Summit Journal

Syndication continues to grow in popularity among lenders, which is also introducing a host of legal issues into the market. (Part two of a two-part series.)

Real estate leaders have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of their companies and shareholders, and increasingly, this means incorporating cybersecurity awareness to board governance. But what does good governance actually look like in the real estate space?

It is tempting to pass on a strategy that appears right in the crosshairs of a trade policy regime change, yet the degree to which border port industrial markets have been undersupplied has been persistently dramatic and becoming more so.

In the face of geopolitical disruption, global diversification, including focused investment into US real estate, is more than a defensive move—it’s a pathway to resilience and growth.

Housing affordability in the US is now near its lowest levels since the early 1980s. It was already a major challenge before the pandemic but has become more acute since then—and the problem is likely to persist for several years.

Already leveraged for other commercial real estate asset types, mass timber has the potential to revolutionize industrial real estate development by offering sustainable, durable, and efficient construction solutions.

In the face of increased technological proliferation, property owners must develop new systems that not only safeguard their intellectual and physical assets, but also verify and track digital interactions (and revenue) tied to their properties.

The growth outlook for listed infrastructure continued to improve in 2024. Companies have been key beneficiaries of a virtuous cycle of generative AI development, and today’s generative AI needs represent a game change for the utility sector.

By emphasizing sustainability, social impact, and economic uplift, investors who participate in these purpose-driven projects are investing in the long-term economic health of the communities in which they live and serve.

The National Association of Home Builders’ Multifamily Production Index reported a low score towards the end of 2024, but instead of serving as a red flag for developers, a low rating can also be seen as an opportunity.

Retail has gone from being the weakest asset class to a promising one due to modest inventory growth and the elimination of redundant space. Opportunities abound in growing markets in which retail has not yet caught up with an increasing population.

COVID-19 was a demographic shock with dissipating effect. Disparities remain, but the direction of change is toward narrowing the gap between metros with declining vs. fast-growing populations.

AFIRE’s award-winning Summit Journal is seeking articles from investors, academics, and experts focused the energy sector and the future of commercial real estate for our first-ever “Power Issue.”

The current environment offers unique entry points that should not be overlooked, and investors who continue to be active in markets with steady demand, growth drivers, and supply limitations will be rewarded.

The US remains the largest global commercial real estate market, as past return performance, favorable growth and demographics, and a diverse asset base continue to appeal to foreign investment.

It feels like we have finally emerged from five years of economic turbulence in a better position than we might have feared along the way.

Summit Journal Issue 17 explores the growing gap between our economic assumptions about the state of the world and the reality of daily life in the built environment. What should we understand about commercial real estate today to better plan for tomorrow?

Ground leases are an overlooked asset class among institutional investors due to their low absolute returns, limited market depth, and lack of institutional expertise.

Solar installations on commercial properties can provide additional revenue streams through solar roof leases and net metering or selling excess electricity back to the grid, which positively impact the financial performance of commercial properties—and move the needle on valuation.

For the fifth year in a row, AFIRE’s Summit Journal has been recognized with the Graphic Design USA Award and MarCom Award for association publications.