Categories Narrative

The World’s Coolest Offices

To finish the year off, I thought we would take a look back at the coolest office spaces across the world for 2015 as well as a few really special transactions that we have been fortunate to work on ourselves. This year we had the opportunity to work with great companies who built awesome spaces. Be sure to scroll … Continue reading The World’s Coolest Offices

Categories Narrative

White Collar Jobs Going to Robots

Robots are changing the world. We know that. Below are two articles that will update you on how the job market is changing with the advent of robots. First is an article that talks about five white collar jobs where robots are already replacing humans. How about: Lawyers—Software is here doing the job of attorneys who did document review. Try 1.5 million documents analyzed … Continue reading White Collar Jobs Going to Robots

Categories Narrative

Chasing Excellence

Sometimes the perfect holiday gift comes without warning. Today is your lucky day! This week, my fourth book, Chasing Excellence, Real Life Stories form the Streets is available on Amazon. It’s the perfect stocking stuffer for friends and family. You can get it by clicking here.   On a serious note, I am so honored to share this book that I’ve written with our … Continue reading Chasing Excellence

Categories Narrative

More Housing and Job Market Updates

One of the reasons Arizona has been a net in-migration state since its inception is because of our affordability. One key component of affordability is being able to buy a reasonably priced house. Click here to see my earlier perspective on the housing market. Arizona Residents can buy a house substantially below California and cheaper than most surrounding markets (The question is … Continue reading More Housing and Job Market Updates

Categories Narrative

33 more rules for your family’s Thanksgiving touch football game

Fifty-one weeks a year this narrative is informational, commercial real estate focused and, we think, the best in our field.  Not this week.  Once again we bring you Jason Gay’s Rules for Thanksgiving touch football.  Yay!   For me: –#5–A bit of pregame stretching. Puts down the box of blueberry muffins, stands up.  Ok that’s good … Continue reading 33 more rules for your family’s Thanksgiving touch football game

Categories Narrative

Is an LLC the Right Choice for my Commercial Real Estate Investment?

When I first got into commercial real estate, the Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) had just been created. It didn’t have any case history or track record.  With that in mind, I thought I would do a quick review to make sure the LLC is still the right structure for most real estate investments.  Turns out, it still is for the … Continue reading Is an LLC the Right Choice for my Commercial Real Estate Investment?

Categories Narrative

Post China 16

Below is a infographic on the Post China 16 (PC 16) that fascinated me.  I know that China’s maturation has jumpstarted manufacturing growth in other countries.  What I didn’t realize is the sheer number of countries affected.  See below to grasp the number and diversity.   These countries include:   –All of Indonesia –Cambodia and Vietnam … Continue reading Post China 16

Categories Narrative

The Rise of Real Estate Tech

Over the past couple years, I have spent quite a bit of time thinking, researching and writing about Commercial Real Estate Tech companies (don’t worry, I will not do another five day series this January.  Ha).    Why? The second graph below says it all.      Here are some highlights from the article:   –NYC and Silicon … Continue reading The Rise of Real Estate Tech

Categories Narrative

Ten Ways Big Data Is Revolutionizing Supply Chain Management

As an office broker, I am not usually asked about supply chain activities. Our industrial brokers, however, live it every day. There is a huge disruption happening in the supply chain. Below is some detailed (and slightly over my head) information on 10 ways big data (analyzing over 52 different sources) is disrupting the supply … Continue reading Ten Ways Big Data Is Revolutionizing Supply Chain Management

Categories Narrative

What DOES $1,500 buy you? – Very Different Apartment Comparisons Across the US and Around the World

Apartment development and rents have been the talk of this cycle’s development. I found a couple different examples of apartment comparisons: First, a look at which states offer the most square footage across the US. In Detroit you can rent an 818 SF place for the same price you get for a 285 SF place in San Francisco. I heard a few stories … Continue reading What DOES $1,500 buy you? – Very Different Apartment Comparisons Across the US and Around the World

Categories Recent Transactions

SkySong 4 To Break Ground In October

We are very proud to have represented The Plaza Companies/Holualoa in bringing its first tenant, Booker Software, Inc., to SkySong 4, The ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center’s next phase at 1355 N. Scottsdale Road. SkySong 4 will deliver in Q3 2016.

