Categories Narrative, Ten on One

Ten on One – Family Legacies with Scott Donnell

Normally, we talk all things CRE.  Today, however, we’re making a detour and chatting with Scott Donnell, the genius founder of GravyStack, Apex Leadership Company, and author of New York Times best-seller, Value Creation Kid.  Scott spent the past five years learning from 1,000 amazing families.  Family legacy is his life and here are some fascinating takeaways:   — … Continue reading Ten on One – Family Legacies with Scott Donnell

Categories Covid19 Impact, Narrative, Original Content

7 Lasting Changes From COVID in Office Space

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant changes in the Commercial Real Estate office market.  As brokers, we have been able to see and participate in these changes firsthand. All Tenants and Landlords are making adjustments on how they lease space. When culture-altering changes happen, companies that learn to adapt are far more successful than those that don’t. … Continue reading 7 Lasting Changes From COVID in Office Space

Categories Narrative, Ten on One

Ten on One – NFL Long Snapper JJ Jansen Explains Performing Under Pressure

All you need is 10 minutes to listen to our conversation with current NFL great, JJ Jansen, who is the veteran long snapper for the Carolina Panthers.  JJ shares some incredible tips on how he has dealt with pressure in one of the most intense workplaces: the pro football stadium. Can you imagine doing your … Continue reading Ten on One – NFL Long Snapper JJ Jansen Explains Performing Under Pressure

Categories Covid19 Impact, Narrative, Office Trends

Stick or Carrot?

As more and more companies around the country are returning to work, big corporations are trying to incentivize their employees to get them back into the office.  Some are even bribing their employees with the promise of charity donations for each day that an employee comes to the office (The Carrot). Other companies are threatening … Continue reading Stick or Carrot?

Categories Covid19 Impact, Narrative, Office Trends

Why Companies are Migrating Back to the Office

The illusion of work from home (WFH) proving more productive than being in the office together, is called out in this great article from The Economist.  The argument against the myth is actually articulated really well.    My simple takeaway is that it’s harder and costlier to collaborate virtually, making job skills suffer.  See below … Continue reading Why Companies are Migrating Back to the Office

Categories Graphs, Narrative, Office Market

Demand for Office Space Expected to Shrink Through Early 2024

We write about the state and future of the office market in The C2 Voice weekly. Because we are on the front lines, we see trends happening as they develop. Today, we want to share a great study that just came out from NAIOP (the main association for Office Developers) that mirrors our perspective but … Continue reading Demand for Office Space Expected to Shrink Through Early 2024

Categories Narrative, Office Market, Ten on One

Ten on One – Office Site Selection Insights with Thomas Maynard

This week we have an insightful episode with Thomas Maynard, Senior Vice President at the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC).  We sat down to discuss trends in office site selection, a space he lives in every week.     We asked Thomas: Who are the key players and what questions are they asking?  Here’s a taste of … Continue reading Ten on One – Office Site Selection Insights with Thomas Maynard

Categories Covid19 Impact, Narrative, Office Market, Office Trends

What CEOs are Saying About the Office

We continue to talk about the return to the office in this narrative because it’s at the forefront of our clients’ minds.  The below report from Leesman polled real estate leaders on the state of the workplace following the Covid-19 pandemic.  Here are a few takeaways I found most interesting:   –Almost 40% are planning major changes … Continue reading What CEOs are Saying About the Office

Categories Narrative, Original Content, Ten on One

Ten on One – Running a Startup CRE Software Company with Charlie Coppola

I’m especially excited about this month’s Ten on One as it features my son, Charlie Coppola, Chief Operating Officer of CRE OneSource. Charlie gives us a ten-minute insight into running a SaaS CRE company that is in growth mode.   Here are some key takeaways:   –Hire people you trust.  A great team is irreplaceable.  –Culture starts with … Continue reading Ten on One – Running a Startup CRE Software Company with Charlie Coppola

Categories Narrative, Office Market, Office Trends

1 – Minute Phoenix Metro Office Market Update: Q1 2023

The Metro Phoenix Office Market continues to face significant headwinds in 2023.  Net absorption, measured by the net change in physically occupied space, came in at negative 127,468 square feet in Q1. This means the office recovery took a step backward after realizing positive net absorption in the same amount during the last quarter of … Continue reading 1 – Minute Phoenix Metro Office Market Update: Q1 2023

Categories Narrative, Office Trends, Tech Industry

Redefining Location

Location has been the cornerstone of all commercial real estate decisions since the industry began.  Location, Location, Location.  But with the rise of technological advancements, this sure-fire parameter is being tested. Here are just a few of the trends pushing the boundaries of location: —Remote work. People are working from anywhere and everywhere.  This trend … Continue reading Redefining Location

Categories Narrative, Recent Transactions

Strong Start to 2023

The demise of office space is over exaggerated…  If you look at our team’s business, we continued to close a transaction every 2 days over the last quarter.  C2 is representing, touring, negotiating, and closing deals. –We would love to work with you. –We know the market….todays’ market. –We have insider information on deal terms … Continue reading Strong Start to 2023

Categories Narrative, Original Content, Ten on One

Ten on One- Minority Owned Start-up Business Thoughts from the Front Lines

This week we have an exciting episode of Ten on One with Maria Luna, the fabulous Co-Founder of Famigo, a mobile app for artists and creators. She riffs on starting a business, being a female founder, and how her mother helped drive her to succeed. It’s a conversation worth 10 minutes of your time, but … Continue reading Ten on One- Minority Owned Start-up Business Thoughts from the Front Lines

Categories Covid19 Impact, Narrative, Office Trends

Development Strategies for Maximizing E-Commerce Demand

No matter what sector of real estate you focus on, E-Commerce affects us all.  Its disruption of the commercial real estate world has accelerated exponentially due to COVID-19’s effects on our shopping behavior.  This disruption is forcing property owners, especially industrial and retail,  to re-think how they “maximize” the sites they own.  It’s also spilling … Continue reading Development Strategies for Maximizing E-Commerce Demand

Categories Narrative, Original Content

Spec Suite Scorecard

It’s happening — companies are doing all they can to get employees back to the office! But at the same time they understand that hybrid work and downsizing is here to stay…or is it? This is a scary unknown  for business owners, so how do they hedge their bets? Enter the “Spec Suite.” Over the … Continue reading Spec Suite Scorecard

Categories Narrative, Office Trends, Original Content, Ten on One

Ten on One- Growing a CRE Brokerage Company

Ten minutes with Jeff Rinkov, CEO and Chairman of the Board, Lee & Associates. Our Leader. We sat down to discuss how we are growing our company and what makes us different.–Bigger, publicly traded CRE companies are focused on growing predictable revenue….CRE brokerage commissions are not that predictable. –How is Lee growing: – NFL cities – Diversification … Continue reading Ten on One- Growing a CRE Brokerage Company

Categories Narrative, Office Market

1-Minute Phoenix Metro Office Market Update: Q4 2022

The Metro office market continues to trudge along its own path of an extended (up and down, circular) recovery.  Direct vacancy actually decreased slightly to 17.5%, 500 basis points lower than our 20-year average.  Meanwhile, average asking rates actually increased by $0.46/SF per year between Q3 and Q4.  However, net absorption, the most critical indicator of market … Continue reading 1-Minute Phoenix Metro Office Market Update: Q4 2022

Categories Narrative, Recent Transactions

C2 By The Numbers

2022 flew by. Before the year gets away from us, we wanted to say thank you for helping us succeed. Reflecting on our transactions, our relationships, and our business over the past year, I have these few takeaways: –We are blessed to have fantastic clients. While the office market is still in a sandstorm for … Continue reading C2 By The Numbers

