It’s tough to expand in a recovering market, but sometimes it makes sense. John Combs talks about what went into his decisionmaking in expanding RiverRock Real Estate Group Inc.

Cassidy Turley’s latest expansion move did more than give the company a full-service presence in Denver. The fast-growing company, formed on March 1 with the partnership of a number of former Colliers firms and an assortment of others, found in Denver heavyweight Fuller Real Estate a “perfect fit.”

Emeritus Corp.’s portfolio has just gotten a lot bigger. In a joint venture with Blackstone Real Estate Advisors VI L.P. and Columbia Pacific Advisors, it closed the $1.2 billion acquisition of a 144-property seniors housing portfolio from Stayton SW Living L.L.C., which parted with the assets as part of its Chapter 11 plan of reorganization.

Health Care REIT Inc. and independent- and assisted-housing owner/operator Merrill Gardens L.L.C. announced plans for a partnership valued at $817 million, joining forces to own and operate a 38-property portfolio of independent-living, assisted-living and dementia-care communities in various coveted markets on the West Coast. Executives at both firms believe the timing is perfect–for their own strategies and to address the demands of the seniors housing market.

Whatever their regions or business lines, all commercial real estate executives today face the same fundamental question: what is the best way to move forward in this promising but still highly unsettled market?

Sam Zell and Peter Linneman kicked off the Urban Land Institute’s spring conference Wednesday with frank, witty and frequently caustic perspectives on the state of the industry and of the nation.

PropertyShark marked the latest company purchase by Yardi Systems Inc., expanding the investment management and property management software provider into the real estate data realm.

The Commercial Real Estate (CREW) Network last night lauded 20 Under 40 women from throughout the commercial real estate industry as part of its 20th anniversary celebration. The awards, unveiled during the organization’s 2009 CREW Network Convention & Marketplace in Boston, honor women age 39 or younger working within a qualified area of the industry and considered a “woman to watch” and likely to be an influential leader in the industry.