Categories Narrative

SubTropolis: The Massive Business Complex Buried Under Kansas City

You won’t believe what is happening underground in Kansas City. SubTropolis has been around since 1964, but I just found out about it thanks to Ann McCartney with Lighthouse Commercial Finance. Check out all the companies that have space in this underground industrial park. The entire thing is an excavated mine the size of 140 … Continue reading SubTropolis: The Massive Business Complex Buried Under Kansas City

Categories Narrative

2015 Top Brokerage Firms

While there are some crazy numbers on the below graph (52,000 brokers at CBRE), I found the information pretty interesting. There is a huge market consolidation occurring in the commercial real estate brokerage sector. We see this continuing as firms try to keep pace with global market coverage and try to be all things to all clients. Since … Continue reading 2015 Top Brokerage Firms

Categories Narrative, Office Market

Market Insight: Q2 2015 Phoenix Office Report

Like the national office market, the Metro Phoenix Office Market is rebounding at a gradual pace. Last week Craig sent out a good update on the national office market from The Wall Street Journal. (Click here for his narrative in case you missed it) Today I’m sending you an update on the progress we’re seeing in Phoenix. The WSJ article mentions … Continue reading Market Insight: Q2 2015 Phoenix Office Report

Categories Narrative

4th Asset Class: Real Estate

Real Estate as the fourth asset class is finally becoming a reality. Why is this important? Well, the amount of capital that has and will flow into our industry is astonishing. Billions of dollars, an additional $500 billion to be exact. This money will make our market more liquid, provide for stability in markets and will change the way properties … Continue reading 4th Asset Class: Real Estate

Categories Narrative, Tech Industry

The Rise of Robotics

As you know, I make my living in the office space market. However, I still like to keep up with trends outside of the industry and how they will eventually affect office space. Below is an article about the megatrend now taking place in robotics and what amazing changes are occurring. One of the reasons job recovery has been slower … Continue reading The Rise of Robotics

Categories Design, Narrative

Nesting in Office Space Design

OK, so I am not sure if this is pure genius or complete BS. Then again, I know nothing about anthropological research. Below is a short article that discusses the cultural norm of approximately seven people being the ideal group size. Your teams should be seven (plus or minus two), and your office space groups should be the same. Why? –The team can … Continue reading Nesting in Office Space Design

Categories Economy, Narrative

Snapshot of Arizona Economy

Below is a great snapshot of Arizona and where we are with our economy. In addition, I’ve added a couple extra tidbits that are not in the below infographic:   –Arizona still lags in job creation. We are not quite back to 100 percent of our jobs lost (even though we have regained 314,000). This is the first … Continue reading Snapshot of Arizona Economy

Categories Narrative

The Changing Face/Space of Parking: Impact on Commercial Real Estate

Last year, we sent an article to a select few Landlord clients that we work with who own buildings. That email was one of the most opened narratives we have ever sent. The topic?—Parking lot security. I didn’t see that coming.    Inspired by that email, below are two cool articles about what is going on in the modern … Continue reading The Changing Face/Space of Parking: Impact on Commercial Real Estate

Categories Narrative, Tech Industry

Coolest Technology that Could Affect Commercial Real Estate

Today, I want to share with you a company that has a wonderful idea. If they can get this commercialized, it would revolutionize parking lots and roads. Imagine solar panels as surfaces in parking lots, roads and even highways. This is a short article with just some highlights. I would love to see the day where an abundance of our … Continue reading Coolest Technology that Could Affect Commercial Real Estate

Categories Narrative

A Timeline of Lease Accounting

For the past couple years, we have been tracking the proposed law change that will reclassify the way businesses account for their commercial leases. Since 1977, a company’s office lease has been treated as an operating expense. Businesses may soon be forced to record it on their balance sheet under new accounting rules. If this new … Continue reading A Timeline of Lease Accounting

Categories Narrative

WeWork: Now a $5 Billion Co-Working Startup

Over the years, I have leased space to several executive suite operators. These “tenants” lease a large amount of space, then re-lease it to small tenants sharing conference rooms, administration services, etc. During the last recession, most of them closed down leaving a specialized kind of operator – small, local and personal. Regus is the only international company that made it through … Continue reading WeWork: Now a $5 Billion Co-Working Startup

Categories Design, Narrative

Buildings That Move???

Dynamic Architecture is designing a whole new way to build buildings AND each floor moves independently while rotating. Pretty cool, huh?    Here are some highlights: 1—Each floor rotates 360 degrees, independently or in a concerted manner. Much like the fancy restaurant at the top of a building we have all been to, but in these buildings every floor rotates. … Continue reading Buildings That Move???

Categories Design, Narrative

Pressed Suits in Your Office?

Leave it to The Economist to call squeezing office space “pressed suits.” Not only is office space becoming more open, it is becoming less personal. Mobile workers and the fact that 50% of all workers are not in the office at any given time, have led to no personal desk environments. In many offices, you show up and get assigned a desk … Continue reading Pressed Suits in Your Office?

Categories Narrative

Commuter Science

Every now and then I see a cool graphic that I need to share. Below is one I pulled from National Geographic on commuting and how much time is spent per year in rush hour all over the world. My home of Phoenix is pretty low, but if you live in London, Stuttgart, Paris or Los Angeles—sorry. … Continue reading Commuter Science

Categories Narrative

Where Everyone in the World is Migrating – in One Gorgeous Chart

World migration is not a typical topic on my mind. However, the immigration from Mexico to the US is. You see, I was raised in a city less than 20 miles from the Mexican border. My parents still live in Sierra Vista, ground zero for the illegal immigrant movement and the border patrol. So immigration is a topic … Continue reading Where Everyone in the World is Migrating – in One Gorgeous Chart

Categories Narrative

What Happens When You Sit All Day?

