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All About Commercial Real Estate

Investing in commercial real estate can be a nice way to diversify your investments, and get a new source of passive income. There are however a few things to be aware of before you start investing.

Spotlight

Hudson's Bay Company

HBC is a holding company of investments and businesses at the intersection of technology, retail operations and real estate. It is the majority owner of iconic ecommerce companies: Saks, a leading online destination for luxury fashion, and Saks OFF 5TH, a premier luxury off-price ecommerce company offering top brands at the best prices. Both businesses were established as separate operating companies in 2021.

OTHER ARTICLES
Real Estate Investment, Asset Management

Should Your Real Estate Client Sign An Appraisal Waiver?

Article | May 5, 2023

Real estate professionals sometimes have to answer a buyer’s questions about appraisal waivers. What are they? What do they mean? Is it a good or bad idea for the home loan applicant to sign one? If your client is applying for a home loan, signing an appraisal waiver does not mean that the home won’t be appraised. The lender will insist on an appraisal, to ensure that they’re not lending more money than they can expect to recover if they foreclose on the mortgage. An appraisal waiver is a document loan applicants sign to tell the lender that they’re waving their right to receive the appraisal report at least three days before the loan is consummated. In rare cases, a real estate professional might have to draft an appraisal waiver letter. In that case, the letter should include the name of the applicant, the address of the property, and, if applicable, the number of the loan application. It should state that the applicant knows about the right to receive the appraisal report at least three business days before the loan is consummated and that the applicant waives that right. At no time does the applicant waive the right to receive an appraisal report.

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Real Estate Technology, Asset Management

Utilizing your IRA to Buy and Sell Real Estate

Article | May 10, 2023

Self-directed IRAs are the less offered and lesser known of the IRA options. That’s simply because they’re seen as needing too much effort to utilize correctly. The truth is that self-directed IRAs aren’t as complicated as they’re made out to be. Especially if you have the right custodian who offers the services you need to successfully run your account. Similar to other IRA accounts, owners can still invest in stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. They can also invest in things like small businesses, boat slips, storage units, parking lots, land, and homes. Interested investors should seek legal advice, as well as input from an accountant and real estate agent for a well-rounded picture. They should also be familiar with the rules for the type of retirement account they’re using. Whether it is a Simple IRA, Roth or Traditional IRA, SEP IRA or Solo 401K, contribution limits still apply, and there are penalties for early withdrawals.

Read More
Real Estate Advice, Asset Management

What’s the Future of Commercial Real Estate?

Article | May 9, 2023

Real estate is a key element of the U.S. economy. Residential real estate provides housing for individuals and families and is a major source of wealth and savings for Americans. Commercial real estate creates spaces for retail, offices, manufacturing, and apartment buildings as well as creating jobs to sell, build, and maintain all these structures.

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Home and Design

3 High-ROI Home Improvement Projects

Article | August 26, 2021

Considering a remodeling project? Before getting started, establish a list of return on investment (ROI) goals, because not all home improvements are created equal. Some add value to the home that can be recouped when selling, while others may be nice to have but are unlikely to raise the home's asking price. Anyone who wants to focus on home improvements that will pay for themselves when selling the home should know which projects to avoid. Read on to learn about three home improvement projects with a strong return on investment. Upgraded Landscaping For homeowners looking for a better price when they sell, it's hard to go wrong with landscaping. This is one of the few home improvements that typically yields a positive return when selling the home. On average, homeowners can recoup 150% of what they spend updating a home's landscaping. Since curb appeal is a huge factor in selling a home, choose improvements that can be seen from the road for the best return. Resodding or reseeding a lawn is a project that typically provides good returns. In an arid climate like Nevada, consider landscaping with native plants, xeriscaping, and other eco-friendly desert landscaping options to reduce water usage and maintenance requirements. Adding new trees to the landscaping can pay off now and at the time of sale. Trees provide shade and natural cooling, which can take a chunk out of power bills. When selling, trees add between $1,000 and $10,000 to the selling price of a home. Creating a Dazzling Entryway Continue the strong first impression by creating a welcoming space in the entryway of the home. Upgrading to manufactured stone veneer has a return on investment of around 96%. The improvement is relatively simple but makes the front door and the surrounding area more dramatic. Even small improvements can have a big impact. Upgrade to a metal door or one with small windows that let in additional light. Find upgraded house numbers that are visually appealing and easy to see. This often costs less than $100 but can improve the look and feel of the entry area and practically pay for itself when it's time to sell. Minor Kitchen Remodeling The kitchen is the heart of the home. This is the room that is one of the top choices for home improvement projects. However, contrary to what one might expect, huge kitchen overhauls don't always yield a high ROI. In fact, less costly improvements typically have a better payoff. Small projects that can dramatically improve a kitchen include: Repainting Refacing the cabinets and adding updated hardware Replacing countertops Upgrading to more energy-efficient appliances Choosing more energy-efficient appliances is an upgrade that can start repaying itself right away. Other improvements are likely to increase the price of the home when it sells. However, on average, kitchen remodeling projects only bring in 77% of their cost when it's time to sell. Because of this, homeowners should focus on upgrades that improve their quality of life and what they are likely to get back for their investment. Some common mistakes can reduce what a homeowner will get back from a kitchen remodeling project. Investing large amounts of money on items that will need to be replaced again in a few years is unlikely to provide a positive return. Choosing items that are too high-end can cause them to clash with the look and feel of the rest of the home, which could turn buyers off. Improve Daily Life and ROI With These Home Improvement Projects Most home improvement projects do not pay for themselves in full when selling the home. Rather, they are changes that make the home worth more to the owner now, that have the bonus of a price increase when you sell the home. The right home improvement project can make any house feel like a new construction home. Homeowners should look to areas that will give them the most mileage when picking updates for their homes. For instance, old kitchen cabinets can make the room feel dull and uninviting. Refacing with a bright new finish can make the kitchen feel like a brand-new room. Adding low-maintenance shrubs to the front yard adds visual interest that can be enjoyed right away. Projects that require special permits could raise questions during a home inspection and potentially reduce the home's value—but properly permitted additions may let homeowners list a home with an extra bedroom or bathroom. Choose the updates that will provide the most meaningful benefits, both now and at the time of sale. By making the home inviting and attractive, sellers are more likely to be able to name their dream price.