Categories Narrative, Original Content, Ten on One

Ten on One- Construction (Tenant Improvement) Pricing

In our latest Ten on One podcast, we spend 10 minutes with James Murphy, CEO of Willmeng Construction. Willmeng has been one of the most active general contractors in all of Arizona over the past decade, with incredible data points. Here are a few takeaways from our talk on construction pricing, particularly tenant improvements: — Don’t … Continue reading Ten on One- Construction (Tenant Improvement) Pricing

Categories Narrative, Office Trends

Why Employees are Clashing with their Bosses on One Issue After Another

Over the past 18-24 months, our C2 Voice has been writing about the systemic change in office space working norms. The Wall Street Journal has printed a piece that does a great job summarizing all the issues that face workers, owners, corporations, and managers (see full article below my comments). There is a war going … Continue reading Why Employees are Clashing with their Bosses on One Issue After Another

Categories Narrative, Original Content, Ten on One

Ten on One – Commercial Development with Molly Ryan Carson

This month’s Ten on One episode is packed with relevant information on what is currently happening with Commercial Real Estate development. Featuring Molly Ryan Carson, Senior Vice President of Real Estate Development and Market Leader for Ryan Co’s Southwest Region, we dive into the key trends and developments we are seeing right now. Here are … Continue reading Ten on One – Commercial Development with Molly Ryan Carson

Categories Covid19 Impact, Creative Office Spaces, In the News, Narrative, Office Trends

Will Work from Anywhere Work?

The evolution of hybrid work continues as companies move on from the pandemic. While work from home (WFH) satisfies many, the allure of work from anywhere (WFA) may seem like a dream scenario. The article below from The Economist takes a closer look at the realities of completely untethered work. It’s important for employers and Landlords to understand … Continue reading Will Work from Anywhere Work?

Categories Narrative

A Favor To Ask…

We have been representing commercial tenants for almost 40 years. We are grateful that over 80% of our business comes from repeat clients. The rest are referrals.  For the past 9 years, Andrew and I have been writing this C2 Voice, providing insights into the evolving market, new trends, and fascinating ideas. We have loved … Continue reading A Favor To Ask…

Categories Narrative, Office Market, Office Trends, Original Content, Ten on One

Ten on One- Latest Office Leasing Trends

In our latest Ten on One podcast, we spend 10 minutes with John Orsak, Vice President of Development at Lincoln Property Company, Desert Southwest.  John oversees a huge office portfolio in Phoenix, putting him in the market seven days a week. He is in the know in all things office.  Here are a few nuggets … Continue reading Ten on One- Latest Office Leasing Trends

Categories Economy, Narrative, Office Market, Office Trends

1-Minute Phoenix Metro Office Market Update: Q3 2022

The Metro Phoenix Office Market hit a small speedbump in Q3 on the path to recovery. After posting a big net absoption in Q2 of +918,413 SF, Q3 slipped to -81,621 SF. This puts year-to-date net absorption at +532,634 SF, on track to finish well below our 20-year average of 2 million SF. What’s going with … Continue reading 1-Minute Phoenix Metro Office Market Update: Q3 2022

Categories Covid19 Impact, Economy, Narrative, Office Trends, Tech Industry, Top 10 Issues Affecting Real Estate

Top 10 Issues Affecting Real Estate

As you may recall, Andrew and I are a long time Counselors of Real Estate (CRE). Annually the  Counselors of Real Estate organization  has all the members vote and comes up with the most interesting and comprehensive  list of Issues in our business.  The 2022-2023 Top 10 Issues Affecting Real Estate report came out last … Continue reading Top 10 Issues Affecting Real Estate

Categories Covid19 Impact, Economy, In the News, Narrative, Original Content, Ten on One

Ten on One- California Industrial Market

The Inland Empire of industrial market is MASSIVE.  It is estimated that 40% of all distribution to the US comes through the two ports located in Southern California.  We spent ten minutes talking Inland Empire with Jeff Huberman, one of the top industrial brokers in California. What did we learn? –These ports are the gateway to … Continue reading Ten on One- California Industrial Market

Categories Narrative, Original Content, Recent Transactions

In the Market… Every Day

We had a very busy second quarter. Clients hire us because we are in the market every day and close a transaction every 2 to 3 days (including weekends😊). If you want to know anything about office space, give us a call. Click here to see the full image. Craig 602.954.3762 ccoppola@leearizona.com

Categories Covid19 Impact, Creative Office Spaces, Narrative, Office Trends

Weakening the Work-From-Home Revolution

Everyone is talking about the looming recession.  While I personally think it’s likely to hit in 2023,  no one seems to be talking about how it could bring people back to the office. The article below discusses the reasons why a recession will lead to remote workers heading back into the office. Layoffs are coming (actually, they’re already here), and unemployment … Continue reading Weakening the Work-From-Home Revolution

Categories Covid19 Impact, Creative Office Spaces, Narrative, Office Trends, Tech Industry

The Latest Insights and Stats on Hybrid Office Work

Want to understand how employees really feel about the hybrid workplace? Microsoft has put out a fantastic report called the 2022 Work Trend Index Annual Report. An independent research firm conducted a survey with over 31,000 full-time and part-time works across 31 worldwide markets. This report also used valuable data from LinkedIn and Microsoft 365. Here are … Continue reading The Latest Insights and Stats on Hybrid Office Work

Categories Covid19 Impact, Economy, Narrative, Office Trends

PropTech is Changing Office Space

Office space is changing dramatically right in front of our eyes.  In this Narrative, we have talked about work from home, flex time, and how office space is becoming more experiential. Today I want to talk about another area: PropTech. The article below from prommodo is titled: The Coming Tsunami of PropTech. Proptech companies are showing up at … Continue reading PropTech is Changing Office Space

Categories Covid19 Impact, Creative Office Spaces, Economy, Narrative, Office Trends

Up to 70% Office Building Obsolescene??!!

Zisler Capital Associates released a report that stated up to 70% of the total office inventory might be obsolete. This is a massive disruption for office building owners. Now, we know that how tenants use their space is changing dramatically post covid and with new, rising technologies (Zoom, Slack, everything in the cloud, etc). We also … Continue reading Up to 70% Office Building Obsolescene??!!

Categories Covid19 Impact, Creative Office Spaces, Design, Narrative, Office Trends

Office Space that Works

In 2010, psychologists Alex Haslam and Craig Knight did some experimenting with office space layouts (read the full article below for some fascinating history and thoughts).  Here’s what they found: –Employees want to make their space their own. –When they get that opportunity, they do more and better work. Over a decade later and employees … Continue reading Office Space that Works

Categories Covid19 Impact, Creative Office Spaces, Narrative, Office Market, Office Trends

CA Companies Moving Out

I’ve said it before and it continues to be true: Companies are moving out of California in record numbers. This migration is happening for a myriad of reasons. –rising business costs (taxes, energy, utility costs, etc.) –worker comp litigation and cost issues –cost of talent –cost of simply living The list goes on.  Below is … Continue reading CA Companies Moving Out

Categories Economy, Narrative, Office Market, Tech Industry

5 Solutions for Saving Money on Office

The majority of companies are back in the office under some sort of adjusted schedule.  While work strategies differ, everyone can agree that build-out costs are painfully expensive. This is especially challenging during the war for talent that’s happening, and businesses need every dollar they can get to enhance the employee office experience. Since the … Continue reading 5 Solutions for Saving Money on Office

Categories Design, Economy, Narrative, Office Market, Office Trends, Tech Industry

