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Q3 Economy: Seattle

Report by ReisReports.

Among the accomplishments of the Seattle area economy over the last couple of decades was a diversification that lessened its dependence on cycles in aerospace manufacturing and related employment trends. A huge and nationally prominent high-technology sector led initially by Microsoft (and more recently augmented by Google and Amazon.com) emerged along with a large health care sector. These, along with trade activity at regional ports provided cushions against the cycles common to local manufacturing. … Continue reading “Q3 Economy: Seattle”
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Retail Remodel: Partnerships & Success by Bridget Grams

Retail Remodel
Are partnerships the key to brick-and-mortar success?
by Bridget Grams and Mark Richardson

In today’s slowly improving economy, retail success depends upon regularly updating the customer experience and a constant focus on managing occupancy costs. One way to accomplish both of these goals is to combine store remodeling campaigns with commercial lease restructuring efforts. With a partnership approach between tenant and landlord, these seemingly unrelated and potentially conflicting efforts can have a beneficial outcome for both parties by creatively aligning incentives. Continue reading “Retail Remodel: Partnerships & Success by Bridget Grams”
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Beyond the E-tail Era by Jennifer Norbut

Beyond the E-tail Era
New factors are shaping retail’s next phase.
by Jennifer Norbut

The sharp rise in e-tailing and its game-changing impact has created a new normal in the retail real estate sector. Major national retailers are evolving their strategies in an effort to “survive and thrive” in this new market dynamic. “The good news is that even though Apple, Netflix, Amazon, eBay, and other online giants killed record stores and video rental shops and are in the process of doing the same to electronics and bookstore big boxes, e-commerce will never replace the brick-and-mortar shopping experience,” says Sean Glickman, CCIM, managing director of Glickman Retail Group in Maitland, Fla. Continue reading “Beyond the E-tail Era by Jennifer Norbut”
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12 Key Factors When Buying Land

Congratulations!  You’ve decided to build your own home.  But where do you start?

Now that you’ve drawn up the plans or maybe even picked out your perfect manufactured or modular home, you’ll need to find the land to put it on.  It may sound like a simple process.  Pick the home, buy the land and move-in, but it’s much more complex than that.  Finding that right piece of land can be just as cumbersome as searching for the perfect home, if not more.  And, to complicate matters even more, not all real estate agents know land, so make sure you find one that does. Continue reading “12 Key Factors When Buying Land”
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Real Estate vs Stock Market

Why Real Estate is Better than Stocks

The thing I love about real estate is that it allows you to leverage your money. Here’s what I mean. Let’s say that you have $40,000 to invest.

Option 1: Investing in Real Estate. You find an income producing property, maybe a little run down that is only $200,000.  You put 15% down, or $30,000 and still have $2,000 for closing costs and $8,000 for upgrades.

Option 2: Investing in Stocks.  Say $20,000 goes into mutual funds and $20,000 into an aggressive stock.

Now, move forward one month. Continue reading “Real Estate vs Stock Market”
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We live in a litigious society. Be cautious.

How do you know if an investment property is a good rental?

There are a couple basic items to consider when looking at an investment property.  Just like in real estate, rentals are about location, location, location!

If you are considering a full-time rental property, is it close to schools, shopping or allow for easy commuting?  If you are looking at a vacation rental, what is the draw for that area and why do people visit?  Is there a golf course, beach or another attraction that brings people to the neighborhood consistently?  Even a retirement community?  Find out what it is and utilize that. Continue reading “We live in a litigious society. Be cautious.”