Read More
Real Estate Investment, Asset Management

Real Estate Property vs Asset Management: Understanding the Fine Line

Article | May 5, 2023

Real estate professionals sometimes have to answer a buyer’s questions about appraisal waivers. What are they? What do they mean? Is it a good or bad idea for the home loan applicant to sign one? If your client is applying for a home loan, signing an appraisal waiver does not mean that the home won’t be appraised. The lender will insist on an appraisal, to ensure that they’re not lending more money than they can expect to recover if they foreclose on the mortgage. An appraisal waiver is a document loan applicants sign to tell the lender that they’re waving their right to receive the appraisal report at least three days before the loan is consummated. In rare cases, a real estate professional might have to draft an appraisal waiver letter. In that case, the letter should include the name of the applicant, the address of the property, and, if applicable, the number of the loan application. It should state that the applicant knows about the right to receive the appraisal report at least three business days before the loan is consummated and that the applicant waives that right. At no time does the applicant waive the right to receive an appraisal report.

Read More
Real Estate Technology, Asset Management

Overcome Digital Asset Management Challenges in Real Estate

Article | May 10, 2023

Self-directed IRAs are the less offered and lesser known of the IRA options. That’s simply because they’re seen as needing too much effort to utilize correctly. The truth is that self-directed IRAs aren’t as complicated as they’re made out to be. Especially if you have the right custodian who offers the services you need to successfully run your account. Similar to other IRA accounts, owners can still invest in stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. They can also invest in things like small businesses, boat slips, storage units, parking lots, land, and homes. Interested investors should seek legal advice, as well as input from an accountant and real estate agent for a well-rounded picture. They should also be familiar with the rules for the type of retirement account they’re using. Whether it is a Simple IRA, Roth or Traditional IRA, SEP IRA or Solo 401K, contribution limits still apply, and there are penalties for early withdrawals.

Read More
Real Estate Advice, Asset Management

A Guide to Measure Data-driven Real Estate Asset Management Services

Article | May 9, 2023

Real estate is a key element of the U.S. economy. Residential real estate provides housing for individuals and families and is a major source of wealth and savings for Americans. Commercial real estate creates spaces for retail, offices, manufacturing, and apartment buildings as well as creating jobs to sell, build, and maintain all these structures.