Are the Suburbs Back? And other Office Trends from NAIOP

As companies begin to return to the offices which have largely been left empty since the Covid 19 pandemic started, the first trend we are seeing is companies are  going to have to transform the spaces into places where workers will want to be. This is an important move since there is now a shift … Continue reading Are the Suburbs Back? And other Office Trends from NAIOP

Categories Covid19 Impact, Creative Office Spaces, Narrative, Office Market, Office Trends

Back to the Office, Differently

Have you figured out how your office will look in 2022 and beyond?  Below is cool, quick article from Fast Company illustrating some of the changes happening in the office. Yes, they do mention some pretty big tech names, and we don’t all have the same construction budgets as Salesforce, but there are some great ideas … Continue reading Back to the Office, Differently

Categories Architecture, Creative Office Spaces, Design, Narrative, Office Market, Office Trends

The World`s Best Workplace in 2021

Considering how many companies have opted to allow employees to work from home since the pandemic, it’s good to know that many are still investing in workplaces, creating designs that are not only aesthetically pleasing but with features that are beneficial for the employees and the environment. The list below features multiple workplace designs from … Continue reading The World`s Best Workplace in 2021

Categories Covid19 Impact, Creative Office Spaces, Economy, In the News, Narrative, Office Market, Office Trends

Second-Tier Cities Thriving

The pandemic has created some new trends (mask wearing, expanded home delivery, ghost restaurants, etc.).  That said, there has been even more acceleration of existing trends including last mile logistics, flex work schedules, and the rise of second-tier cities like Phoenix. Second-tier cities are growing like crazy and drawing the notice of institutional investors as well … Continue reading Second-Tier Cities Thriving

Categories Narrative, Office Market, Tech Industry

Gen Z

For the past decade, all eyes have been on the Millennial Generation, the first to grow up in the Internet Age. Now, the next generation after Millennials is graduating college and entering the workforce: Gen Z is starting to make its mark. Comprising 35% of the global population, they are a force to work with. … Continue reading Gen Z

Categories Banks, Covid19 Impact, Creative Office Spaces, Economy, Narrative, Original Content

2021 Holiday Video–Our Travels this Year (1 minute 57 seconds)

2021 has been a wild and crazy year for everyone.  We are proud of the work we did this year especially with the uncertain circumstances in the office market.  Our clients have been amazing and we are grateful for each of you who worked with us this year. We spent 2020 locked down in Arizona….NOT … Continue reading 2021 Holiday Video–Our Travels this Year (1 minute 57 seconds)

Categories Creative Office Spaces, Economy, Narrative, Office Trends, Tech Industry

Technology Changing Parking

Parking is not the most exciting topic, but for office developers and users it’s critical. Technology is changing everything in our lives and parking is no different. Yes, Uber and Lyft have already started the change as people can now get to and from locations without having to worry about parking.  And autonomous driving is … Continue reading Technology Changing Parking

Categories Covid19 Impact, Economy, Narrative, Office Market, Office Trends, Tech Industry

Where America’s Developed Areas are Growing?

A few weeks ago I wrote a narrative about rankings, and what I look for in markets where I believe companies will thrive. I posed four questions to ask with the number one question being:  Is the market growing? Below is a great article from the Washington Post on where America is growing by new land … Continue reading Where America’s Developed Areas are Growing?

Categories Covid19 Impact, Economy, Graphs, Narrative, Office Market, Original Content

1-Minute Phoenix Metro Office Market Update: Q3 2021 and a 30-Second Favor to Ask

We are honored to have been chosen as one of five finalists for Broker of the Decade in Metro Phoenix by CEM Magazine. The winner is determined via vote by the readers.  We would greatly appreciate if you could take 30 seconds right now and cast your vote by clicking here (we are third in the … Continue reading 1-Minute Phoenix Metro Office Market Update: Q3 2021 and a 30-Second Favor to Ask

Categories Covid19 Impact, Economy, Narrative, Tech Industry

Indoor Farming

A few years back I wrote a narrative on indoor farming (you can read it here).  The technology has grown and grown (pun intended) and now we are seeing some incredible changes. Sananbio, one of the world’s largest indoor farming technology providers, has announced an unmanned vertical farming system.  Here’s how it works: –Pour the seeds in … Continue reading Indoor Farming

Categories Covid19 Impact, Economy, Narrative

Which Cities are America’s new boomtowns? Try Salt Lake City and Indianapolis

Even before the pandemic, jobs in Metro Phoenix were on the rise, drawing large numbers of employees away from bigger cities like San Francisco, LA, and New York, to the area. That trend accelerated during the pandemic, with an influx of new remote workers moving to the city. What is really cool is the diversification … Continue reading Which Cities are America’s new boomtowns? Try Salt Lake City and Indianapolis

Categories Covid19 Impact, Economy, Narrative, Office Market, Office Trends

The Hottest Office Topic in the Valley

Office subleases continue to prove a hot topic this year. Tenants in the market are eyeing subleases for their great prices, or are using them as leverage to bargain against traditional options. In the Metro Phoenix market, with 100 million SF of office space, we are now showing over 4.5 million SF of sublease now … Continue reading The Hottest Office Topic in the Valley

Categories Covid19 Impact, Economy, Graphs, Narrative, Office Market

Reducing Office Space? 74% of Fortune 500 CEO`s Say It`s Likely

You may have noticed that I’ve spent more time than usual passing along information as it pops up.  My job is to make sure you and our clients are on the cutting edge of where office space is going and how it is changing. Due to the pandemic, there is a lot of confusing data … Continue reading Reducing Office Space? 74% of Fortune 500 CEO`s Say It`s Likely

Categories Covid19 Impact, Creative Office Spaces, Narrative, Office Trends, Original Content

COVID 19 Office Space Changes

This narrative has been talking about changes in office space design, layout, and work flow for the last year. During COIVD-19, I decided to put together a summary presentation of the 10 changes office space users are making as we come out of the pandemic. I have given this presentation live (well, over Zoom) over … Continue reading COVID 19 Office Space Changes

Categories Covid19 Impact, Economy, Narrative, Office Market, Original Content

1-Minute Phoenix Metro Office Market Update: Q2 2021

The Metro Phoenix Office Market remains in disarray at the midpoint of 2021.  Companies (small and medium-sized) are coming back to work, signing new leases and getting back to a new normal. Other companies (often large ones) continue to kick the can with short-term renewals, downsizing as leases roll, or trying the sublease market.  The … Continue reading 1-Minute Phoenix Metro Office Market Update: Q2 2021

Categories Covid19 Impact, Economy, Graphs, Narrative, Office Market

CRE International Investors Coming to the US and AZ

Readers of this narrative know that my team and I represent tenants and landlords primarily in the Metro Phoenix area. Every year we see more and more investors coming to us from outside Arizona, and even outside the U.S. Interest in commercial real estate investing is on the rise in the international community, which is … Continue reading CRE International Investors Coming to the US and AZ

Categories In the News, Narrative, Original Content

NAIOP Arizona Award of Excellence 2020 Goes to…

We are very excited to share with you that Craig has been awarded the 2020 NAIOP Award of Excellence. Only one person in our industry per year receives this distinction. The purpose of this award is to recognize an individual who has made extraordinary contributions to the Arizona commercial real estate market over his or … Continue reading NAIOP Arizona Award of Excellence 2020 Goes to…

Categories Economy, Graphs, Narrative

$329,100

The housing market is on FIRE. We are seeing house prices skyrocket across the country, especially here in Metro Phoenix. How hot is it? The median price of a home in the US just hit $329,100. While I’m not in the residential sphere, I’ve been keeping an eye on housing prices and am amazed at … Continue reading $329,100

Categories Covid19 Impact, Economy, Graphs, Narrative, Office Trends

Commercial Sales Volume in a Pandemic

There’s no doubt that the pandemic has had far-reaching consequences for industries worldwide. In my business, the pandemic created several great markets (residential development and industrial); a sandstorm in our area of office space leasing (no one knows where we are going yet) and has devastated other segments (retail and hospitality). One other segment that was … Continue reading Commercial Sales Volume in a Pandemic

Categories Covid19 Impact, Narrative, Office Market, Office Trends

Who is Going Back to the Office?

