Election year holds promise for housing market, economy
February 13, 2012 by Isabelle Bolliger · Leave a Comment
Economic recovery will be in full swing by October 2012. Why? Because there is a presidential election in November 2012. This is America. This is the way it works.
Inventory is coming down in many markets, according to just about any report we read these days, and hopefully employment opportunities will grow not only for those out of work, but for the millions who are underemployed.
Foreclosed Building On Constitution Plaza In Hartford Up For Sale
January 20, 2012 by Isabelle Bolliger · Leave a Comment
A five-story office building on Hartford’s Constitution Plaza that recently got new owners as a result of a foreclosure is up for sale.
GE Asset Management took control of the building at 200 Constitution Plaza the former Travelers Education Center in late December. It had been empty for about a year, but a master lease guaranteed rent payments. The master lease expired several months ago.
Last week, GE declined to comment on its plans for the building, whose ownership is separate from other structures on the plaza.
No asking price has been established because the marketing is just getting started, according to the Hartford office of CBRE-NE, which represents the property.
The city is proposing a fair market value of $7.3 million for calculating property taxes as a result of its 2011 revaluation.
John M.
Nine-Property Seattle M-F Portfolio Gets $155M Freddie Refi
January 13, 2012 by Isabelle Bolliger · Leave a Comment
Financing to the tune of $155.3 million has been put in place for a 2,184-unit apartment portfolio in metropolitan Seattle, courtesy of CBRE Group Inc.’s capital markets team. Acting on behalf of the Holland Partner Group and Invesco, joint owners of the nine properties, the real estate services firm arranged the funds for the refinancing of the portfolio through Freddie Macs CME program.
The agency was good to work with and our client appreciated their moving quickly, Mike Wells, managing director for CBREs Portland operations, told Commercial Property Executive. Pa
Behind the scenes at ‘House Hunters International’
January 9, 2012 by Isabelle Bolliger · Leave a Comment
In case you’ve been wondering — yes, there are real estate agents at work in the Arctic Circle.
This was something of an exciting revelation for Freddy James, senior vice president for program development at HGTV (Home & Garden Television), which airs the popular “House Hunters International” series and is perpetually on the prowl for far-flung locations where its cameras can deliver a regular dose of real estate voyeurism.
“We’re doing our first episode in the Arctic Circle — in Tromso, Norway,” explained the New York-based exec. “We’re showing (the house-hunting experiences of) a geologist who is going there to do some work on an island.
U.S. Travel Association Applauds New Canadian Border Processing Deal
December 30, 2011 by Isabelle Bolliger · Leave a Comment
The U.S. Travel Association is commended the new agreement that will speed the border process for Canadian travelers visiting the United States while enhancing security.
President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced highlights of joint action plan at a White House ceremony on December 7.
“Yesterday’s announcement strikes an important balance between enhanced security and the economic benefits of travel and trade,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. Continue reading…