Read More
Home and Design

3 High-ROI Home Improvement Projects

Article | August 26, 2021

Considering a remodeling project? Before getting started, establish a list of return on investment (ROI) goals, because not all home improvements are created equal. Some add value to the home that can be recouped when selling, while others may be nice to have but are unlikely to raise the home's asking price. Anyone who wants to focus on home improvements that will pay for themselves when selling the home should know which projects to avoid. Read on to learn about three home improvement projects with a strong return on investment. Upgraded Landscaping For homeowners looking for a better price when they sell, it's hard to go wrong with landscaping. This is one of the few home improvements that typically yields a positive return when selling the home. On average, homeowners can recoup 150% of what they spend updating a home's landscaping. Since curb appeal is a huge factor in selling a home, choose improvements that can be seen from the road for the best return. Resodding or reseeding a lawn is a project that typically provides good returns. In an arid climate like Nevada, consider landscaping with native plants, xeriscaping, and other eco-friendly desert landscaping options to reduce water usage and maintenance requirements. Adding new trees to the landscaping can pay off now and at the time of sale. Trees provide shade and natural cooling, which can take a chunk out of power bills. When selling, trees add between $1,000 and $10,000 to the selling price of a home. Creating a Dazzling Entryway Continue the strong first impression by creating a welcoming space in the entryway of the home. Upgrading to manufactured stone veneer has a return on investment of around 96%. The improvement is relatively simple but makes the front door and the surrounding area more dramatic. Even small improvements can have a big impact. Upgrade to a metal door or one with small windows that let in additional light. Find upgraded house numbers that are visually appealing and easy to see. This often costs less than $100 but can improve the look and feel of the entry area and practically pay for itself when it's time to sell. Minor Kitchen Remodeling The kitchen is the heart of the home. This is the room that is one of the top choices for home improvement projects. However, contrary to what one might expect, huge kitchen overhauls don't always yield a high ROI. In fact, less costly improvements typically have a better payoff. Small projects that can dramatically improve a kitchen include: Repainting Refacing the cabinets and adding updated hardware Replacing countertops Upgrading to more energy-efficient appliances Choosing more energy-efficient appliances is an upgrade that can start repaying itself right away. Other improvements are likely to increase the price of the home when it sells. However, on average, kitchen remodeling projects only bring in 77% of their cost when it's time to sell. Because of this, homeowners should focus on upgrades that improve their quality of life and what they are likely to get back for their investment. Some common mistakes can reduce what a homeowner will get back from a kitchen remodeling project. Investing large amounts of money on items that will need to be replaced again in a few years is unlikely to provide a positive return. Choosing items that are too high-end can cause them to clash with the look and feel of the rest of the home, which could turn buyers off. Improve Daily Life and ROI With These Home Improvement Projects Most home improvement projects do not pay for themselves in full when selling the home. Rather, they are changes that make the home worth more to the owner now, that have the bonus of a price increase when you sell the home. The right home improvement project can make any house feel like a new construction home. Homeowners should look to areas that will give them the most mileage when picking updates for their homes. For instance, old kitchen cabinets can make the room feel dull and uninviting. Refacing with a bright new finish can make the kitchen feel like a brand-new room. Adding low-maintenance shrubs to the front yard adds visual interest that can be enjoyed right away. Projects that require special permits could raise questions during a home inspection and potentially reduce the home's value—but properly permitted additions may let homeowners list a home with an extra bedroom or bathroom. Choose the updates that will provide the most meaningful benefits, both now and at the time of sale. By making the home inviting and attractive, sellers are more likely to be able to name their dream price.

Read More
MORE ARTICLES

Spotlight

Hudson's Bay Company

HBC is a holding company of investments and businesses at the intersection of technology, retail operations and real estate. It is the majority owner of iconic ecommerce companies: Saks, a leading online destination for luxury fashion, and Saks OFF 5TH, a premier luxury off-price ecommerce company offering top brands at the best prices. Both businesses were established as separate operating companies in 2021.

Related News

Real Estate Investment, Asset Management

Juniper Square and Pereview Team up to Deliver Asset and Portfolio Insights for Private Real Estate Partners

PRnewswire | July 24, 2023

Juniper Square, the leading provider of partnership enablement for the private funds industry, today announced an exclusive partnership with Pereview, the only Life of The Asset® software platform supporting both equity and debt for real estate investments. By connecting Pereview's in-depth asset data to Juniper Square, joint clients can seamlessly share both asset-level and portfolio insights to improve fundraising efficiency and provide LPs with greater transparency. "Juniper Square and Pereview's combined offering provides a best-of-breed solution for fundraising and investor relations teams within leading GP organizations," says Matt Lawson, CMO at Juniper Square. "Until now, these groups have had to compile data from countless different sources just to get a comprehensive and clear picture of their investments. Our partnership with Pereview will change the status quo, allowing GPs to get a comprehensive and clear picture of their CRE assets and deliver it seamlessly to LPs through Juniper Square's partnership enablement platform." As a slower adopter of digital technologies, the commercial real estate industry has finally reached a tipping point. With Juniper Square's roots in investment management and Pereview's expertise in providing detailed reporting across the entire investment lifecycle from acquisition to disposition, these complementary strengths address the ever-growing need for timely, in-depth reporting. All data in the capital stack, from the investor to the fund to the investment to the portfolio to the asset to the property to the lease will be readily available for mutual clients. "Our partnership with Juniper Square provides a best-of-breed, full-stack solution for the marketplace with a custom integration built exclusively for our current and future mutual clients," said Daryl Pitts, senior vice president of global sales for Pereview. "Where Juniper Square is strong in the processes around raising the fund and investor relations, Pereview provides complementary strengths in comprehensive, globally compliant data aggregation and reporting to equip asset, portfolio, and fund management professionals with the 360 view they need to make data-driven decisions." "The combination of Pereview and Juniper Square provides complete coverage for all of our needs," said Dalfen Chief Investment Officer Max Gagliardi. "From the start of fundraising to investor reporting, from portfolio analysis to strategy at the asset level, all the way down to industry exposure and lease clauses—all of our data, across the entire investment lifecycle is supported. We now spend more time doing deeper investment analysis allowing us to drive value creation across our portfolio versus spending time updating many Excel files to answer the same set of questions over and over again. Pereview and Juniper Square have been a game changer for us. We've been able to support the growth of our platform and materially increase portfolio analytics capacity without having to grow the team significantly." In addition to Dalfen, existing mutual customers between Juniper Square and Pereview include PCCP, Ryan Companies, Rockwood Capital, Singerman Real Estate, and many more. About Juniper Square Juniper Square is the leader in partnership enablement for the private funds industry, offering a universal system for GPs and their LPs to seamlessly connect and communicate across every stage of their partnerships. Juniper Square empowers investment managers to accelerate fundraising, scale operations efficiently, and improve investor satisfaction. More than 1,800 GPs rely on Juniper Square to manage more than 32,000 investment entities that span over 500,000 LPs and $700 billion in investor equity. About Pereview Pereview is the leading provider of asset management software and portfolio analytics to the global real estate industry. Agnostic to OP platforms and preferred by LP's, GP's, Institutional Investors, Owners and Managers, Pereview is built by real estate professionals for real estate professionals. By aggregating, integrating and interpreting your internal and external disparate data into the industry's only all-in-one platform, Pereview provides actionable insights into every step of the investment lifecycle. Drive NOI, break down silos and make stronger, more accurate decisions based on your accurate and governed data. With all of your transactions, asset, and portfolio management data in one place across both equity and debt investments, a Pereview client has full visibility into The Life of The Asset®. With both out of the box and customization options, we help clients make more trusted decisions and Do More With Your Data®.