I am still closely watching the work-from-home (WFH) trend that began a long time ago but really accelerated last year when the Covid pandemic first hit. Many businesses are now returning to the office, with optional WFH schedules or reimagined spaces. Every business is handling the return to their office differently, and some have found … Continue reading Who is Going Back to the Office?

Categories Covid19 Impact, Economy, Narrative, Office Market, Original Content

1-Minute Phoenix Metro Office Market Update: Q1 2021

The pandemic certainly took its toll on the Metro Phoenix Office Market in Q1.  The numbers tell us it was the worst quarter since the Great Recession (2008): Net absorption (new office space taken by job growth) went negative for the third quarter in a row, at -550,000 SF; sublease space increased at the highest … Continue reading 1-Minute Phoenix Metro Office Market Update: Q1 2021

Categories Covid19 Impact, Narrative, Office Market, Office Trends

The Evolution of Office Space Utilization in the U.S.

Below is an older article (9/2016),  that discusses the evolution of office space.  Why am I sending this now, right after the economy shut down and the COVID-19 pandemic?  Because the points made below can and will show you a couple of key topics that are still relevant when discussing  commercial office design and investment: … Continue reading The Evolution of Office Space Utilization in the U.S.

Categories Narrative, Original Content

Lease Types and Obligations

In commercial office leasing, there are a number of ways owners charge rent and operating expenses.  We always negotiate how operating expenses are accounted for and charged to the tenant when we work with you on your office lease.  Below is a graphic we created to show the range of lease types and where the obligation resides (with the Landlord … Continue reading Lease Types and Obligations

Categories Narrative, Office Trends, Tech Industry

5G and CRE

I’ve lost track of how many narratives I’ve written about how technology is changing the commercial real estate business. Here’s another one. 5G is on the way and it’s coming fast. What does this mean to the Commercial Real Estate Industry?  Below is an article on strategizing for the arrival of 5G technology. Some of my … Continue reading 5G and CRE

Categories Economy, Graphs, Narrative

Countries With the Most Sustainable Energy Policies

I have some global thinking for your narrative today. Lots of thought and energy is going into making the world more sustainable. There are many ways people are working towards sustainability, and below is a graph showing which countries are doing the best job. Here are my thoughts:1—The US is doing a good job (I know, we … Continue reading Countries With the Most Sustainable Energy Policies

Categories Graphs, Narrative, Original Content

Tenant Advisory Method

Tenant Advisory and now National Tenant Advisory was formally created in 1982.  Today, office tenants across the US with as few as 5-10 offices in different markets are hiring firms to handle their real estate portfolios.  There are many reasons, but here are a few thoughts on why companies do this:   Tremendous time savings Single … Continue reading Tenant Advisory Method

Categories Narrative, Original Content

Tenant Advisory Method

Tenant Advisory and now National Tenant Advisory was formally created in 1982.  Today, office tenants across the US with as few as 5-10 offices in different markets are hiring firms to handle their real estate portfolios.  There are many reasons, but here are a few thoughts on why companies do this:   Tremendous time savings Single … Continue reading Tenant Advisory Method

Categories Architecture, Design, Narrative

The Creative Process of the Four Pioneers of Modern Architecture

In my business, I get to tour some pretty incredible buildings and spaces. (Check out the narrative I did on World’s Most Beautiful Offices of 2019). I am always fascinated by the creative thinking and precision that goes into designing and constructing buildings and office space to make the culture within the company actually come to … Continue reading The Creative Process of the Four Pioneers of Modern Architecture

Categories Graphs, Narrative

Amazon Warehouses

We know Amazon delivers thousands of items right to our house, often within 24 hours.  Below is a map showing how they do it—with warehouses all over the US and world.    With their push to handle more and more of their own delivery, this number will continue to increase.  They are even looking to … Continue reading Amazon Warehouses

Categories Narrative, Office Market

1-Minute Phoenix Metro Office Market Update: Q3 2020

The sandstorm continues. In Phoenix, we call it a haboob.  Uncertainty, again, served as the main theme of the Metro Phoenix Office Market in the third quarter.  Vacancy didn’t really rise that much in the past 90 days.  Rental rates softened only slightly.  Sublease space spiked up again this quarter. We are seeing companies who … Continue reading 1-Minute Phoenix Metro Office Market Update: Q3 2020

Categories Narrative, Original Content

Lease Abstract

It is imperative to know the key points of your lease. This means reading beyond the rent and the expiration date. We prepare lease abstracts for all of our clients as a matter of course. Our unique lease abstract form makes sure we capture all the important lease details and maximize your leverage. Why? Because … Continue reading Lease Abstract

Categories Economy, Narrative, Office Market, Office Trends, Top 10 Issues Affecting Real Estate

Top 10 Issues Affecting Real Estate

The Counselors of Real Estate (of which Andrew and I are proud members) have released their annual top 10 issues affecting real estate.  Please read the whole article below.  As you can imagine, COVID-19 is currently leading the way on issues affecting real estate. Big shocker.  We have written about the pandemic a ton in previous … Continue reading Top 10 Issues Affecting Real Estate

Categories Graphs, Narrative

Sunshine in USA vs. Europe

I’m a third-generation Arizonan, which means I love the sunshine. Below is a cool map that shows sunshine in terms of hours per year.  It’s interesting how little sunshine Europe gets.  In the USA, we get tons of Vitamin D compared to Europe. And Arizona…forget about it… We get 3,500 hours a year or more. One … Continue reading Sunshine in USA vs. Europe

Categories Narrative, Original Content

C2 Velocity of Work

In my Workplace 2020 series, I talked about the speed of the market gaining velocity.  Millennials now expect an immediate response time.  After three decades of closing over 125 deals per year (151 in 2019) each and every year, we have fine-tuned our process to include the fastest response times in our industry. Below is a … Continue reading C2 Velocity of Work

Categories Covid19 Impact, Creative Office Spaces, Design, Narrative, Office Trends

C.D.C. Recommends Changes to Office Space

The C.D.C. sent out some “suggested” changes for office space users as we head back into the office.  I wanted to take these suggestions and roll them into what we are seeing our clients do on a practical basis. Additionally, the Wall Street Journal has a nice article on what we know about getting infected. … Continue reading C.D.C. Recommends Changes to Office Space

Categories Narrative, Office Market

1-Minute Phoenix Metro Office Market Update: Q2 2020

Not surprisingly, the Metro Phoenix office market Q2 2020 experienced plenty of highs and lows.  Office leasing slowed, but it did not stop.  Sublease space increased dramatically, but it’s not at an all-time high.  Positive COVID cases declined, then spiked here in Arizona, as they did in much of the country.  We continue to learn … Continue reading 1-Minute Phoenix Metro Office Market Update: Q2 2020

Categories Creative Office Spaces, Design, Narrative, Office Market, Office Trends

10 + 1 Reasons to Measure Office Space Utilization

Last week, I sent a narrative on some new ways we are working with our clients to measure space utilization (click here to read).  I got quite a few responses about the topic from Real Estate facilities people (and a CEO) asking why we would incorporate new measurements into their spaces when they have corporate … Continue reading 10 + 1 Reasons to Measure Office Space Utilization

Categories Creative Office Spaces, Design, Narrative, Office Trends

New Ways to Measure Workplace Utilization

Every day we negotiate office leases. In 2019 alone, our team completed 145 leases. One item we always negotiate is rent per square foot.  As we negotiate this for our clients, we also talk to them about how they could, and probably should, be looking at the rent differently than just per SF.  Recently, we moved … Continue reading New Ways to Measure Workplace Utilization

Categories Economy, Graphs, Narrative, Office Market

What is Your State’s Poor Infrastructure Costing You?

