The world began protesting more loudly on the Congressional debt-ceiling impasse in Congress. Jefferson County, Ala., may vote on Chapter 9 bankruptcy this week. And Gallup’s Economic Confidence Index fell to minus 41 in the week ending July 17.

CB Richard Ellis Inc. has had a busy week after being chosen by IndCor Properties Inc. to manage an industrial property portfolio totaling 22 million square feet across 10 states.

Dundee REIT announced it purchased a portfolio of office properties worth $831.8 million from affiliates of Blackstone Real Estate Advisors LP and Slate Properties Inc.

Economy Watch reporter Dees Stribling offers insights on CPE Radio into the top economic news for the week ending July 22, 2011.

CPE’s July digital edition is now available.

Negotiated tenant allowances are a key consideration for most commercial leases. Unfortunately, negotiations often overlook tax consequences during the structuring of the lease, creating an unanticipated tax burden for an unsuspecting property owner.

Strategic just closed a $130 million limited-recourse loan secured by the premier 222-room property in D.C.’s upscale Georgetown neighborhood.

The rumor mill was in high gear on Capitol Hill on Thursday as vague stories of Deal or No Deal on the debt ceiling were fast and thick. A solution of sorts to the Greek debt crisis seemed to emerge on Thursday, and the Leading Economic Index for the U.S. increased 0.3 percent in June to 115.3.

Host Hotels & Resorts Inc. is on track to acquire the Grand Hyatt Washington, D.C., for $442 million in what will be one of the largest hotel transactions in the metropolitan area so far this year.

The loan money is once again flowing. On Thursday, ING Real Estate Finance announced the closing of a $72.8 million term loan with Invesco Real Estate.