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Real Estate Technology, Real Estate Investment

MRI Software Acquires PropTech Services Leader Loci Solutions

PRNasia | July 17, 2023

MRI Software has acquired Loci Solutions Group Pty Limited, an Australian property technology consulting and outsourced managed services company serving commercial, industrial, and retail property markets across Asia Pacific. Loci Solutions is well-known as an MRI Certified Partner specialising in the implementation of property management systems (PMS) for property developers, managers, and owners/investors. It also provides value-add outsourced accounting and lease administration services, as well as concierge support. David Bowie, Senior Vice President and Managing Director for MRI Software in Asia Pacific, said, "I'm excited to officially welcome Nikki, Gwen, and the rest of the Loci team to MRI. This acquisition strengthens our MRI @Work™ capabilities and enables us to scale and better support our commercial clients in their business growth. We're particularly excited to add Loci's outsourced lease administration services to our portfolio, helping clients automate manual tasks, reduce costs, and accelerate time to value." "Loci has been one of our key partners for over 15 years, serving as our primary implementation partner for Property Management X (PMX) in APAC for most of this time. As we integrate Loci's capabilities into our solution suite, our clients will have a more consistent experience and further benefit from our combined PropTech expertise," he said. Loci co-founder to lead MRI @Work Professional Services and Support Loci CEO and co-founder, Nikki Steadman, will lead the APAC MRI @Work Professional Services and Support team, which supports some of Australia's largest and most complex commercial real estate portfolios. Speaking in her new capacity as Head of MRI Professional Services and Support for MRI @Work, Asia Pacific, Ms. Steadman says, "We've felt like an extension of the MRI family for the last 15 years, and it's an honour to be formalising our relationship. Creating a united team like this allows an even more integrated approach for our commercial clients. I am really excited about the depth and breadth of service and product we're able to offer together. It's my privilege to now lead the unified team as we work from beginning to end in a client's journey and success." Mr. Bowie says, "Rest assured, MRI remains committed to our core value of providing clients the ability to choose the service providers that best meet their business needs. We look forward to continuing to grow and enable our managed services and consulting partner ecosystem to meet client demands and deliver world class services with a sole focus of client success." The financial terms of the deal are confidential. About MRI Software MRI Software is a leading provider of real estate software solutions that transform the way communities live, work and play. MRI's open and connected, AI-first platform empowers owners, operators and occupiers in commercial and residential property organisations to innovate in rapidly changing markets. MRI has been a trailblazer in the PropTech industry for over five decades, serving more than six million users worldwide. Through innovative solutions and a rich partner ecosystem, MRI gives real estate companies the freedom to realise their vision of building thriving communities and stronger businesses. For more information, please visit mrisoftware.com/au.