Below is an incredible graph.  States have let their infrastructure go to hell and it is costing consumers a ton of money in car damages.  Take a look below to see what your state is costing you.I also pulled cities within the Metro Phoenix market to see what individual cities are costing us. 1—Lack of … Continue reading What is Your State’s Poor Infrastructure Costing You?

Categories Narrative, Original Content

The Renewal Process

Just because it’s simple doesn’t mean it’s easy. Negotiating a renewal seems straightforward, but there’s more to it than meets the eye. Our team has developed a unique, four-step process for our clients looking to renew where possible. This process ensures the most competitive transaction terms with the least amount of time and anxiety. The key step in the … Continue reading The Renewal Process

Categories Graphs, Narrative

Work Modalities Chart

I’ve talked in previous narratives about the pros and cons of the current trend towards open office layouts. Work and how it flows has changed dramatically over the past 5 years.  75+ percent of all office spaces we see built out these days are primarily open.  Companies are trying to make their culture more collaborative. … Continue reading Work Modalities Chart

Categories Economy, Narrative

A Decade of Home Building

The last decade (pre-COVID-19) was a lesson in taking the long road.  I remember meeting with a couple CEOs of homebuilding companies every year and hearing the same story from 2009-2012: “Last year was bad but this next year is going to be a lot better.”  This was the message for four straight years.  Multifamily, on … Continue reading A Decade of Home Building

Categories Design, Narrative, Tech Industry

Robotics are Here!

I first commented on this topic back in 2015 (click here to see my narrative and the video). The age of robotics is coming. And last month, it got even closer.  Boston Dynamics announced their first commercial robot is going on sale.  Yes, it will be expensive and limited, BUT it will be a commercially … Continue reading Robotics are Here!

Categories Graphs, Narrative

National Debt Growth

Below is the US National Debt as a portion of the economy expressed as a graph. Since this graph was created, we have now surpassed World War II levels of debt, pushing debt to over 100% of GDP.  You can see the most accurate calculation of national debt, which updates every second as it grows, here: https://www.usdebtclock.org/ The … Continue reading National Debt Growth

Categories Narrative

Parking in Urban Areas

We are in a really unique time for developers and users of space with regards to parking needs.  Planning and building parking today is much like it has been for the past 40 years.  People drive. In fact, 85% of commuters drive to work.  But over the next 10-20 years, I think this will begin … Continue reading Parking in Urban Areas

Categories Creative Office Spaces, Narrative, Office Trends

Office Space 2020- The Employee Experience- Part 4 of 4

In this final week of my series, I wanted to talk about what companies are doing for their employees.  Yes, we know a few already—meals, bocce ball, corn hole and napping pods all across Silicon Valley.  But what about across the U.S.?  For this I turned to one of our clients and a leader in … Continue reading Office Space 2020- The Employee Experience- Part 4 of 4

Categories Creative Office Spaces, Narrative, Office Trends

Office Space 2020- The Tenant Rules- Part 3 of 4

One of the first lessons you learn when you start representing owners and tenants in leasing office space is that the tenant rules.  They drive everything.  Rates, Tenant Improvements, where buildings get built, what buildings get built — everything.  Deloitte produced a very nice 2020 Commercial Real Estate Outlook (the link to the entire study … Continue reading Office Space 2020- The Tenant Rules- Part 3 of 4

Categories Architecture, Creative Office Spaces, Design, Narrative

World’s Most Beautiful Offices of 2019

I love to write this narrative each year.  Annually, I get to comment on some of the coolest office spaces in the world and also highlight a couple clients we have completed transactions with in the past 12 months.  First is a very cool tenant lounge that Cypress Properties and Oaktree built at Renaissance One. Next, … Continue reading World’s Most Beautiful Offices of 2019

Categories Narrative, Tech Industry

The Big-Data Deluge

Watching and learning outside our industry over the past decade, I have seen how Big Data is taking over.  Well, it’s finally coming to Commercial Real Estate.  How much? Below is a graphic from CB Insights showing the companies and areas they are working on for creating smart cities.    Here are some thoughts from … Continue reading The Big-Data Deluge

Categories Narrative, Office Market

1-Minute Phoenix Metro Office Market Update: Q3 2019

After a quiet second quarter, the Greater Phoenix office market experienced a HUGE third quarter in terms of tenant activity.   Over 1 million SF of net absorption (think job growth) was recorded in just a 90-day period, making 2019’s year-to-date net absorption 2.64 million SF – almost matching space absorbed in all of 2018, and … Continue reading 1-Minute Phoenix Metro Office Market Update: Q3 2019

Categories Narrative, Office Trends, Top 10 Issues Affecting Real Estate

2019-20 Top Ten Issues Affecting Real Estate – My Annual Take

One of the best parts of being a Counselor of Real Estate (CRE) is the annual debate about what issues are driving real estate.  Boy have they changed over the last 5 years.  For 2019-2020, our organization has come up with a couple issues that you would have NEVER guessed would have been on the top … Continue reading 2019-20 Top Ten Issues Affecting Real Estate – My Annual Take

Categories Narrative, Office Trends

#1 Item for a Superior Customer Experience Strategy

McKinsey did a pretty interesting study on creating a superior customer experience strategy.  As you can imagine, it’s not just the actions of the front-line, customer-facing workers that adds the ‘customer first’ experience to a company, but the executives and strategy as well. The more a company invests in the interests of their employees, the … Continue reading #1 Item for a Superior Customer Experience Strategy

Categories Creative Office Spaces, Narrative, Office Trends

Ready for an office space deep dive?

Sometimes I geek out over office space.  Today’s narrative is one of those just for the interested.  Here is a link to a survey conducted by the National Association of Industrial and Office Professionals (NAIOP). This 50-page deep dive into the topic asks real estate owners and professionals their thoughts on Co-working vs. Building Collaborative … Continue reading Ready for an office space deep dive?

Categories Creative Office Spaces, Narrative, Office Trends, Tech Industry

Gaining a Competitive Edge in Office Buildings

  Below is an interesting article from The New York Times about office landlords seeking a competitive edge in leasing space to tenants.  Our primary market is Phoenix, so when I travel or read, I am always watching out for trends and changes in what owners are doing and what tenants are leasing.  Here are … Continue reading Gaining a Competitive Edge in Office Buildings

Categories Creative Office Spaces, Narrative, Office Trends

Building Collaborative Areas vs. Coworking Space

  For those who have followed my narrative for a while now, you might recall that WeWork and the overall rise of Coworking office space has been on my radar for the past few years (Click here to read “Rise of Collaborative Workspace” and here to read “WeWork now a $5 billion co-working startup”).   The market … Continue reading Building Collaborative Areas vs. Coworking Space

Categories Narrative, Office Market

Affordability

  One of the most daunting tasks our national clients face is to quantify the key metrics for making decisions for their office locations.  I review no less than 30 different reports a year on this topic and the items people track are, well…daunting. Demographics, traffic patterns, access to amenities, cost of labor, office space costs, … Continue reading Affordability

Categories Design, Narrative, Tech Industry

Chinese Company Headquarters WAY different than U.S.

