Martens Companies 

Is the East Coast Casino Dash Something to Watch?

naimartens

Gambling and by association, casinos, are known as one of mankind’s favorite guilty pleasures. The thrill of winning hundreds or even thousands of dollars is enough to create enjoyment and even addiction. As the East Coast pushes forward with many states legalizing or considering the legalization of casinos, construction has started to boom in the industry. However, what is causing this rush to build the biggest, best most outlandish casino resort? Why is it happening and is it something to watch? Let’s explore how the East Coast sees casinos as…

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Martens Companies 

Key Takeaways from the CEDBR Misery Index Report

Katie Fernando

The Center for Economic Development and Business Research released its Misery Index 2018 Q4. The index measures the impact of economic conditions on people by combining changes in the Housing Price Index, the Consumer Price Index and the unemployment rate. Overall, the report finds that misery has decreased. Here are the big takeaways from the report. The level of misery for the U.S. and for Kansas decreased between the third and fourth quarter. The greatest contributor to this decrease is the lower unemployment rate. The level of misery for Wichita…

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Martens Companies 

STR: US hotel results for week ending 2 March

Martens Appraisal

The U.S. hotel industry reported occupancy decreased 1% to 65.3%, but a 1.3% increase in ADR to $127.59 raised RevPAR 0.3% to $83.36 during the week ending 2 March. The U.S. hotel industry reported mixed year-over-year results in the three key performance metrics during the week of 24 February through 2 March 2019, according to data from STR. In comparison with the week of 25 February through 3 March 2018, the industry recorded the following: • Occupancy: -1.0% to 65.3%• Average daily rate (ADR): +1.3% to US$127.59• Revenue per available room…

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NAI Martens 

Amazon’s Impact on Grocery, and the Innovation that Follows

naimartens

Amazon sent shockwaves throughout America and abroad when news broke of the e-commerce giant’s acquisition of Whole Foods Market. The $13.4 billion deal was the first of its kind and showed a leap of faith in from traditional shopping trends to a new, technologically advanced horizon. Amazon currently has a variety of grocery based options such as AmazonFresh, Prime Now, Prime Pantry, Subscribe and Save and of course, Whole Foods.  With the implementation of these new digital grocery options, Amazon has given its Prime members, all 100 million of them,…

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Fed Beige Book: Slight to Moderate Economic Growth in Most Regions

Martens Appraisal

Ten of the Federal Reserve Districts Reported a Growing Economy with Slight to Moderate Growth Economic activity continued to expand in late January and February, with ten Districts reporting slight-to-moderate growth, and Philadelphia and St. Louis reporting flat economic conditions. About half of the Districts noted that the government shutdown had led to slower economic activity in some sectors including retail, auto sales, tourism, real estate, restaurants, manufacturing, and staffing services. Consumer spending activity was mixed across the country, with contacts from several Districts attributing lower retail and auto sales…

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Martens Companies 

Millennials Show Rising Interest in Appraisal Profession

Martens Appraisal

For the past several years, the appraisal profession has battled the fact that a significant percentage of its workforce is aging. And as a greater number of appraisers approach retirement age, fewer newcomers are jumping in, meaning that their ranks are dwindling, and fast. A survey conducted last year by the National Association of Appraisers revealed that 18.5% of the 500 active appraisers surveyed planned to retire in two to five years, while 18.7% planned to retire in six to 10 years, meaning that within a decade, almost 40% of the appraisal…

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NAI Martens 

6 Must-Consider Factors When Investing in Commercial Real Estate

naimartens

So you’re embarking on a journey in commercial real estate investment. Commercial real estate investing can be incredibly rewarding by providing additional income, security, and longevity that are less common in other types of investments. However, whether you’re looking at an office space, industrial location, flex space, or rental property, amongst the varied other commercial real estate properties, it is important to consider a few factors prior to beginning your new journey. Financials It is pivotal to ask yourself, are my financials organized to invest? How much do you want…

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Martens Companies 

U.S. Hotel Deal Sales Volume in 2018 Increased 49% YOY

Martens Appraisal

A total of 707 property sales totaling $29.5 billion made 2018 the most active year for hotel transactions since 2007, according to the Hotel Transaction Almanac produced by STR’s Consulting & Analytics office and Hotel Brokers International (HBI). Total number of transactions grew 25% from 2017, while sales volume was up 49% from the previous year. “We’re near the peak of the cycle right now where there is opportunity for very large profits,” said Joseph Rael, STR’s senior director of consulting & analytics. “Buyers feel that they can pick up…

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Martens Companies 

STR: US hotel results for week ending 23 February

Katie Fernando

U.S. hotel occupancy decreased 1.7% to 64.7% during the week of 17-23 February, while ADR increased 1.7% to $129.05 and RevPAR was flat at $83.43. The U.S. hotel industry reported mixed year-over-year results in the three key performance metrics during the week of 17-23 February 2019, according to data from STR. In comparison with the week of 18-24 February 2018, the industry recorded the following: Occupancy: -1.7% to 64.7% Average daily rate (ADR): +1.7% to US$129.05 Revenue per available room (RevPAR): flat at US$83.43 Among the Top 25 Markets, San Francisco/San Mateo,…

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NAI Martens 

Some Grocers Going Small to Stay Relevant

naimartens

Growing numbers of smaller format grocery stores with limited inventories are popping up all over the country. Major chains like Target, Kroger, and Meijer have started opening small-format locations that are typically fractions smaller than their traditional big box stores. How are these smaller grocers improving sales? Let’s find out. Grocery stores are a $600 billion industry according to the Food Market Industry. The shift from larger format stores to smaller stores is really driven by the availability of real estate. Urban, high-populated areas simply don’t have the space for…

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