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Market Outlook, Real Estate Investment

Workspace Property Trust Successfully Modifies and Extends $1.3 Billion CMBS Facility in Challenging Commercial Real Estate Capital Markets

Businesswire | July 06, 2023

Workspace Property Trust (Workspace), the preeminent US suburban commercial office property owner and partner for the Fortune 1000, announced today that it successfully modified and extended its approximately $1.3 billion CMBS facility, securing a two-year extension for loans supported by its nearly 10 million square foot portfolio of 146 suburban office and light industrial, R&D and flex industrial properties in 14 major metropolitan markets across the US. In additional to this portfolio, Workspace owns an additional nine million Class A square feet of commercial office portfolio across 59 properties in the US. The successful refinancing of this Workspace’s Class A portfolio is a major accomplishment in one of the most difficult commercial real estate and capital market environments in decades and reflects the strength, experience and operating performance of the Workspace management team. Iron Hound Management Company LLC served as financial advisor to Workspace. Workspace Strengthens Its Balance Sheet To Invest in Growth “We are thrilled to have successfully modified and extended our $1.3 billion CMBS facility with a two-year extension and significant equity participation,” said Thomas A. Rizk, co-founder and CEO of Workspace. “Getting this deal done in what many have described as the most challenging real estate market in decades was no small feat and is testament to the underlying strength of our portfolio, the resilience of the suburban office sector, the promise of our pipeline and the capabilities of Workspace’s vertically integrated national platform. With the strengthening of our balance sheet, we are now in the enviable position of driving growth by investing in our leasing operations and deploying state-of-the-market enhancements in key market locations as we double down on the opportunities in the suburbs. We appreciate the support of our lenders, partners and investors and are focused on the tremendous opportunities in front of us.” Workspace owns and operates suburban office buildings in 14 of the top 20 US metropolitan areas, including Atlanta, Philadelphia, Dallas, Charlotte, Tampa, Phoenix, Silicon Valley, South Florida, Houston, Portland, Seattle, Minneapolis, Chicago and St. Louis. Approximately 40% of the Fortune 500 have headquarters in Workspace markets and nearly seven million square feet of the Workspace portfolio is leased by companies included in the Fortune 1000. Workspace Suburban Markets Outperform Central Business Districts In addition to the financing news, Workspace also released the findings of a recently conducted analysis of national real estate data that highlight the meaningful outperformance of suburban commercial office markets over downtown commercial office locations. The data set, compiled for Workspace by CBRE Strategic Investment Consulting, a global leader in commercial real estate services and investments, underscores the strength, vitality and energy of suburban office markets as employers across the country reinvent how and where people work today. At the national level—and in key markets driving US economic growth— suburban office submarkets have outperformed central business district submarkets during each of the past three economic downturns, with smaller declines in rent growth and absorption rates and much steadier vacancy rates. This pattern has been particularly pronounced since the onset of COVID-19 and is leading to a fundamental reset in how corporate America is thinking about where and how their people should work. Based on the CBRE data, this resiliency is largely expected to persist through the current cycle, as many suburban locations continue to benefit from a rising number of occupiers and employees prioritizing the value of working closer to home. “Workspace Property Trust is differentiated by our proven core strategy – to provide innovative and responsive real estate solutions to the Fortune 1000 in fast-growing, highly desirable suburban commercial markets across the country,” said Roger W. Thomas, co-founder, President and COO of Workspace. “In the last year, we transformed our business by doubling our footprint to more than 19 million square feet of commercial and light industrial assets in some of the most vibrant markets in the US, offering our customers lifestyle oriented, community-based working environments that are fundamental requisites for corporations today. The CBRE data we are highlighting today is a clear and resounding affirmation that today’s most progressive companies – large and small – are investing in suburban markets, reversing decades of legacy thinking.” Mr. Rizk further stated, “New patterns of work and new demands by our tenants and their employees directly translate into the need for new long-term real estate innovation. We know the biggest single issue for our tenant partners is reducing the commuting time for their employees, allowing them to spend more time with their families. Our commitment to service and convenience and relentlessly focusing on delivering on our promise of “Work. Life. Balanced.” has solidified our partnerships with a number of Fortune 1000 organizations as they double down on their suburban footprints, investing significant dollars and resources in the lives of their team members. When Roger and I started Workspace, suburban office was a contrarian bet. The CBRE data validates what we’ve been experiencing on the ground over the last few years coming out of the pandemic: suburban office is benefitting from a foundational demographic shift to suburban submarkets in gateway metropolitan areas across the country where the quality of the work experience is the defining factor in leasing decisions.” Suburban Markets Outperformance: National and Local Metrics Nationally, suburban commercial office outperformed central business district commercial office in several key metrics, including vacancy, net absorption and rent growth. In 2022: By year-end, the national vacancy rate for suburban office was 17.2% vs. 17.6% for central business districts, the first time the suburban rate has been tighter since 1989. On net, the amount of suburban office space absorbed by occupiers in 2022 was equivalent to 0.3% of total suburban inventory. Meanwhile, downtown space was put back on the market (negative net absorption) at an amount equivalent to 0.2% of downtown inventory. Year-over-year rent growth in the suburbs was a full percentage point higher than in central business districts -- 1.6% vs. 0.6%. Additionally, when ranking U.S. suburban office markets across a variety of performance metrics, every Workspace market was represented within the top 15 for at least one metric, with several markets ranking in the top 15 multiple times. For example, over the past two years (Q4 2020 – Q4 2022): Fort Lauderdale and Miami tied for the sixth-highest increase in post-pandemic rent growth among all suburban office markets, with asking rent increases of 1.7% in both markets. Charlotte and Phoenix tied as the 11th highest in rent growth, with increases of 0.8% in both markets. San Jose ranked second for the most square feet of suburban office space absorbed and seventh for absorption as a share of total inventory. Other Workspace markets appearing in the top 15 for one or both of these absorption metrics were Chicago, Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami. Based on forecasts for the next two years (Q4 2022 – Q4 2024): Workspace markets represented five out of the top eight suburban markets with the strongest near-term rent growth projections. These markets include Milwaukee, Phoenix, Houston, Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Dallas was the third-highest ranking market for the expected gap between the suburban and central business district vacancy rate – 22.4% in the Dallas suburbs vs 27.1% in the Dallas CBD. Other Workspace markets in the top 15 across this metric include Seattle, Houston, Kansas City, St. Louis, Fort Lauderdale and Minneapolis. About Workspace Property Trust Workspace Property Trust is a privately held, vertically integrated, full-service commercial real estate company specializing in the ownership, management, leasing and development of office and light industrial, R&D and flex space across the US. Founded in 2015, as combined Workspace owns and operates approximately 19 million square feet of suburban office and light industrial, R&D, Flex (IRDF) properties in markets across the country, including 14 of the top 20 US metropolitan areas. For more information on Workspace, please visit www.workspaceproperty.com

