In a collaborative effort with a commercial real estate workout firm, Regal Properties announced on December 18, 2012 that, after the owner successfully restructured $183MM portfolio of primarily retail properties located in six states, Regal Properties sold the distressed Lake Havasu Mall in that portfolio for less than $16MM. Completed in September 2008, the center includes 704,164 square feet of retail space located on Hwy 95, across from the Havasu airport. JC Penney, Dillard’s and Wal-Mart anchor the center, with ... Read more

Approximately $362 billion of commercial real estate debt will mature in 2012, and approximately $1.73 trillion (about the size of California’s economy) over the next 5 years, through 2016.  How the market will address this tremendous demand remains to be seen, especially in light of the fact that about two-thirds of these maturing loans are under water.  Many banks remain concerned about their balance sheets and limiting their commercial real estate exposure, and the ... Read more

Expect retail rents to begin rising toward the end of 2012 due to absorption of available store space in shopping centers and malls, and the dearth of new supply.  Secondary markets and smaller shopping centers typically occupied by non-credit tenants also show signs of improved market fundamentals. According to Co-Star, while asking rents continued to decline in the fourth quarter of 2011, the pace of decline slowed to 1% or less in most markets, as concessions also ... Read more

America’s Finest City and County enjoy a slightly better economy than most other places in the United States. San Diego’s economy remains fairly stable, having gained approximately 15,000-20,000 jobs in 2011. The population continues to grow by more than 30,000 people per year, adding about 10,000 new households annually. Thus, San Diego has a growing base of consumers and real estate occupants. San Diego did not overbuild in the last ten years like some other ... Read more

Apartment buildings continue to be the commercial real estate investment darlings in 2011, causing the multi-family sales volume to leap nearly 80% in Q-2, over the same period last year. The average per-unit price reached $88,500 -- the highest since the third quarter of 2008, according to CoStar. Strong renter demand generated by former homeowners and a growing number of young households continues to push down vacancy rates and drive up rents. As cap rates ... Read more

Consider these 5 factors in deciding whether to pay off a mortgage early: Do you have at least 18-24 months of living expenses in liquid assets?  In the event you lose your job, incur a substantial and unforeseen expense, or become temporarily disabled, you will need liquidity; and given the current economy and jobs market, it would be wise to be conservative. Do you owe more on your mortgage than your property is worth? If yes, then consider the ... Read more

The Milky Way Galaxy, the home galaxy of Earth and its solar system with a single star, contains 100-400 billion stars and is estimated to have at least 50 billion planets, 500 million of which could be located in the habitable zone of their parent star. If that doesn’t blow your mind, the Milky Way is only one of about 200 billion galaxies in the observable universe.  Kinda puts it all in perspective, eh? Read more

Congress recently overhauled the Americans with Disabilities Act for the first time in two decades, and commercial real estate owners and tenants would be prudent to verify compliance with the appropriate 1991 or 2010 Standards to avoid costly litigation and sanctions. The ADA establishes requirements for businesses that provide goods or services to the public (“public accommodations”), which include stores, restaurants, bars, service establishments, theaters, hotels, recreational facilities, private museums and schools, doctors' and dentists' ... Read more