CCIM Live! 2012 - Day 2 Recap

Day two at CCIM Live! began bright and early with a networking breakfast hosted by conference co-chairs Bobbi Miracle, CCIM, and Katya Naman, CCIM, followed by the CCIM Institute Board of Directors meeting.

Todd Clarke, CCIM

Todd Clarke, CCIM, CEO of NM Apartment Advisors, led the day's first education session, Innovative Marketing: Integrating Social Networking Into Your Existing Marketing Plan. "Successful implementation of social networking requires listening," Clarke explained. He recommended several tools that commercial real estate professionals can use to monitor social media including Google Alerts, TweetDeck, and HootSuite. "Don't post listing after listing," Clarke said. "Start a conversation."

Economic outlook panelists

The CCIM Live! economic panel luncheon began on a positive note: "I don't think we'll see another recession," said Mark G. Dotzour, chief economist and director of research at Texas A&M University. "We have too much pent-up demand." But fellow panelist Mark Vitner, managing director and senior economist with Wells Fargo, was less optimistic. "U.S. fiscal policy is mathematically unsound and unsustainable," he said, explaining that, while we probably won't go over the fiscal cliff, significant "fiscal drag" is certain to plague the U.S. economy in 2013. Suzanne Mulvee, senior real estate economist with Property and Portfolio Research, offered a perspective on how the major commercial real estate property sectors are faring amid these economic circumstances. "The good news is that things are moving," she said, citing falling vacancy rates in many markets.

Troubled assets panelists

 
Over $1.5 trillion of commercial real estate loans will mature in the next five years. Panelists who participated in the Troubled Assets session offered four perspectives on this situation: special servicers (Bill Stolberg, CCIM, CPM), national banks (Jeff Johnson), community banks (Maryann Mize, CCIM), and brokers/investors (Gary Ralston, CCIM).

CCIM All-Star Panel

 
The conference closed with the CCIM All-Star Panel hosted by 2013 CCIM President Wayne D'Amico, CCIM. D'Amico asked some of the top industry professionals who also happen to be CCIMs why they value the pin. "We're bound together by the education," said Richard E. Frazier Jr., CCIM, director of real estate with Kaman Industrial Technologies. "Since we speak the same language, we can move quickly through a transaction, which is important in our business." And Ryan Lorey, CCIM, senior director with Broadcom Corp., noted that CCIM concepts can make a big impact in the C-suite: "We can take the knowledge we have and educate corporate CFOs."

Thanks to all who attended. See you in Denver in 2013!

Video clips and slides from select sessions will be available on live2012.ccim.com soon.

CCIM Live! 2012 - Day 1 Recap

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman kicked off day one of CCIM Live! with the story of Las Vegas -- from gaming, shows, and a lot of undeveloped land in the 1960s to today’s diverse market for tourists and investors alike. Programs such as Quick Start, which grants up to $50,000 to a business for renovating old properties, are helping to rejuvenate the city’s downtown area, Goodman explained.

James Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International, who followed Goodman with the day’s keynote address, echoed those sentiments. "We’re seeing the seeds of things improving in Las Vegas," he said. Murren oversaw the development of CityCenter on the Las Vegas Strip, one of the largest privately funded sustainable developments in the world.

James Murren

The lending experts who participated in the commercial financing panel discussion see improvement in the national market, but there’s still a lot of uncertainty about the market’s long-term prospects. "We’re being much more aggressive than we were a year or two ago from a financing standpoint," said John Manganiello, senior vice president and market executive for Bank of America Merrill Lynch. But fear of a "lending gap" in 2015 tempered the positive outlook among panelists. The good news? "It’s an opportunity for CCIMs," said Richard Podos, founder of Lance Capital LLC. "Craft solutions that the next guy can’t figure out."

 Commercial Financing panel

Deal or No Deal: Trends and Issues That Are Impacting Commercial Real Estate was led by Brian Bailey, senior financial policy analyst with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. After an in-depth examination of each commercial real estate sector and commercial mortgage-backed securities, among other topics, Bailey concluded that the real estate market is improving. However, the pace of that recovery is highly dependent on property type and location.

Wayne D’Amico, CCIM (left) inaugurated as 2013 CCIM Institute President

At Celebrate Live! attendees recognized new designees and Wayne D'Amico, CCIM, who was inaugurated as CCIM Institute's 2013 president. The theme of the event was "Your Opportunity to Excel." It was also an opportunity for CCIMs to shake it on the dance floor.

Video clips and slides from select sessions will be available on live2012.ccim.com soon.