  Chinese company, Tencent, just finished its global headquarters.  In previous narratives, I have discussed US-based tech companies’ cool new headquarters (Click here to read my narrative on Apple’s HQ). This week, I have included two different articles about the same building. What is different? Technology.  In China, the government allows some technology that is not … Continue reading Chinese Company Headquarters WAY different than U.S.

Categories Narrative, Office Market

1-Minute Phoenix Metro Office Market Update: Q4 2018

It’s time for us to look back at the Metro Phoenix Office Market for 2018. Readers of this narrative know that I am an office broker who works every day representing tenants and landlords as they navigate real estate nuances and opportunities. I (along with my incredible team) am based in Phoenix but work around the country … Continue reading 1-Minute Phoenix Metro Office Market Update: Q4 2018

Categories Narrative

What do Baseball and Commercial Real Estate Have in Common?

Some of you may know that I was drafted out of college and played professional baseball for the Minnesota Twins organization before I got into Commercial Real Estate.  If you play baseball, you learn statistics. As sportswriter Arthur Daley said:  “A baseball fan has the digestive apparatus of a billy goat. He can, and does, devour any set of … Continue reading What do Baseball and Commercial Real Estate Have in Common?

Categories Narrative, Office Market

Piling On

I’m adding to my narrative two weeks ago (click here to read) on the effects of open office plans.  Today is not about the science but rather the complaining and emotional impact on employees after moving to open office space.  I’m not taking a side, rather just piling on more information from two weeks ago.    Workers … Continue reading Piling On

Categories Design, Narrative

Open Plans Kill Productivity

In my ongoing effort to explore both sides of the open office vs. traditional office debate, here are some thoughts based on science.  The Journal of Environmental Psychology jumped into the fray and came out with a huge study (40k+ workers and over 300 companies).  What did they find out?   — Closed offices outperformed open … Continue reading Open Plans Kill Productivity

Categories Architecture, Design, Narrative

The Legacy of Steve Jobs and Office Space

Apple moved into their spaceship this year.  I wrote about it while under construction and now you have probably have seen finished photos all over.  If not, here are some.But today’s narrative is not about this inspired headquarters.  Today, I want to talk about Pixar’s headquarters built in the late 1990’s.  The standards of creative office (and … Continue reading The Legacy of Steve Jobs and Office Space

Categories Narrative, Tech Industry

Humans are Underrated

One trend I actively follow is automation. In 20 years, what jobs will be done by robots? With new advancements in technology, it’s not just the routine data entry and labor jobs that are in danger anymore. Robots can now analyze emotions, perform surgical operations, even drive semi-trucks across the country.  All these developments beg the … Continue reading Humans are Underrated

Categories Narrative

Working Remotely

There is such freedom in working remotely.  But, as is the case with everything, there is a dark side.  People who get to work remotely have flexibility and save time from not having to commute. But are these benefits worth the stress?Remote workers also deal with the following:    –          Feeling disconnected from their team.  And even … Continue reading Working Remotely

Categories Narrative, Office Market

The “Coffice”

In our ongoing discussion about the future of office space, here is a nice stat:  In this cycle, office space users have been taking approximately ½ of the space they took as they grew in the last cycle.  We know why—open office, the explosion of the tech companies and shared space environment and all the … Continue reading The “Coffice”

Categories Narrative, Office Market

Suburban Offices are Back

First, let me say, I told you so.  I have been saying for some time that the huge shift to urban core will not be sustained.  There are companies that want/need to have that environment so I am still bullish on urban cores, but there are others who will reverse the three-decade trend of moving offices closer and closer … Continue reading Suburban Offices are Back

Categories Narrative, Office Market, Top 10 Issues Affecting Real Estate

2018 Top 10 Issues Affecting Real Estate

The changing demographics of workers in the U.S. is HUGE and it’s changing everything. This is probably the biggest issue we are facing in office space leasing, and it features predominantly on the 2018  Counselors of Real Estate (CRE)  Top 10 Issues Affecting Real Estate. Below is the release and a link to the full report. I … Continue reading 2018 Top 10 Issues Affecting Real Estate

Categories Economy, Narrative

Rules for Capital

When writing my LIFEies (my weekly blog on personal development) I get to share very complex ideas that are made simple by lots of people. Like Albert Einstein said, “The definition of genius is taking the complex and making it simple.” For this narrative, however, I focus on more complex Commercial Real Estate developments. But every … Continue reading Rules for Capital

Categories Economy, Narrative, Office Market

1-Minute Phoenix Metro Office Update: Q1 2018

The long and stubbornly slow recovery continues.  Q1 2018 numbers are out and the Metro Phoenix office market absorbed 686,469 square feet of net positive space, lowering overall vacancy to 19.39%.  We are now into the 8th straight year of positive absorption in office jobs.  Vacancy varies throughout the Greater Phoenix area with a high of 30.5% in the Sky Harbor … Continue reading 1-Minute Phoenix Metro Office Update: Q1 2018

Categories Economy, Narrative

Growing Together

I grew up 20 minutes from the Mexican border.  My dad and three of my siblings still live in Sierra Vista, AZ.  I know firsthand the good and bad of living next to an international border and all the issues surrounding both sides.    Given the recent political turbulence surrounding globalization, NAFTA, and the United … Continue reading Growing Together

Categories Economy, Narrative, Office Market

Underlying Organizational Costs

The biggest waste we consistently see is clients underutilizing their office space.  Planning for growth that never occurs, thinking you “need” the space for visiting people, and making work areas and offices too big — there are multiple ways that companies waste money. Office space, and even more important facilities, can significantly reduce costs through … Continue reading Underlying Organizational Costs

Categories Architecture, Design, Narrative, Tech Industry

How Tech Office Space Sets the Bar for Everyone Else

What would you do if you had an unlimited budget to improve your company’s next office renovation?  Below is a great article detailing what some tech giants are doing to their interior design to keep their employees happy, productive and in the office.    One simple takeaway is that these companies are doing THE most innovative and comprehensive buildout you … Continue reading How Tech Office Space Sets the Bar for Everyone Else

Categories Narrative, Tech Industry

Getting Disrupted

In this narrative I talk about disruption quite a bit.  My own industry, brokerage, is in the bullseye of all tech companies.  Below is a Forbes article discussing how technology will do 90% of my job within a decade. Scary, right? Here are some highlights of this work: – Automation may be capable of taking … Continue reading Getting Disrupted

Categories Narrative

C2 By the Numbers

Every year we look back and reflect on the deals, relationships, and memories we made over the past 12 months. We had another excellent year in 2017, and as we look back on the numbers we’re incredibly grateful for amazing clients and friends like you.  Now that we’re a few weeks into 2018, we’re excited for … Continue reading C2 By the Numbers

Categories Economy, Narrative, Office Market, Top 10 Issues Affecting Real Estate

10 Issues Affecting Commercial Real Estate 2017

One thing I constantly stress to my team is that to be successful in this industry, you have to be willing to learn and adapt to the times, or quickly become obsolete and watch your business disappear. As a 20+ year Counselor of Real Estate (CRE), I love our annual top ten issues affecting commercial … Continue reading 10 Issues Affecting Commercial Real Estate 2017

Categories Narrative

Gratitude

In addition to this narrative, I also write a weekly blog called LIFEies, based on the 18 rules from my book The Fantastic Life. This week’s LIFEies discusses the many reasons to give thanks, and how cultivating a thankful heart is one of the biggest advantages we can have in life. You can read that blog here. I’m thankful for each of you … Continue reading Gratitude