I have been working a lot over the past few months. Sitting, typing, meeting. Sound familiar? Below is a cool infographic on what happens when we sit all the time. The results are not very good. So I have highlighted in yellow some ways to offset all the sitting. Doing some cat/cow yoga postures in the office is always fashionable, right?    On … Continue reading What Happens When You Sit All Day?

Categories Design, Narrative

Top 10 Emerging Trends in Real Estate for 2015

The Urban Land Institute is a thoughtful group of committed real estate practitioners who are global in their membership and thoughts. They have recently produced their emerging trends for 2015. You can click here for the complete document. Below I have included a few pages of Chapter 1 for a quick review, the entire document is lengthy.    Here are my personal highlights—most of … Continue reading Top 10 Emerging Trends in Real Estate for 2015

Categories Narrative, Tech Industry

Day 5: The One Commercial Real Estate Tech Company that Changed Our World

In my final narrative for the week, I thought I would end with the company that I believe has made the most impact on our business: CoStar. Before CoStar, all companies had to do their own property research. This was time consuming and expensive. When I first started in the industry, each quarter, every broker in our firm had to … Continue reading Day 5: The One Commercial Real Estate Tech Company that Changed Our World

Categories Narrative, Tech Industry

Day 4: Tech Companies Trying to Eliminate/Assist Commercial Brokerage

Hope you are finding this week’s series interesting. We are in the homestretch. Below are six additional companies to review. Zillow is probably the only household name among them. Enjoy. Craig 602.954.3762 ccoppola@leearizona.com   Company Name:  http://www.gethightower.com/ Upper Management: Brandon Weber, CEO Donald DeSantis, CDO Niall Smart, CTO Business Strategy: Hightower’s strategy is two-fold: One, to sell software to owners who … Continue reading Day 4: Tech Companies Trying to Eliminate/Assist Commercial Brokerage

Categories Narrative, Tech Industry

Day 3: Tech Companies Trying to Eliminate/Assist Commercial Brokerage-First Six

Over the next two days, we will review 12 different technology companies that are in the commercial real estate space. Before I look at the companies that are trying to take business from commercial brokerage companies, a little background is necessary. I want to break the commercial brokerage industry down into two key segments: leasing and investment sales. … Continue reading Day 3: Tech Companies Trying to Eliminate/Assist Commercial Brokerage-First Six

Categories Narrative, Tech Industry

Day 2: Why Tech Has Stayed Out of Brokerage for So Long and A Case Study of a Company Trying to Change It

Day Two of our Five-Day Series–In the early 2000’s, before the dot com bubble burst, hundreds of millions of dollars were invested and lost by startup companies trying to turn the commercial brokerage process into an automated endeavor. The theory was, and still is, that real estate brokerage can be automated like the travel agent business and … Continue reading Day 2: Why Tech Has Stayed Out of Brokerage for So Long and A Case Study of a Company Trying to Change It

Categories Narrative, Tech Industry

A Special 5-Day Series on Technology Companies Trying to Replace Commercial Brokerage–Day 1

I spent the last six months reviewing technology companies that are trying to disrupt the commercial brokerage industry in various ways. Over the next five consecutive days, I am going to share with you a number of these companies, what they are trying to do, who has invested in them and, of course, my take on their … Continue reading A Special 5-Day Series on Technology Companies Trying to Replace Commercial Brokerage–Day 1

Categories Narrative

My Third Book is Now Available: The Art of Commercial Real Estate Leasing

I have spent almost 100,000 hours of my life committed to leasing commercial office space. After completing 3,500 commercial lease transactions and 30 years in the business, I decided to write the follow up to my first book How to Win in Commercial Real Estate Investing and have now written a book on commercial office space leasing. The … Continue reading My Third Book is Now Available: The Art of Commercial Real Estate Leasing

Categories Narrative

A Floating Neighborhood for NYC

When density meets demand, creativity pops up. What the??? New York is planning to create a whole neighborhood for 65,000 people OVER an active rail yard. See below for some cool renderings and a moving graphic that is worth watching. To summarize: –They will build 300 concrete and steel caissons that will be inserted 40-80 feet into the ground.  –Then … Continue reading A Floating Neighborhood for NYC

Categories Narrative

Competition Is for Losers

Today, I want to have a discussion about competition. Peter Thiel’s, founder of PayPal, article below got me thinking about basic lessons I learned in college 30 years ago and have experienced every single day since. The commercial brokerage business is brutal. Eighty percent of people who come into our business are gone within five years. Those of us … Continue reading Competition Is for Losers