Power Tools for Commercial-Investment Practitioners

Robert Toll, co-owner of development company Toll Brothers, Inc. has tabs on baby boomers home buying habits. Catering to luxury home buyers, Toll Brothers not only offers "spacious single-family houses on golf courses and balmy beaches, but also high-rise units in urban areas." The company's most recent development, a 21-story condominium tower in Manhattan's chic Union Square area, reflects this shift.

Baby boomers "...are more hip-hop and happening than our parents," Toll says. "We want the sophistication and joy of culture and music that comes with city dwelling -- and doesn't come with sitting in the big home in the burbs watching the day go by while puttering, painting, reading, writing, making flies for fishing, customizing your own golf clubs, stringing your own tennis racket, tending your tropical fish."

Posted on December 15 at 04:30 PM | Permanent Link | Add a Comment (0)

Check out NAR Information Central's Library collection of eBooks and digital books without setting foot in the library! NAR InfoCentral currently has 586 unique titles of eBooks and digital audio books available to you for free as a NAR member. One of many excellent commercial real estate resources is All About Real Estate Investing. This resource is a comprehensive guide "­­—complete with sample forms, charts, and worksheets—­­provides objective techniques for evaluating a particular investment property, tips on negotiating the best price, financing methods to substantially increase your leverage, and more." The collection also includes eBooks on sales & marketing, business management, technology, finance, and personal growth. Visit eBooks.realtor.org to take advantage of this award-winning digital collection.

Posted on December 12 at 11:40 AM | Permanent Link | Add a Comment (0)

Kushner Companies is buying a Midtown Manhattan skyscraper from Tishman Speyer for $1.8 billion, which is "one of the highest prices ever paid for a single U.S. office building" according to a spokesperson for Tishman Speyer. The building, a 41-story office tower at 666 Fifth Avenue, is being sold for more than three times what it and some partners paid in 2000, according to an insider with knowledge of the deal. Similar to most markets, the demand for office space in Manhattan is linked to job growth. Manhattan has gained roughly 23,000 office-related jobs in the past two years, even though the work force is still smaller than in 2001.

Posted on December 8 at 11:11 AM | Permanent Link | Add a Comment (0)

Choice Hotels International Incorporated's select service brand, Cambria Suites, recently announced five contracts and the opening of its first hotel geared toward Generation X. According to the VP of brand management, Cambria aspires to cater to the underserved 'X' traveler who wants "wired and wireless internet, a coffee barista in the lobby, a full-workout center, and both organic and standard food offerings." Other amenities include: resort-style bathrooms, ergonomic desk chairs, full-size closets, and a alarm clock that an iPod can be plugged into.

Posted on December 5 at 10:54 AM | Permanent Link | Add a Comment (0)