The Architecture Billings Index, which is compiled from a monthly survey of architecture firms around the U.S., was up a modest two (2) points in February 2009,  but down six (6) points from a year earlier, pointing to a continued lack in demand for design services.
The February 2009 rating was 35.3, up from the historically low […]

WASHINGTON 2:30PM EST — Huge credit and real estate news …… With benchmark rates virtually at zero, the Federal Reserve has turned its focus to pumping money into stressed credit markets in the hope of restarting lending and restoring growth — a policy Fed chief Ben Bernanke has dubbed “credit easing.

“In a very rare move — […]

Today the U.S. Treasury announced what they call the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan, intended to stave off the mortgage and residential real estate crisis. Below is a quick and dirty outline of the plan. For a summary, review the Treasury’s Fact Sheet. For the Full Plan, check out all the details right from the […]

You may have noticed. Recently, we have been sitting on the sidelines, and resisted putting up a post, and for good reason.
First, stories regarding real estate, and the economic catastrophe we are experiencing, have been so over saturated and so over reported,  I’m just not sure what value we could have added for you. But most importantly, we have […]

So who are the geniuses that will shape our economic future, under the Obama administration?
Here is a brief dossier, presented by the Wall Street Journal, on each member of Obama’s team, their strengths and weaknesses as we now know them, and what they have revealed in their thinking about the bailout.
We know far […]

The engine of our economy is powered by jobs. That is why we sit on the edge of our seats lately as the Jobs Report is announced by the Government.
It is actually quite simple. Jobs require businesses to lease more space (or maintain their existing leases), and jobs afford employee’s to buy new homes, refinance […]

One mans trash is another mans treasure. Here is a report to mull over, for those with cash and/or financing facilities. Is the glass half-full or half empty? Depends ….
As reported by the Baltimore Business Journal, the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. region ranks fifth in the nation for metropolitan areas hardest hit by the nationwide credit crunch, […]

Despite more than $1 trillion in federal largesse, banks still may not have the capital cushions to bear the risks of making fresh loans.
Read BusinessWeeks recent expose’, which provides an inside view into a most critical element which surrounds all of business operations in the days ahead — lending!

What appeared to be the worst possible case a few weeks or months ago, for many commercial real estate developers and owners, now appears to be the most likely and negative outcome; vacancy rates are rising sharply with effective rents falling, similarly, with financing options dwindling. Some predict 2009 to be the worst year since ‘91-’92. […]

If you were wondering what impact the awful economy has had in 2008, and will have in 2009, on retail commercial space, read Bloombergs reporting. Here are a few shocking details ….

U.S. retailers face a wave of store closings, bankruptcies and takeovers starting next month (January 2009), as holiday sales are shaping up to be the […]