NAI Southern Real Estate’s George Mennen speaks at North Carolina Bar Association CLE Program
The passages within a retail tenant’s lease that allow for certain remedies should there be a material change within the properties Anchor tenants’ operations or occupancy: Click to continue »
As we settle into 2010, it seemed time to do a brief update on the Investment Real Estate market. Commercial real estate buyers are looking again and are considering stronger credit leases with longer terms, which are more readily financeable.
Buyers who have traditionally used high leverage to acquire investments are out of the market today due to 
the lack of bank lending. There is some unattractive debt available, but with very low loan to value ratios and/or some forms of guarantees. Conduit loans are coming back, but at a slower pace.
There is still a disconnect between buyers and sellers expectations, especially with Class “A” properties.
1031 exchange buyers, with cash, have a wide selection of properties from which to choose. We are seeing more activity and inquiries from buyers who are ready to buy except for readily available financing.
The expanding level of interest, coupled with the increase in inquiries on properties that we represent, has been encouraging. This increased activity spreads across the immediate Charlotte area and both Carolinas.
For more specific information about the Investment Real Estate market or about specific properties, please contact Neill Wilkinson at (704) 375-1000 or by email
600 NAI members from around the world attended the NAI Global Convention in Las Vegas. 
Breakout sessions on topics such as “Recession Resistant Selling”, “Capital Markets: The State of the Industry” and “Social Media” along with many others made the three-day trip very worthwhile. Click to continue »
24th Annual Global Market Report
Tenants, Investors to Take the Reins in 2010
Commercial real estate markets around the world experienced the full impact of the global economic recession in 2009, according to the 24th annual Global Market Report released by NAI Global. Rising vacancy rates and declining rental rates were evident in virtually every market sector and geography, with weak demand and a growing supply of sublease space further eroding market fundamentals.
2009 was tough! The mantra for 2009 was “I will survive”. For most of us we are glad to say that we’ve been there, done that, and it’s time to move on.
The predictions for 2010 are peppered with cautious optimism. The speculation is that the bottom for the residential real estate market will be reached by mid-year. However, there are mounting concerns over the large number of commercial loans coming due. The still looming banking crisis and the lack of capital in the market will throttle the recovery.
I just wrote this headline to make myself feel better. I am so tired of reading about the demise of the commercial real estate market in every publication that crosses my desk and their projections for the rebound of our industry which run from late 2010 until the middle of 2012. For individuals whose livelihood depends on the health of the Charlotte Commercial Real Estate market, it is tough to come to work everyday with the hope that today might be the day that a client has a need that he can no longer put off, that the banks will finally begin taking ownership of distressed properties and will need help restructuring these assets, or that the three or four clients who are actually looking to do something can find the financing to make a transaction a reality. Click to continue »
I don’t know who first spoke that line, but I have a vision of an old-time, cigar chomping sales manager, wading into the sales bullpen with his sleeves rolled up, and kicking his reps out onto the street with a “don’t come back until you’ve sold something!” follow up. Times have changed, but I don’t think the wisdom behind this message has gone out of style. Click to continue »
In these times of budget optimization, expense reductions, tightening the belt, etc. it is important that owners and managers do protect the capital investments in their properties. The manager should not let short term financial goals impact the long term asset. The term used to define maintenance that should have been completed but has been put off is called deferred maintenance. Although deferred maintenance may result in improved cash flow for the short term, the impact on the asset could be long reaching. A good example of this concept would be the often forgotten about Click to continue »
Today’s economic environment has challenged all of us who are charged with providing timely real estate solutions for our clients. Recently I have had two assignments that reflect the depth of services offered by our firm. Click to continue »
We all are aware that it is currently a “buyer’s market” in commercial real estate, and I spend time everyday trying to educate Tenants and Landlords on how their expectations compare to reality. Oftentimes I am explaining to Tenants why the rental rate is higher than expected. Click to continue »
In today’s down market, when landlords of commercial buildings are striving to keep their asking rates by being extremely liberal with rental concessions, rental rates can be extremely deceiving at first glance. Click to continue »
Having been a member of the Charlotte Real Estate Community for a little more than three decades I have benefited, along with my peers, from the perspective gained by living and working through a number of business cycles and seeing how the Charlotte real estate market has faired when compared to the other cities and regions in our State and across our Country. How we come out of our current economic crisis is still to be seen. Click to continue »
The Charlotte retail market has experienced record development in recent years due to solid population growth fueled by an excellent business environment. Unfortunately, these catalysts abruptly changed in the 4th quarter of 2008 amidst the global economic tsunami that has continued to steamroll through the first half of 2009, leaving the retail market gasping for air. Click to continue »
One of today’s greatest challenges facing the property manager of a Medical Office Building (MOB) is cleaning. Cleaning a MOB is very different from cleaning a typical office building. Whereas the typical office building will have basically the same types of space utilization such as office spaces with carpeted floors, painted walls etc., the MOB may be made up of a combination of different space types each requiring different levels of cleaning. These varying levels of cleaning quality within the same building make it difficult for the property manager to develop specifications for the property. The types of space that may be in a MOB may include: Click to continue »