10 Ways to Get Ready for CCIM Live! 2012

CCIM Live! begins in less than a week. Here are 10 tips to help you get ready for CCIM's annual conference:

1. Download the CCIM Live! app – Get schedule updates, connect with attendees, and learn more about conference presenters on your iPhone, BlackBerry, or Android smartphone.
2. Stock up on business cards – In addition to informal networking opportunities, we have two hours of scheduled networking time. So make sure to pack your business cards!
3. Start networking – Complete your CCIM Live! website profile and connect with other attendees before you arrive in Las Vegas. When you create a website profile, you’re also creating a profile on the conference app.
4. Use the #ccimlive hashtag – Share what you learn or why you’re going to CCIM Live! on Twitter using the #ccimlive hashtag.
5. Follow CCIM on Twitter and Facebook - We'll post conference photos, updates, and news on our Twitter and Facebook profiles.
6. Review your transportation options – A one-way ride from Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport to the Paris hotel is $20. Shuttles and private sedans are also available.
7. Set your out of office messages – "I am attending CCIM Institute’s annual meetings and conference until [your return date]. I will return your message as soon as possible. To learn more about CCIM and its fall conference, visit www.ccim.com."
8. Register for the wine soiree – The Southern Nevada CCIM Chapter, this year’s host chapter, is hosting its 16th Annual Wine Soiree and Auction in conjunction with CCIM Live!
9. Plan your free time – Las Vegas has a little bit of something for everyone. World-class dining, gaming, outdoor activities, shopping, and more. See a list of exclusive discounts available to conference attendees.
10. Make a note to register for CCIM Live! – Come for the meetings and stay for the conference. This year's CCIM Live! schedule is incorporated with the annual meetings. If you're attending the meetings but haven't registered for the conference, make a note to do so when you arrive at the Paris.

Q & A with Host Chapter President

As president of the CCIM Live! host chapter, Ryan Martin, CCIM, vice president of Colliers International in Las Vegas, played an important role in selecting speakers and organizing networking events around the conference.

Ryan Martin, CCIM

Martin recently spoke with us about the CCIM Live! conference, networking, and more.

CCIM: The Southern Nevada Chapter is hosting a Wine Soiree networking event on Oct. 13, the Saturday before CCIM Live! begins. Why should conference attendees arrive early for the event?

Ryan Martin, CCIM: The Wine Soiree has been a signature event for our chapter. Past attendance has averaged around 150 to 200 people from a variety of commercial real estate specialties. So attendees will have great networking opportunities, and our auction will help raise money for charity. Since going big in Vegas is a requirement, we're hosting the event at the Hard Rock. If you are planning to attend the conference, you should definitely include this kick-off party in your plans.

CCIM: How and why did you and the conference committee choose the CCIM Live! speakers?

RM: We booked James Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International, because it was imperative to tie the audience to Las Vegas. Murren was the obvious choice because of his role in the recently completed City Center. City Center is one of the largest green developments in the world, and financing and completing such a big development was no easy accomplishment. Those ingredients provided a perfect opportunity to bring a touch of Vegas to the national stage.

CCIM: Last year you connected with a CCIM from Taiwan who also attended CCIM Live! How did that happen?

RM: We connected through the CCIM network after we both returned home. It wasn't until we returned home that we realized we were together at CCIM Live! for a week. It goes to show how small a world it really is and how CCIM can truly benefit you if you work for it.

CCIM: You're from Las Vegas. What's your favorite restaurant, bar, and day trip?

RM: With reluctance, I will pick just one. One of my favorite restaurant experiences on the Strip is the back room, in the kitchen, at Delmonico Steakhouse in the Venetian. Any bar will have your flavor; again, it is the experience. That said, miX at Mandalay Bay's THEHotel has a great venue overlooking the Strip. Some of my favorite day trips include Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and Lake Mead/Hoover Dam. If you stay in town, bring your golf clubs or spend a day at the spa.

Las Vegas: Post-Recession Model City?

Tony Hsieh

What can Las Vegas teach us about economic recovery? A lot, according to a recent article in The Atlantic. This year’s CCIM Live! host city is poised for big changes, thanks in part to the vision of Zappos Chief Executive Officer Tony Hsieh: "He wants to build community, a place that fosters collaboration and learning and passion and compassion. These are not exactly character traits of Las Vegas, a city that, like Wall Street, can be hard and rapacious in its hunt for the easy marks. Hsieh says that if it can be done in the unlikeliest of places, it can be done anywhere."

