Every federal budget, even a proposed one, is like a big layered onion, with plenty for every interest group of every kind to complain about. President Obama’s first proposed budget in particular, since much of it represents a considerable departure from previous budgets, is likely to ruffle more than a few feathers. The man did [...]

While the Baltimore market has–like most areas of the country–seen a slowdown in development activity as the economy has soured, there are still a few noteworthy projects progressing as planned. Most recently, the city of Baltimore approved selling city-owned land to developers Mark Sapperstein, Benjamin Greenwald and Joseph Haskins for a new $80 million 450,000-square-foot, [...]

Despite major job loss and the struggling economy, the office market in Charlotte, N.C.’s Central Business District remains one of the tightest in the country with a 2.4 percent vacancy rate–according to a fourth quarter report by real estate services firm Colliers Pinkard–and loyal resident Duke Energy is doing its part to keep it that [...]

The National Association of Realtors reported on Wednesday that sales of existing homes fell 5.3 percent in January, which translates to an annual pace of 4.49 million, the most sluggish such pace since July 1997. The drop came after a small uptick in December that was attributed to falling prices.Prices are still falling, but industry [...]

While many hospitality developments have been halted or postponed, projects like the new four-story aloft hotel in Bolingbrook, Ill., continue moving forward. McShane Construction Co. topped out the project this week for developer LTD Management Co.While that project is slated for a July completion as part of a mixed-use development featuring more than 1 million [...]

After nine years at the very top of the list of most expensive office markets in the world, London has conceded its spot to Hong Kong. As per Cushman & Wakefield Inc.’s new Office Space Across the World 2009 report, the credit crunch and the banking crisis are the factors that caused the city to [...]

As commercial real estate prices continue to drop, the latest report on just how far they have fallen was released this week, with the latest Moody’s/REAL National All Property Type Index measuring 160.46 for December–a decrease of 2.2 percent over the previous month and a decline of 14.9 percent for the year. Moreover, the index [...]

Self-storage may not be as bogged down by the sluggish economy as other sectors, if recent deals are any indication. The latest news is the formation of a $50 million joint venture focused on self-storage started by Carey Storage, an affiliate of investment firm W. P. Carey & Co., and Harbert Management Corp. W. [...]

The U.S. REIT index plummeted 38 percent last year, leaving the door open for investors with access to funds to purchase shares at bargain basement prices, and Alexander Otto is taking advantage of the opportunity. Developers Diversified Realty Corp. has announced that it plans to sell 30 million common shares to Alexander Otto, CEO of [...]

The equity markets yo-yoed back upward again after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke (pictured) went to great lengths to assure Congress, and indirectly investors (who are traditionally a nervous lot) that the United States isn’t going to nationalize its financial system. He didn’t mention that the government might buy into big banks more extensively than [...]