Commercial real estate investors are ready for a bit of risk. According to a 2011 Colliers survey, more than half of U.S. investors surveyed are prepared to move out of their comfort zones in search of higher returns. Their adventures will lead them straight to non-core markets…

The seniors housing occupancy rate continued its gradual recovery in the first quarter of 2012, reports the National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing & Care Industry (NIC). However, construction activity and year-over-year rent growth slowed, according to NIC MAP, a data analysis service…

Best Buy Co. Inc. sent a shock through the retail real estate industry last week after it reported a $1.7 billion loss for its most recent quarter, which included 2011 holiday shopping sales, and announced plans to close 50 big box stores in the coming year and lay off 400 workers. Media and industry analysts were quick to speculate that Best Buy might…

Without a doubt, technology is having a significant impact on consumer spending habits. The traditional “bricks & mortar” shopping mode is rapidly changing and declining. More and more consumers are browsing the internet for their shopping needs, comparisons and ultimately final purchases…

THE old Rackspace headquarters was stuffed to the gills. In 2007 the company, which offers cloud-computing and web-hosting services, had more than 1,000 employees in downtown San Antonio. People were crammed at folding tables in the hallway…

The amount of commercial real estate backed by troubled loans in the United States continues to fall from a high of $191.5 billion set in March 2010. So-called distressed real estate, which included properties in default or foreclosure and real estate taken over by lenders, totaled $166.9 billion in January 2012, down $4.7 billion since October 2011, according to data from Real Capital Analytics…

As the residential real estate market continues to decline many real estate investors have been attracted to what might be the next great financial market to boom: apartment buildings. An ancient Chinese blessing says “may you live in interesting times”…

As dollar stores have upgraded, consumers don’t feel embarrassed to be seen at one. “Some people might have thought that there was a stigma attached to shopping at dollar stores,” Waterman said, “but when they saw their friends shopping at them and realized the potential savings, they were more likely to frequent these stores.”

Retail properties went through a see-saw swing last year with strong leasing during the first half of the year surging upward only to deflate later in the year as several economic shocks threatened to derail the economic recovery. However, the industry is starting to regain some momentum as 2012 progresses, according to new retail outlooks from Marcus…

Today the economy is of the highest concern of every American investor. In an array of investment opportunities, Real estate ranks very high on most scales of comparison.