Fox Business Interviews CCIM Live! Panelist

CCIM Live! panelist and CIRE contributor Mark Vitner, managing director and senior economist for Wells Fargo Securities in Charlotte, N.C. appeared on Fox Business last week to discuss 2Q12 GDP and the July jobs report, which will be released this Friday.



He reiterated that the economy is likely to slow in the second half of 2012, as a result of the China’s slowdown, political uncertainty in the U.S., and the European financial crisis.

Panelist Weighs In on the Economy and Commercial Real Estate

Suzanne Mulvee

Suzanne Mulvee, CFA, senior real estate economist at Property and Portfolio Research, will be part of an economic outlook panel on day two of CCIM Live!

We spoke with her recently about the economy and its impact on commercial real estate.

CCIM: At Property and Portfolio Research, you design investment strategies in the major property types. Which property types do clients favor right now and why?

Suzanne Mulvee: Multifamily has been the darling of institutional investors for the past two years, but that may be changing. Fundamentals across multifamily are nearly recovered, and net operating incomes have jumped, but this success is now well priced. With multifamily construction heating up, investors may cycle toward the other property types. Office in particular may be a good play.

CCIM: You'll participate in an economic outlook panel at CCIM Live! in October. A lot can change in this economy in three months. What are some factors that could change your economic outlook between now and the conference?

Mulvee: With the global economy slipping toward stall speed there is greater risk that a shock to the system knocks us into a recession. Worse, the number of risks to be concerned about are numerous — Europe, China, Iran, sovereign debt levels (both here in the U.S. and abroad), fiscal tightening, etc. The central bank policy response to combat any shock would likely be impressive, but how effective is not clear. Against this backdrop, it is not surprising that the consensus assumption is slow growth and fat tail risk.

CCIM: Many CCIMs work in secondary and tertiary markets. What are the major retail trends you're tracking in these markets?

Mulvee: Secondary and tertiary markets tend to be less expensive and therefore attract new residents, which drives local commercial real estate demand. The housing bust severely curtailed the mobility of the population, but that is changing. With more and more pockets of the housing market recovering, migration is picking back up. The benefits accrue first to the big markets like Dallas and Phoenix but should eventually impact the smaller markets.

Where to Eat in Las Vegas

If you're attending, CCIM Live!, CCIM's two–day commercial real estate conference this October in Las Vegas, you'll have plenty of dining options for networking dinners. You'll also hear plenty of opinions on where to eat. A recent New York Times article takes a look at how the Las Vegas dining scene has changed over the past 20 years and how the critics who cover it are about as diverse as the city's restaurants.

Three of the critics — John Curtas, a lawyer and former food critic for Nevada Public Radio; Al Mancini, who moved to Las Vegas to write about strip clubs; and Max Jacobson, former food critic for the Los Angeles Times — collaborated to write Eating Las Vegas: The 50 Essential Restaurants.

Find out more about Las Vegas' dining scene from the authors’ blogs and websites:

• Al Mancini's writes for Las Vegas City Life.
• Max Jacobson writes for Vegas Seven.
• John Curtas covers the Las Vegas food scene on his website Eating Las Vegas.

What are your favorite Las Vegas restaurants? Share your recommendations in the comment section below.

Discounts for Attendees at Paris Spa and Shops

For only $295, CCIM Live! attendees will hear about the latest trends in commercial real estate and have plenty of networking opportunities. But you're not just going to Las Vegas for business. You're going to have some fun, and today we're announcing discounts to make the fun a little more affordable.

Just show your Paris convention registration badge for a 20 percent discount at the following hotel shops:

• Bally's on the Avenue Shop
• Signatures News & Gifts
• Splashes Pool Shop
• Park Place Jewelers
• Les Elements Gift Shop
• Le Menagerie Gift Shop
• Le Journal Gift Shop
• Eiffel Tour Shop
• Cafe Belle Madeleine
• L'Oasis Pool Shop

CCIM Live! attendees can also relax at the spa or hit the fitness center at a discount to burn off some "convention tension." We have arranged a 15 percent discount on spa and salon services at Paris Spa by Mandara and a special daily rate of $15 for use of the spa's amenities, including:

• Use of the fitness center with state-of-the-art fitness equipment
• Spa sauna, steam room, showers, and luxury whirlpool
• Complimentary fresh fruits, juices, teas, coffee, and bottled water

The fitness center entry fee is waived for attendees who receive spa treatments (valid day of treatment).

Do you have other tips for saving money while enjoying Las Vegas? Share them in the comment section.

