Month: November 2017

Companies ranging from the big automakers in Detroit to tech firms in Silicon Valley are pouring research dollars into driverless cars, and this development is projected to completely change the future of commercial real estate. This transition creates opportunities for new investment as well as challenges for existing properties. Demand for parking The biggest effect of driverless cars will be a reduction in demand for parking. As cars become fully autonomous, passengers can be dropped off at their final destination and continue to pick up other passengers or park themselves…

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Current Economic Conditions by Federal Reserve District- November 2017 Overall Economic Activity Economic activity continued to increase at a modest to moderate pace in October and mid-November, according to anecdotal reports from contacts across the 12 Federal Reserve Districts. There was a slight improvement in the outlook among contacts in reporting Districts. Pre-holiday reports of consumer spending on retail and autos were mixed but largely flat; still, the outlook for holiday sales was generally optimistic. Many Districts highlighted growth in the transportation sector, although the New York District reported a…

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Our new quarterly report will give you an overview of office, retail and industrial activity and trends in the Wichita market during the third quarter! To view or download the 3Q ’17 Wichita Market Report, please submit the form below.

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By some estimates, shoppers were spending $1 million per minute at the peak of Black Friday. By the close of business, $5 billion was estimated to have been spent online. Estimates are that Cyber Monday will be even bigger with digital sales of $6.5 billion; signs that the retail experience in the future will be totally different than it is today. Tailored customer experiences and seamless integration of online and brick-and-mortar will be pillars of the retail experience.  The following are some insights into how retailers are preparing for the…

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Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and while the commercial real estate industry has experienced its share of challenges this year, it’s also evolving at an unprecedented rate. Change creates opportunity, and from booming industrial markets to the promise of new technologies, CRE professionals have a lot to be thankful for this year. 1. Industrial Just Won’t Stop Growing Last year the industry was thankful for industrial real estate’s explosive growth. Happily, that success only accelerated this year. Colliers International‘s latest report said the U.S. industrial market clocked its 29th…

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There is still office space to be had in Wichita, especially in the downtown area. But one local broker says owners and developers might want to think about spending money to make money — especially if they are going to overcome the parking problem that remains one of the biggest drawbacks to officing in the city’s core. By turning some vacant office space into amenities for tenants, says Patrick Ahern, a commercial real estate broker with NAI Martens, buildings could add important new draws in an age where demands go beyond…

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Last week, we shared information on issues related to the Federal Historic Tax Credit (FHTC) Program and how its elimination might affect the renovation of historical properties in Wichita’s core area. However, there are a number of other issues related to the tax reform measures that have broader implications on the CRE business. According to Globe St.co, commercial real estate came off pretty well in the House Ways & Means Committee’s tax reform measure. Now the Senate Finance Committee has introduced its own version of the plan, and there are…

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It’s been an ongoing debate as to whether tenants are favoring the suburbs over the city. As we see more office campuses such as Toyota and Liberty Mutual pop up in suburban areas, the favorability of suburban markets is making headway when compared to the city. So, where are the offices? Here are four factors to consider when deciding between suburban and urban offices: Considering Space Requirements There is certainly no shortage of space in the suburbs, giving companies ample space to build out the perfect office campuses for their…

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