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Real Estate Investment, Asset Management

Juniper Square and Pereview Team up to Deliver Asset and Portfolio Insights for Private Real Estate Partners

PRnewswire | July 24, 2023

Juniper Square, the leading provider of partnership enablement for the private funds industry, today announced an exclusive partnership with Pereview, the only Life of The Asset® software platform supporting both equity and debt for real estate investments. By connecting Pereview's in-depth asset data to Juniper Square, joint clients can seamlessly share both asset-level and portfolio insights to improve fundraising efficiency and provide LPs with greater transparency. "Juniper Square and Pereview's combined offering provides a best-of-breed solution for fundraising and investor relations teams within leading GP organizations," says Matt Lawson, CMO at Juniper Square. "Until now, these groups have had to compile data from countless different sources just to get a comprehensive and clear picture of their investments. Our partnership with Pereview will change the status quo, allowing GPs to get a comprehensive and clear picture of their CRE assets and deliver it seamlessly to LPs through Juniper Square's partnership enablement platform." As a slower adopter of digital technologies, the commercial real estate industry has finally reached a tipping point. With Juniper Square's roots in investment management and Pereview's expertise in providing detailed reporting across the entire investment lifecycle from acquisition to disposition, these complementary strengths address the ever-growing need for timely, in-depth reporting. All data in the capital stack, from the investor to the fund to the investment to the portfolio to the asset to the property to the lease will be readily available for mutual clients. "Our partnership with Juniper Square provides a best-of-breed, full-stack solution for the marketplace with a custom integration built exclusively for our current and future mutual clients," said Daryl Pitts, senior vice president of global sales for Pereview. "Where Juniper Square is strong in the processes around raising the fund and investor relations, Pereview provides complementary strengths in comprehensive, globally compliant data aggregation and reporting to equip asset, portfolio, and fund management professionals with the 360 view they need to make data-driven decisions." "The combination of Pereview and Juniper Square provides complete coverage for all of our needs," said Dalfen Chief Investment Officer Max Gagliardi. "From the start of fundraising to investor reporting, from portfolio analysis to strategy at the asset level, all the way down to industry exposure and lease clauses—all of our data, across the entire investment lifecycle is supported. We now spend more time doing deeper investment analysis allowing us to drive value creation across our portfolio versus spending time updating many Excel files to answer the same set of questions over and over again. Pereview and Juniper Square have been a game changer for us. We've been able to support the growth of our platform and materially increase portfolio analytics capacity without having to grow the team significantly." In addition to Dalfen, existing mutual customers between Juniper Square and Pereview include PCCP, Ryan Companies, Rockwood Capital, Singerman Real Estate, and many more. About Juniper Square Juniper Square is the leader in partnership enablement for the private funds industry, offering a universal system for GPs and their LPs to seamlessly connect and communicate across every stage of their partnerships. Juniper Square empowers investment managers to accelerate fundraising, scale operations efficiently, and improve investor satisfaction. More than 1,800 GPs rely on Juniper Square to manage more than 32,000 investment entities that span over 500,000 LPs and $700 billion in investor equity. About Pereview Pereview is the leading provider of asset management software and portfolio analytics to the global real estate industry. Agnostic to OP platforms and preferred by LP's, GP's, Institutional Investors, Owners and Managers, Pereview is built by real estate professionals for real estate professionals. By aggregating, integrating and interpreting your internal and external disparate data into the industry's only all-in-one platform, Pereview provides actionable insights into every step of the investment lifecycle. Drive NOI, break down silos and make stronger, more accurate decisions based on your accurate and governed data. With all of your transactions, asset, and portfolio management data in one place across both equity and debt investments, a Pereview client has full visibility into The Life of The Asset®. With both out of the box and customization options, we help clients make more trusted decisions and Do More With Your Data®.

