Real Estate Predictions

Industry analysts predicted the collapse of U.S. commercial real estate but it never materialized in reality. Of course, the market is just coming out of an economic downturn. Recently, a Federal Reserve executive told a congressional committee that commercial real estate was close to bottom.

Yet an even greater crisis had been predicted by many observers. It was believed that commercial real estate would fall, drag the economy back to a recession, and cause a catastrophe in the banks. Indeed much to the surprise of many people, commercial real estate is on the rebound.

Overall Recovery

Although the positive trend can be seen across the country, it picks up steam in major centers like New York City. Overall, the commercial real estate market looks promising but there are pockets of distress. As well, the market is far below its 2007 peak.

Underlying market fundamentals are reaching a stabilized state. At the end of 2010, vacancy rates were not increasing in office, industrial, and retail sectors. Although vacancy levels were elevated to varying degrees (13%-16%), sales of commercial real estate improved in every quarter of 2010.

CB Richard Ellis in Los Angeles, the world's largest commercial property brokerage, reported double-digit fourth-quarter gains in all its global business lines except real estate development services. Bricks & Mortar Capital President, Craig Silvers, explained that improving economies in the United States and Asia have more companies taking action on real estate matters. In fact, Silvers suggests that companies are trying to "lock in real estate leases or buy property before prices get out of control."

Commercial real estate due for upswing?

Financial Stress

If lenders concentrated their efforts in commercial real estate, they may feel more than a little stress. Keep in mind that $3.4 trillion is outstanding on real estate loans. Plenty of defaults will mean a ton of foreclosures. Almost 1,300 small banks nationwide hold a considerable number of commercial real estate loans.

Yet a top Federal Reserve official, Patrick Parkinson, played down any worries. He believes that bank struggles will not be as grave as earlier predictions. Commercial real estate will not be the downfall of U.S. banks.

Future Issues

It is possible though that there could be difficulties in the future. Present loans will mature and need rolling over, therefore, putting banks under strain. Most commercial mortgages have shorter maturities (three-ten years) than those offered by banks for residential loans. In addition, commercial loans are structured so that they are 'rolled over' instead of being repaid during the life of the agreement.

No Threat

Commercial loans are not a huge threat to big banks. No doubt, the market is dragging a little. A few financial institutions hold large portfolios of mortgage-backed securities. Yet already, they have taken huge write-downs on them.

"While we expect significant ongoing CRE-related problems, it appears that worst-case scenarios are becoming increasingly unlikely," says Patrick Parkinson, the Federal Director of banking supervision and regulation.

U.S. Commercial Property Recovery Spares Economy

UPDATE 2-US commercial property loans a drag, not huge threat

Do You Have Confidence In The U.S. Commercial Real Estate Market?

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The football team whose city has the most commercial real estate vacancies will win the Super Bowl. That is the prediction of Roger Staubach who led the Dallas Cowboys to two Super Bowl victories in 1972 and 1978. At present, Staubach is the Americas executive chairman for Jones Lang LaSalle - a global financial and professional services company specializing in real estate. Based on his expertise and experience in sports and property, the former-football-player-turned real-estate-executive stands by his belief.

“As a student of both football and commercial real estate, I can tell you that this vacancy rate hypothesis is absolutely the real deal. When it comes to picking a winner, you can throw everything else out the window,” says Roger Staubach, the Americas executive chairman for Jones Lang LaSalle.

Social and Economic Impact

Staubach and his son Jeff (a senior vice president at Jones Lang LaSalle) have been blogging about Super Bowl XLV and throwing a bit of real estate into the mix. Whether or not you give credence to the prediction, the Super Bowl does have a social and economic impact on the city that holds the event. Actually in 2010, the Staubach team launched "Countdown to the Super Bowl: The Economic and Social Impacts for North Texas." Staubach chaired the bid to hold the event in North Texas.

Financial Giant

Jones Lang LaSalle has stayed in the background as Staubach shares his predictions. The global financial firm has not offered any explanation about the connection between commercial real estate and Super Bowl wins. Of course, real estate predictions can be based on anything from a crystal ball to empirical research. Yet it is doubtful that Jones Lang LaSalle favors the crystal ball method. The professional services company is more the 'trends and statistics' type who would favor scientific methods.

Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels handles major financial announcements. The group forecast the 2011 deal volume (US $13 billion) in the Americas. The team figured out that REITs would be among the most active buyers with total volume for 2010 expected to be US $10.5 billion.

Winning Prediction

Not surprisingly, Jones Lang LaSalle has not weighed in to any great extent on the 'winning' prediction. Apparently though, the company has no objection to their executive chairman for the Americas claiming that his prediction is the "real deal." Maybe Jones Lang La Salle and Roger Staubach are smart enough to know that they are the winners getting the real deal.

We can predict that the 'prediction' is great publicity. According to the NFL, 65% of Super Bowl attendees are corporate executives. The group could include executives who might buy office space in the city or even relocate their headquarters. After these predictions, they will remember the names of Roger Staubach and Jones Lang LaSalle.

Who Will Win The Super Bowl?

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Green Bay Packers Sunday - February 6, 2011

According to Staubach's theory, the Green Bay Packers will win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Green Bay's commercial vacancy rate is 18.9% but Pittsburgh has one of the lowest office vacancy rates in the US – just 12.1%.

And Yet Another Interesting Fact…

Since 2002, almost two thirds of Super Bowl wins have gone to the city with the most office space vacancies.

Super Bowl winner predicted by analyzing commercial real estate vacancy rates

Who Do You Think Will Win Super Bowl XLV?

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Most likely, the majority of real estate predictions fall somewhere in the middle - based on more than a crystal ball and less than empirical research. Maybe there might be one or two people who put predictions out there without any thought. Yet most real estate predictions are the result of studying trends and statistics.

Accurate Predictions

Apparently, a few of these predictions can have a high accuracy rate. For example, the Globe and Mail has tallied the score for predictions made by Neil Downey, RBC Dominion Securities analyst. Downey offered five predictions for 2011. Before the end of January, three predictions have become reality.

The Globe and Mail's story is titled – "The real-estate crystal ball." Probably, careful observations are responsible for these impressive results. No crystal ball here; maybe though a little luck, too!

Which Correct Predictions Did The Analyst Make About Canadian Real Estate?

• Richard Baker, the New York investor who bought Hudson's Bay Company, is ready to close a $2-billion deal bringing Target Corp. into Canada.

• RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust is looking for funding of its acquisition plan as well as refinancing for outstanding debt. Recently, REIT hit the market with rate reset preferred shares and senior unsecured debt.

• Canada's commercial mortgage-backed securities market is making a rebound. Two major real estate companies are tapping the market for $206 million – the first deal of this type since 2007. 

As well, Downey predicted more TSX-listed REITs at the end of 2011 than the beginning and less equity raising activity. The Globe and Mail is waiting to see if these two predictions will come to light.

Core Predictions

Real estate predictions are a serious business. The real estate industry is at the core of an economy. Home buyers account for a huge percentage of economic activity. Commercial real estate involves three main categories - retail (stores, malls), industrial (factories, warehouses), and commercial (offices, multi-dwelling buildings).

Real estate transactions are handled by brokers and agents. Certain agents offer property management services to businesses. When entrepreneurs are doing well, real estate transactions experience an increase. In a poor economy, realtors help businesses to find the best location and affordable facilities.

Empirical Research

Empirical research (such as Plotkin 2002) has been conducted about the role of real estate in an economy. The "first major empirical nonfinancial ratio business success versus failure prediction model" was applied to the real estate industry in New England. The purpose of this study was to develop and test a nonfinancial model that would predict real estate business success or failure using the Lussier (1995) prediction model.

'Lussier' was selected for the study because it had been published in more journals than any other model. The study suggested that similar methodology be used to conduct studies in other parts of the US as well as in other countries. Real science here – far more than a crystal ball!

A Success Versus Failure Prediction Model for the Real Estate Industry

How Have You Arrived At Your Real Estate Predictions?

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