Categories Economy, Narrative

Spending Trends in America

One of my favorite movie quotes is from Jerry Maguire – “Show me the money!” And that’s exactly what the below chart does. This very informative chart shows spending trends over the past 75 years in America. Some key points for me:   — Education spending is trending up. Not sure if this is Americans valuing education … Continue reading Spending Trends in America

Categories Architecture, Design, Narrative

Third Space First

You heard it here first (hopefully).  There is a new type of space for companies called third spaces.  Third spaces are places for local people to gather and eat, with areas for creative, cultural, and community activities. This is where ideas and startups are born. If this concept takes off, the next wave of development will need … Continue reading Third Space First

Categories Narrative, Tech Industry

Autonomous Vehicles

If you’ve been following this narrative for a while, you know that one of my favorite topics is how technology is disrupting the world around us. Of all the technology I’ve covered, by far the most exciting development is autonomous vehicles. Almost every major tech company is involved in this technology, from Uber, to Alphabet … Continue reading Autonomous Vehicles

Categories Narrative, Office Market

Traditional Retail is Dead

By next year, 36 million square feet of retail space could be vacated and returned to the market. It’s official – the global landscape of retail is changing and changing rapidly. These changes are driven by a combination of growing e-commerce use and a demographical shift in consumer behavior, which prioritizes experience over tangible goods. … Continue reading Traditional Retail is Dead

Categories Narrative

Is the Pendulum Swinging Back?

As technology has advanced over the past decade, the number of freelance and remote office professionals has increased dramatically. With only an internet connection, employees can work virtually anywhere, and many companies are embracing the perceived benefits (including less money spent on office space) of allowing employees to work remote.However, among this trend, IBM announced a … Continue reading Is the Pendulum Swinging Back?

Categories Economy, Narrative, Office Market

2-Minute Phoenix Metro Office Update: Q2 2017

The second quarter was not quite as busy as the first, but there is still good news as our market slowly (painfully slow) continues to improve.  Vacancy held steady at 18.8% despite new construction, and we continued our streak of continuous positive net absorption (job growth).  We haven’t had negative net absorption since 2009. The pace of … Continue reading 2-Minute Phoenix Metro Office Update: Q2 2017

Categories Narrative, Office Market

Office Lease Checklist

Whenever a client has a problem with their space or lease agreement, 9 times out of 10 we can trace that negativity back to one thing: a communication failure in the original lease negotiation. Leases are unfamiliar territory for many of our clients. Most of the time, they just don’t know the right questions to ask. Below … Continue reading Office Lease Checklist

Categories Narrative

Evolution of Work

If you want to attract top talent, listen to the demands of the workforce. More and more, companies are living by this golden rule, making changes to their workplace to reflect the unique wants and needs of incoming employees.  We’ve discussed this trend in previous narratives, and now we are seeing those changes take shape … Continue reading Evolution of Work

Categories Law Firms, Narrative

Law Firms Get Creative

What are the biggest pressures facing law firms right now? I will give you three I know are on your priority list: 1) Lower costs, 2) Landing top talent, and 3) Automation.   You know how I know? Because law firms are no different than any other business. The law firms we work with are finding some innovative ways … Continue reading Law Firms Get Creative

Categories Economy, Narrative

4 in the Top 20!

The good news keeps coming. Metro Phoenix just landed 4 cities in the top 20 best US cities for finding a job in 2017.  Arizona is open for business.  If you are looking to relocate, or know someone who is, there is no better area than the Valley of the Sun.   Here are a … Continue reading 4 in the Top 20!

Categories Design, Narrative

Innovators and Office Space

Each year I read tons of reports, market studies, and research.  One of the best in the business is Gensler’s workplace survey. This year, Gensler takes a deep dive into innovators–how they work, how design drives innovation, and what is happening for the individual worker. At the end of this email is a link to … Continue reading Innovators and Office Space

Categories Economy, Narrative

Demonetized Cost of Living

Everyone talks about the negatives that happen in our lives. But some of the most incredible transformations are going on right in front of our eyes as well. A few months ago, I shared with you Dr. Peter Diamandis’ email about how the world is getting better (Click here to read that post). Today’s topic also comes from Diamandis, and … Continue reading Demonetized Cost of Living

Categories Narrative, Tech Industry

CRE Lagging in Tech Adoption – Why?

Commercial Real Estate is notorious for NOT being market leaders in technology adoption. Why? The Urban Land Institute has an interesting article below that includes these explanations: Old Timers. The industry is full of dinosaurs. Senior Real Estate professionals are the key to developing successful products, having the industry knowledge and expertise that tech companies don’t have. As we see … Continue reading CRE Lagging in Tech Adoption – Why?

Categories Economy, Narrative, Office Market

CRE Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding Commercial Real Estate acquisitions is all the rage. However, like everything, there are opportunities and liabilities in placing your investment dollars in a crowdfunded deal.   Below are two different articles with highlights. But first, a quick summary: Liabilities: Investors lack the industry knowledge and experience needed for real estate investments Too many uncommitted investors High legal fees … Continue reading CRE Crowdfunding

Categories Economy, Narrative, Office Market

Suburban Office Markets

The current recovery has been anemic, not just economically but in terms of new office construction as well. Long term, the lack of new buildings is good as overbuilding is not a concern. With the emergence of millennials in the work force and live/work/play environments,  suburban office markets have been even slower to recover. As the Central Business District … Continue reading Suburban Office Markets

Categories Narrative, Tech Industry

World’s First AI Lawyer Hired

Artificial Intelligence (AI) used to be the stuff of science fiction. But today, it’s becoming a rapidly-evolving technology with massive implications for many industries. Below is an article about the world’s first AI lawyer.  Why would this make me think about commercial real estate?  We represent a large number of law firms. (Check out our Law Firm Experience.)  This … Continue reading World’s First AI Lawyer Hired

Categories Economy, Narrative, Office Market

Metro Phoenix is Getting Better…Slowly

Steady net absorption (more space being leased due to job growth) continues to chip away at Metro Phoenix’s office vacancy as we head into Q4 2016. This quarter, Phoenix benefitted from medium-sized companies expanding. We hope these companies continue to grow. The metro Phoenix office market is on pace to perform roughly the same as 2015, i.e. … Continue reading Metro Phoenix is Getting Better…Slowly

Categories Narrative

American Malls Are Changing

With recent massive growth in online shopping, retailers are making drastic changes to their in-store strategy. Currently, one-third of all malls cannot afford to pay for just the maintenance of their properties. This is causing a huge shift in how tenants change their value proposition.   – Brands are putting more of an emphasis on in-store experiences. – … Continue reading American Malls Are Changing

Categories Narrative, Tech Industry

Driverless Trucks

A few weeks ago, I shared my thoughts about driverless cars hitting the roads and the issues office space will be facing (click here to read). Now, that technology is working with the trucking industry, and as the below article shows, it’s going to have a huge impact on many parts of our lives. Recently a platoon of driverless trucks drove across … Continue reading Driverless Trucks

Categories Economy, Narrative

Finally AZ is Growing Again!

Arizona is growing again. Of all the states boasting job growth, we are at the top. We have been doing it with regional headquarters relocations, internal growth, and a robust tech market. I give a lot of credit for this growth to our pro-business Governor Doug Ducey. This narrative is decidedly not political, but our growth … Continue reading Finally AZ is Growing Again!

