Real Estate Finance News and Views

04/06/2009

Office Subleases Flood Some Markets

Subleasing is a great solution for a downsizing company stuck with a long-term lease - unless everybody else gets the same idea at the same time. Office space for sublet in Manhattan ballooned from 4.4 million to 10.3 million square feet year over year in Q1, 2009, Chicago added a million square feet and in San Francisco 9 percent of vacant office space is for sublease. The glut drives down office rents overall and sublease rents fall the fastest, down 8% in Manhattan in Q1. Despite the price cuts, subleases remain troublesome: Tenants balk at the cost of building out the space for a short term, while leaseholders don't want to get caught too long when rents turn up. If subleasing is on your mind, check out sample sublease terms from Docstoc and LeasingProfessional.com. --Jeff B. Copeland, Content Product Manager

03/16/2009

Managing Every Move Your Property Managers Make

A new startup company, Zeitgroup, is leveraging the power of Radio Frequency Identification Technology, or RFID, to monitor and manage employee movements wirelessly. The system, RFIDat, will know wherever an employee wherever goes on a business property, and when they show up for work. RFID-enabled ID cards are distributed to every employee and their whereabouts and movements followed by coin-sized detectors distributed throughout the property. Docking stations recharge the cards and collect their data, which is then processed by a central software application to create detailed analyses of each employee's activities. A number of property management roles are highlighted in Zeitgroup's initial marketing efforts, including security, cleaning services, and maintenance. -- Jason Agard, Sr. Associate Editor

03/16/2009

Commercial Real Estate Professionals to Gather in Virtual Space

Real Estate Forum and GlobeSt.com publisher Incisive Media is producing a series of online events for commercial real estate professionals. Their RealShare Virtual Conference events employ a similar format to the in-person events the company has hosted in the past, featuring expert panels, town hall forums, and keynote addresses from industry leaders. Interpersonal networking opportunities are integrated into the experience, and user participation is encouraged. Transcripts of the informational sessions and chats will be created and made available for the four business days immediately following the event. Marketing, sponsorship, and lead generation opportunities are also available. -- Jason Agard, Sr. Associate Editor

03/16/2009

Misery Loves Company: National Loss Mitigation Association Launched

A new, nationwide information clearing house has launched with the goal of coordinated between the mortgage modification industry, government agencies, and lenders to successfully handle the surge in demand for loss mitigation services that the housing crisis has created. The National Loss Mitigation Association, or TNLMA, aims to serve as a public policy advocate for its members, as well as to ensure that they uphold the highest ethical standard in their treatment of beleaguered homeowners, and to serve as a medium for consolidated lobbying efforts that will protect the interests of its members. -- Jason Agard, Sr. Associate Editor

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Real Estate Finance News and Views

Office Subleases Flood Some Markets

Managing Every Move Your Property Managers Make

Commercial Real Estate Professionals to Gather in Virtual Space

Misery Loves Company: National Loss Mitigation Association Launched

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