Read More

Real Estate Technology, Real Estate Investment

MRI Software Acquires PropTech Services Leader Loci Solutions

PRNasia | July 17, 2023

MRI Software has acquired Loci Solutions Group Pty Limited, an Australian property technology consulting and outsourced managed services company serving commercial, industrial, and retail property markets across Asia Pacific. Loci Solutions is well-known as an MRI Certified Partner specialising in the implementation of property management systems (PMS) for property developers, managers, and owners/investors. It also provides value-add outsourced accounting and lease administration services, as well as concierge support. David Bowie, Senior Vice President and Managing Director for MRI Software in Asia Pacific, said, "I'm excited to officially welcome Nikki, Gwen, and the rest of the Loci team to MRI. This acquisition strengthens our MRI @Work™ capabilities and enables us to scale and better support our commercial clients in their business growth. We're particularly excited to add Loci's outsourced lease administration services to our portfolio, helping clients automate manual tasks, reduce costs, and accelerate time to value." "Loci has been one of our key partners for over 15 years, serving as our primary implementation partner for Property Management X (PMX) in APAC for most of this time. As we integrate Loci's capabilities into our solution suite, our clients will have a more consistent experience and further benefit from our combined PropTech expertise," he said. Loci co-founder to lead MRI @Work Professional Services and Support Loci CEO and co-founder, Nikki Steadman, will lead the APAC MRI @Work Professional Services and Support team, which supports some of Australia's largest and most complex commercial real estate portfolios. Speaking in her new capacity as Head of MRI Professional Services and Support for MRI @Work, Asia Pacific, Ms. Steadman says, "We've felt like an extension of the MRI family for the last 15 years, and it's an honour to be formalising our relationship. Creating a united team like this allows an even more integrated approach for our commercial clients. I am really excited about the depth and breadth of service and product we're able to offer together. It's my privilege to now lead the unified team as we work from beginning to end in a client's journey and success." Mr. Bowie says, "Rest assured, MRI remains committed to our core value of providing clients the ability to choose the service providers that best meet their business needs. We look forward to continuing to grow and enable our managed services and consulting partner ecosystem to meet client demands and deliver world class services with a sole focus of client success." The financial terms of the deal are confidential. About MRI Software MRI Software is a leading provider of real estate software solutions that transform the way communities live, work and play. MRI's open and connected, AI-first platform empowers owners, operators and occupiers in commercial and residential property organisations to innovate in rapidly changing markets. MRI has been a trailblazer in the PropTech industry for over five decades, serving more than six million users worldwide. Through innovative solutions and a rich partner ecosystem, MRI gives real estate companies the freedom to realise their vision of building thriving communities and stronger businesses. For more information, please visit mrisoftware.com/au.

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Market Outlook, Real Estate Investment

Workspace Property Trust Successfully Modifies and Extends $1.3 Billion CMBS Facility in Challenging Commercial Real Estate Capital Markets

