is down more than 74% from the same quarter one year ago. The only regional mall sale transaction in 2009 year-to-date (YTD) on a national level was the Cincinnati Mall which traded [...]

How have the Capital markets affected lending for the manufactured home community industry?
The significant turmoil in the real estate capital markets has resulted in a considerable vacuum in financing opportunities for Manufactured Home Communities. Once a favorite of the now inactive CMBS/Conduit loan industry, the MHC asset class has become increasingly reliant on Fannie Mae, [...]

On April 15th, we posted an article that described some of the financial difficulties that Walgreens is experiencing, and how this company is retooling to ensure long-term sustainability given current economic conditions. The recent struggles with this company along with scarcity of loan dollars and decreased market demand for all triple net properties are causing [...]

Recent events in the financial markets have led real estate investors to question the impact on the value of investment grade real estate. Uncertainty breeds risk and risk in real estate requires higher yields. This will lead to continued declines in values for the first quarter 2009. However, good quality industrial assets should fare well [...]

Capitalization rates reflect the degree of risk associated with an investment. Net operating income divided by the capitalization rate equals value.
Beginning in 2008, and carrying over into 2009, market conditions have led to a noticeable increase in capitalization rates.  These trends are a function of increased risk perceived by investors and more stringent lending conditions [...]

Walgreens is a national, retail drugstore chain that sells prescription and non-prescription drugs and general merchandise. General merchandise includes, among other things, beauty care, personal care, household items, candy, photofinishing, greeting cards, seasonal items and convenience food. Walgreens’ sales of pharmaceutical items account for approximately two-thirds of all sales.
Walgreens was founded in 1901, and as [...]

“VALUATION TECHNIQUES FOR COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE AMIDST A WORLD OF CHANGE”
Introduction

There is broad sweeping change in the mindset of the World economy caused by the credit crisis, economic downturn and long-term uncertainty, which is having a profound impact on the real estate market. Our job as appraisers is to interpret what is occurring in the [...]

Capitalization Rate Analysis
In this article, a capitalization rate for a strip center is analyzed based on (1) market extraction; (2) national survey; and (3) debt coverage/equity dividend analysis. This is an in-depth analysis that shows how a capitalization rate can be derived when little data is available in a market area. This presentation is an [...]

Many auto dealerships are going dark; over 21 in 2008 according to The Oregonian. In 2009 in the Portland Metro area alone we have seen some big names fall to darkness, most notably the Kuni Cadillac dealership that was located in Beaverton. For an auto dealership, the trade area expands beyond the immediate market area. [...]

Thanks for popping in and checking out our real estate blog. We are just getting this project off the ground so be patient as the site evolves over the next several months. Our long-term goal is to provide a unique real estate experience where users participate in discussion topics, have access to a broad range [...]

Way back in November 1996, Oregon voters passed Measure 47. This was a constitutional amendment popularly referred to as the “cut and cap” tax reform act. The “cut” aspect of the legislation referred to a reduction in taxes for the 1997-98 tax year calculated as the lesser of the 1994-95 taxes or 90 percent of the 1995-96 taxes. Bonded debt would be exempt from the calculations. The “cap” aspect of the measure restricted growth in taxes to no greater than 3 percent annually after the 1997-98 tax year.