Las Vegas Retail Holds Steady

This October when CCIM Live! attendees arrive in Las Vegas -- one of the markets hardest hit by the housing collapse and recession -- they'll see some signs of life in the city’s retail sector. According to local valuation firm Applied Analysis, Las Vegas' retail vacancy rate has remained in the 10 percent range for the past 12 quarters, averaging 10.5 percent for 1Q12. Positive net absorption has continued for three of the last four quarters, with 203,300 sf leased in 1Q12.

The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace

Yes, they are still building in the desert: 300,000 sf will complete in 2013, and another planned 4.3 million sf is in being actively marketed. Average asking rents fell from $1.53 psf to $1.45 psf YOY, indicating "that landlords have become increasingly aggressive in their efforts to attract tenants," says Brian Gordon, principal of Applied Analysis. Overall, rents are down 34.1 percent from the peak. Of product types, power centers are outperforming neighborhood and community centers both in leasing and rents.

On Day 2 of CCIM Live!, attendees can learn more about current economic conditions and the impact on commercial real estate during the session "Economic Outlook for Real Estate Investors and Decision Makers."

CIRE Magazine Speaks with Luncheon Panelist

Dr. Mark G. Dotzour, who will be a featured speaker at CCIM Live!,  recently spoke to Commercial Investment Real Estate magazine about investor demand, small-business optimism, and other factors that will shape commercial real estate’s recovery.

For more from Dotzour, attend the Oct. 13 CCIM Live! Luncheon: The Economic Outlook for Real Estate Investors and Decision Makers.

How to Start Your CCIM Live! Networking Today

CCIM Live! attendees have the opportunity to start networking before arriving in Las Vegas. Similar to LinkedIn, the conference website allows you to create a profile, add contacts, send messages, and more. Here’s how to get started:

• Log in - Approximately one week after registering for CCIM Live!, you’ll receive an email inviting you to complete your online profile. If you created a profile for last year’s event, you can use the same login information
• Complete your profile - After logging in, click "Get Connected" on the main menu and then click "My Profile" >> "Edit Profile." Here you can upload a profile picture, add a short bio, and share topics of interest. You can also link your blog or Twitter feeds to your profile by clicking "Edit Feeds" (next to "Edit Profile").
• Grow your network - Start expanding your network by clicking "Get Connected," and then browse a list of users in the right-hand column. Select an attendee you’d like to connect with, and then click "[name] is my friend" or "I want to meet [name]" below the person’s profile picture.

Did you use the conference site to make connections last year? Share your tips in the comment section below.

Las Vegas: Beyond the Casinos

This guest post was written CCIM Live! planning committee member Soozi Jones Walker, CCIM. She is a resident of Las Vegas.

What makes Las Vegas such a fabulous place to visit?

Soozi Jones Walker, CCIM

Commercial Executives

Whether you are looking for daytime excitement or the 24-hour experience, there is something for everyone. Where else can you find most of the Wonders of the World replicated on a four-mile strip, all within walking distance? From poolside lounging at your fabulous hotel to enjoying the Bellagio’s spectacular dancing fountains, the fun never ends.

Along the Strip, you'll find world class shopping at the Forum Shops, where the statues come to life every hour. If shopping isn’t your bag, how about zip lining through downtown Las Vegas under the lighted canopy or riding a roller coaster on the top of the Stratosphere Hotel over 100 feet in the air?

If nature is your thing, you can hike at the amazing Red Rock Canyon, cruise the water at Lake Mead, or just stroll along the Strip to meet some of the exotic tourists who visit our town. Your Southern Nevada CCIM Chapter promises you will love every minute you spend here this fall during CCIM Live!.

Announcing CCIM Live! 2012 Keynote Speakers

CCIM Live!, CCIM Institute’s annual fall conference, is all about expanding your commercial real estate network and knowledge. This year’s keynote speaker –- the man behind largest privately funded construction project in U.S. history –- and panelists are ready to share their expertise.

Keynote - CityCenter: Sustainability as a Core Value

James Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International, will discuss the integration of sustainability from the concept development to the completion of CityCenter, one of the largest LEED-certified projects in the world.

Economic Outlook Panel

Panelists include:

• Dr. Mark G. Dotzour, chief economist and director of research for the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University
• Suzanne Mulvee, CFA, real estate strategist at Property & Portfolio Research
• Mark Vitner, managing director and senior economist at Wells Fargo

The panelists will share analysis of the economic recovery, capital markets, and the investment environment for commercial real estate with an emphasis on price vs. value, the change in values since the down cycle began, and how property prices compare overall.

Visit the conference website for registration and more information.