Martens Companies 

What opportunity zones mean for US hotel development

Katie Fernando

Although the newly created opportunity zones have some geographical restrictions, the program opens up some tax benefits for hotel owners and investors who have a project in the right location. REPORT FROM THE U.S.—For hotel owners and developers, the chance to receive any sort of tax break or deferment on a new project can be hard to pass up. The newly created opportunity-zone program offers tax deferments on investments in new construction or property improvements. But there are drawbacks. Opportunity zones are located in low-income areas, which could mean fewer…

Read More
NAI Martens 

Ask These 5 Questions Before Adding to Your Tech Stack

naimartens

Are you thinking about expanding your technology repertoire for your commercial real estate business? Not sure which new technology will fit into your CRE firm? Before you decide to add to your tech stack, there are a few questions you should ask. After all, adopting new technology into your company is a big decision and you need to make sure that you are adding the right new tech that will add value to the business. Here are five questions you should ask before adding to your tech stack. How Will…

Read More
Martens Companies 

Financing Commercial Properties in 2019: What Investors Need to Know

Martens Appraisal

In spite of rising interest rates and global economic turmoil, U.S. capital markets have proven resilient. Last year has been a record year for the real estate community. Investment activity and the velocity of transactions reached record highs, and fundamentals in many markets across the U.S remained strong. This late cycle success has many wondering if we will experience a softening or market correction in the new year, and what this means for investors, especially in terms of financing. As a mortgage banking firm with more than 30 years of expertise…

Read More
NAI Martens 

Understanding Zero-Knowledge Proof and Its Impact on CRE

naimartens

Zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) was first introduced in the 1980s by a group of researchers at MIT in their paper, “The Knowledge Complexity of Interactive Proof Systems.” These researchers defined ZKP as a method by which one party can interact with another party and provide proof of the knowledge without revealing their confidential information. What is a Zero-Knowledge Proof? A Zero-Knowledge Proof is a cryptographic technique that allows two parties to prove that a proposition is true without revealing any info about the thing apart from it being true. In layman’s…

Read More
Martens Companies 

Hotels Might Be a Good Bet for HNW Investors, But Which Types Should They Focus On?

Katie Fernando

Full-service properties may offer higher yields, but select service hotels are less expensive to operate. If the hotel sector was being reviewed on a website like TripAdvisor in terms of 2019 opportunities for high-net-worth (HNW) real estate investors, some segments of the industry might earn five-star status, while others might be a couple of notches lower. But just as with guests’ opinions about hotel properties, real estate professionals don’t see eye to eye when it comes to which types of hotels are white-glove picks for HNW investors and which ones have…

Read More
Martens Companies 

What’s Coming in 2019: Restaurants

naimartens

2019 in Wichita looks to be another big year in new commercial real estate projects. We wanted to take a look at the major retail, restaurant and development activity that will be taking place throughout the year. Last up, we’re exploring restaurants opening in the coming year. HomeGrown Bradley Fair HomeGrown is coming to Bradley Fair in March.The daytime eatery announced in September that it will open a location in the new Spaghetti Works District, but since that project will not be finished until early 2020, the east-side location will…

Read More
NAI Martens 

4 Things to Know About Occupancy Sensors and CRE

naimartens

According to Condeco, the typical office utilization rate is just 39 percent, meaning many offices simply have too much space, which is why they employ occupancy sensors to determine where they can downsize and what spaces are not being used frequently or at all. Here is a brief description of how occupancy sensors work, what they cannot do and what benefits they can offer building owners and tenants. How Do Occupancy Sensors Work? There are a few different types of occupancy sensors. The typical sensors use infrared, ultrasonic waves, microwave…

Read More
Martens Companies 

What’s Coming in 2019: Development

naimartens

2019 in Wichita looks to be another big year in new commercial real estate projects. We wanted to take a look at the major retail, restaurant and development activity that will be taking place throughout the year. Next up are new developments. Andover Mixed-Use Development Jones Commercial Development Co. have plans to build a large mixed-use development including compact homes, retail space and anew city park. The development would be on 100 acres just north of US-54 in Andover. The developers have been working with the City of Andover on…

Read More
Martens Companies 

Why choose Martens Appraisal?

Martens Appraisal

Wichita’s #1 Commercial Appraisal Company Simply put: We know commercial real estate better than anyone else. Since 1948 Martens Appraisal has been providing commercial real estate services to Wichita and South-central Kansas. Unmatched Credentials Under the leadership of Steven J. Martens, who recently received the Kansas CCIM Chapter’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the Martens Appraisal team is made up of experienced and specialized appraisers including four who hold the MAI designation, the Martens Appraisal team has over 100 years of combined commercial real estate appraisal experience. Experienced Appraisers The Martens Appraisal…

Read More
Martens Companies 

What’s Coming in 2019: Retail

naimartens

2019 in Wichita looks to be another big year in new commercial real estate projects. We wanted to take a look at the major retail, restaurant and development activity that will be taking place throughout the year. First up, we’re looking at retail – either free-standing or going into existing space. Duluth Trading Co. Construction is underway on Duluth Trading Co. out at Greenwich Place. The clothing and accessories store is going next to Buffalo Wings & Rings at 2628 Greenwich Court. The store is expected to be open early…

Read More