Businesswire | July 06, 2023

Workspace Property Trust (Workspace), the preeminent US suburban commercial office property owner and partner for the Fortune 1000, announced today that it successfully modified and extended its approximately $1.3 billion CMBS facility, securing a two-year extension for loans supported by its nearly 10 million square foot portfolio of 146 suburban office and light industrial, R&D and flex industrial properties in 14 major metropolitan markets across the US. In additional to this portfolio, Workspace owns an additional nine million Class A square feet of commercial office portfolio across 59 properties in the US. The successful refinancing of this Workspace’s Class A portfolio is a major accomplishment in one of the most difficult commercial real estate and capital market environments in decades and reflects the strength, experience and operating performance of the Workspace management team. Iron Hound Management Company LLC served as financial advisor to Workspace. Workspace Strengthens Its Balance Sheet To Invest in Growth “We are thrilled to have successfully modified and extended our $1.3 billion CMBS facility with a two-year extension and significant equity participation,” said Thomas A. Rizk, co-founder and CEO of Workspace. “Getting this deal done in what many have described as the most challenging real estate market in decades was no small feat and is testament to the underlying strength of our portfolio, the resilience of the suburban office sector, the promise of our pipeline and the capabilities of Workspace’s vertically integrated national platform. With the strengthening of our balance sheet, we are now in the enviable position of driving growth by investing in our leasing operations and deploying state-of-the-market enhancements in key market locations as we double down on the opportunities in the suburbs. We appreciate the support of our lenders, partners and investors and are focused on the tremendous opportunities in front of us.” Workspace owns and operates suburban office buildings in 14 of the top 20 US metropolitan areas, including Atlanta, Philadelphia, Dallas, Charlotte, Tampa, Phoenix, Silicon Valley, South Florida, Houston, Portland, Seattle, Minneapolis, Chicago and St. Louis. Approximately 40% of the Fortune 500 have headquarters in Workspace markets and nearly seven million square feet of the Workspace portfolio is leased by companies included in the Fortune 1000. Workspace Suburban Markets Outperform Central Business Districts In addition to the financing news, Workspace also released the findings of a recently conducted analysis of national real estate data that highlight the meaningful outperformance of suburban commercial office markets over downtown commercial office locations. The data set, compiled for Workspace by CBRE Strategic Investment Consulting, a global leader in commercial real estate services and investments, underscores the strength, vitality and energy of suburban office markets as employers across the country reinvent how and where people work today. At the national level—and in key markets driving US economic growth— suburban office submarkets have outperformed central business district submarkets during each of the past three economic downturns, with smaller declines in rent growth and absorption rates and much steadier vacancy rates. This pattern has been particularly pronounced since the onset of COVID-19 and is leading to a fundamental reset in how corporate America is thinking about where and how their people should work. Based on the CBRE data, this resiliency is largely expected to persist through the current cycle, as many suburban locations continue to benefit from a rising number of occupiers and employees prioritizing the value of working closer to home. “Workspace Property Trust is differentiated by our proven core strategy – to provide innovative and responsive real estate solutions to the Fortune 1000 in fast-growing, highly desirable suburban commercial markets across the country,” said Roger W. Thomas, co-founder, President and COO of Workspace. “In the last year, we transformed our business by doubling our footprint to more than 19 million square feet of commercial and light industrial assets in some of the most vibrant markets in the US, offering our customers lifestyle oriented, community-based working environments that are fundamental requisites for corporations today. The CBRE data we are highlighting today is a clear and resounding affirmation that today’s most progressive companies – large and small – are investing in suburban markets, reversing decades of legacy thinking.” Mr. Rizk further stated, “New patterns of work and new demands by our tenants and their employees directly translate into the need for new long-term real estate innovation. We know the biggest single issue for our tenant partners is reducing the commuting time for their employees, allowing them to spend more time with their families. Our commitment to service and convenience and relentlessly focusing on delivering on our promise of “Work. Life. Balanced.” has solidified our partnerships with a number of Fortune 1000 organizations as they double down on their suburban footprints, investing significant dollars and resources in the lives of their team members. When Roger and I started Workspace, suburban office was a contrarian bet. The CBRE data validates what we’ve been experiencing on the ground over the last few years coming out of the pandemic: suburban office is benefitting from a foundational demographic shift to suburban submarkets in gateway metropolitan areas across the country where the quality of the work experience is the defining factor in leasing decisions.” Suburban Markets Outperformance: National and Local Metrics Nationally, suburban commercial office outperformed central business district commercial office in several key metrics, including vacancy, net absorption and rent growth. In 2022: By year-end, the national vacancy rate for suburban office was 17.2% vs. 17.6% for central business districts, the first time the suburban rate has been tighter since 1989. On net, the amount of suburban office space absorbed by occupiers in 2022 was equivalent to 0.3% of total suburban inventory. Meanwhile, downtown space was put back on the market (negative net absorption) at an amount equivalent to 0.2% of downtown inventory. Year-over-year rent growth in the suburbs was a full percentage point higher than in central business districts -- 1.6% vs. 0.6%. Additionally, when ranking U.S. suburban office markets across a variety of performance metrics, every Workspace market was represented within the top 15 for at least one metric, with several markets ranking in the top 15 multiple times. For example, over the past two years (Q4 2020 – Q4 2022): Fort Lauderdale and Miami tied for the sixth-highest increase in post-pandemic rent growth among all suburban office markets, with asking rent increases of 1.7% in both markets. Charlotte and Phoenix tied as the 11th highest in rent growth, with increases of 0.8% in both markets. San Jose ranked second for the most square feet of suburban office space absorbed and seventh for absorption as a share of total inventory. Other Workspace markets appearing in the top 15 for one or both of these absorption metrics were Chicago, Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami. Based on forecasts for the next two years (Q4 2022 – Q4 2024): Workspace markets represented five out of the top eight suburban markets with the strongest near-term rent growth projections. These markets include Milwaukee, Phoenix, Houston, Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Dallas was the third-highest ranking market for the expected gap between the suburban and central business district vacancy rate – 22.4% in the Dallas suburbs vs 27.1% in the Dallas CBD. Other Workspace markets in the top 15 across this metric include Seattle, Houston, Kansas City, St. Louis, Fort Lauderdale and Minneapolis. About Workspace Property Trust Workspace Property Trust is a privately held, vertically integrated, full-service commercial real estate company specializing in the ownership, management, leasing and development of office and light industrial, R&D and flex space across the US. Founded in 2015, as combined Workspace owns and operates approximately 19 million square feet of suburban office and light industrial, R&D, Flex (IRDF) properties in markets across the country, including 14 of the top 20 US metropolitan areas. For more information on Workspace, please visit www.workspaceproperty.com

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