Categories Narrative, Tech Industry

Autonomous Cars

I have talked about autonomous cars previously. All of the coming disruption is just the next evolution in transportation. If you think driverless cars won’t happen in your lifetime, you’re wrong. Here is a link to a New York Times article about Ford putting these automobiles on the road in less than 5 years (click here to read). Starting in … Continue reading Autonomous Cars

Categories Narrative, Tech Industry

Using Drones in Business

We know technology is disrupting business at an incredible rate. One big area is using drones. There has been a lot of controversy and excitement about introducing drones to business, the military, and more. This technology has the potential to disrupt many industries. Below is an article detailing some companies that have already begun testing drones, including … Continue reading Using Drones in Business

Categories Narrative

The Collaboration Curse

We have talked a lot about open offices and collaborative work spaces in this narrative. Today’s article discusses the latest buzzword, Collaboration.  While collaboration is important, the real question is:  At what cost? The below article succinctly lays out the disadvantages of collaboration in the office. My takeaways: -Less deep work -Longer time to complete a task … Continue reading The Collaboration Curse

Categories Narrative

5 Year Email Anniversary

Thank you for reading my weekly narrative.  Some of you have been with us the entire five years. I have been blessed to get tons of great feedback, be recognized for an award, and actually get some business out of this weekly email. See below for a graph charting our progress over the past 5 years.   Here … Continue reading 5 Year Email Anniversary

Categories Architecture, Narrative

17,000 Manhattan Buildings Could Not Be Built Today

Big cities like New York, San Francisco, and LA have always fascinated me from a real estate perspective. To buy land, design and build buildings is a complex process. Zoning and city planning alone create innumerable obstacles for developers due to the limited amount of space. New York City’s zoning code turns 100 this year, and below … Continue reading 17,000 Manhattan Buildings Could Not Be Built Today

Categories Design, Narrative, Tech Industry

World’s Smartest Building

Sustainability is a huge priority for many in commercial real estate these days. The movement towards green, sustainable buildings has opened the doors for new innovations. The below article highlights a building in Amsterdam that received the highest score for sustainability in the world from BREEAM, the world’s leading assessment for sustainable buildings. Even more exciting for … Continue reading World’s Smartest Building

Categories Economy, Narrative

Stalking Millennials and CRE

It seems like I am stalking all Millennials these days. Readers know why. They are changing the way we do business. Below is an article on how they are changing Commercial Real Estate. Here are a few takeaways for me: Smartphones are here and they are being used for EVERYTHING. All our websites, media, packages, flyers etc. need … Continue reading Stalking Millennials and CRE

Categories Narrative, Tech Industry

Robotic Parking

1,000 cars valet parked in a garage. No humans. Unreal. See the story below and if you are really interested, check out the two minute video of the largest parking garage in Europe that is completely run by robots. I have sent some previous narratives on robotics and how it is eliminating jobs. This is one area it will change – … Continue reading Robotic Parking

Categories Economy, Narrative

How Much You Need to Make to Buy a Home

While we specialize in leasing commercial office space, we watch the housing market very closely. Housing is a precursor to office space growth. Regular readers know this housing market recovery has been slow and multifamily has been on fire for the past 5-6 years. While there are lots of reasons for this, affordability may be one of them.   The below … Continue reading How Much You Need to Make to Buy a Home

Categories Design, Narrative

The Open Office Trap

Yes, open office is all the rage. But there is fallout (as I get older, I can now see there is good and bad in literally everything). Below is a contrarian view on the whole open office collaborative space perspective. Around 70% of all offices are now building open office environments. And with all this openness comes … Continue reading The Open Office Trap

Categories Economy, Narrative, Office Market

Understanding The Office Market: Q1 2016 Phoenix Office Report

Office leasing is off to a good start in 2016.  Here in Metro Phoenix, the market saw 641,000 square feet (SF) of net absorption (office jobs added) recorded in the first quarter.  This means Metro Phoenix is on track to absorb approximately 2.5 million SF for the year. That would mean another year of consistent, average … Continue reading Understanding The Office Market: Q1 2016 Phoenix Office Report

Categories Economy, Narrative, Office Market, Office Trends, Tech Industry

Game Changing Trend is Happening Right Now

Each January, I attend Abundance 360 produced by Peter Diamandis. One takeaway this year was how fast driverless cars are becoming a reality. This will happen in our lifetime. Google autonomous cars have over 1,000,000 miles in Palo Alto (click here). Tesla has a new package that will drive your car on the highway (click here) and there are at least … Continue reading Game Changing Trend is Happening Right Now

Categories Narrative

Square Feet Per Employee Continues to Drop

The amount of office space allocated for each employee continues to fall. Below is a graph and a short description why from Of Interest Today. While we all know it is happening, how does it affect landlords, tenants and investors? Depending on your perspective, you get massive differences:   Owners: Issues with parking shortage, not enough A/C to cool all … Continue reading Square Feet Per Employee Continues to Drop

Categories Narrative

Cities as Digital Laboratories

The Wall Street Journal did a detailed study on the urbanization of our world, and the challenges and strengths that come from this growth. Below are several interactive maps worth clicking on. Skip the first video unless you are into the topic, but be sure to pay attention as: –The world urbanizes –Key cities grow –Manhattan becomes Gotham … Continue reading Cities as Digital Laboratories

Categories Narrative

47% of Jobs Created by Companies with Under 50 Employees and 9 Other Trends

Want to know a disconnect between Commercial office developers and job creation? Developers are building bigger floorplates while job creation is coming from small companies.    When I got into the business, office floorplates in Metro Phoenix averaged 10-15,000/sf. Today, new construction is looking at floorplates with a minimum of 25,000/sf all the way to 40,000/sf for multi-tenant office … Continue reading 47% of Jobs Created by Companies with Under 50 Employees and 9 Other Trends

Categories Narrative

Work in 2025

In 10 short years, what will work look like? Gensler interviewed four futurists on this topic and below is the outcome. I have highlighted my biggest insights including these: –45% of Millennials are nonwhite. How will that affect the commercial real estate industry? Certainly the retail sector will be turned around as will all marketing campaigns. –How do real … Continue reading Work in 2025

Categories Narrative, Office Market

How Do Star Wars and the Phoenix Office Market Relate? Q4 2015 Phoenix Market Report

Seeing Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens recently I cannot help but draw a parallel to the world of Metro Phoenix office leasing. Why? Because, like “the force,” net absorption awakened in 2015 posting 3.4 million square feet. This is the highest absorption since 2005 and has pushed our vacancy rate below 20% for the first time in eight years. (By … Continue reading How Do Star Wars and the Phoenix Office Market Relate? Q4 2015 Phoenix Market Report

Categories Narrative

Maquiladora- What does that mean?

Several weeks ago, I talked about the PC 16 (please click here for the narrative) and how Mexico was one of the 16. I grew up in Sierra Vista, Arizona less than 20 miles from the Mexican border. I follow Mexican manufacturing, its economy and the maquiladora program very closely. The 50 year old maquiladora program allows a factory in Mexico, run by … Continue reading Maquiladora- What does that mean?

Categories Narrative

300 and Counting

Time flies. The market changes. Cycles occur. AND as of today, this is our 300th narrative. We have grown from 700 to over 28,000 weekly readers with an open rate that is double the industry standard. Thank you for your support and readership. For 2016, we are going to add some humor throughout the year…Please watch this thirty second preview before … Continue reading 300 and Counting

Categories Narrative

Arizona to Lead in Job Growth

Some good news for Arizona job growth (my key indicator for office space net absorption). In November, Forbes projected Arizona to lead the United States in job growth for the next couple years. Traditionally, Arizona has been a boom/bust cyclical state. Readers of this narrative know that this cycle, for the first time, we have not been in the top … Continue reading Arizona to Lead in Job Growth

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 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