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By AZ Advisory Team, December 16, 2009 2:37 pm

Moody’s Investor Services, learning from lessons received 20 years ago, predicts in a report that U.S. life insurers will suffer a less due to commercial-mortgage losses compared to banks. The commercial real estate market last went through a crisis 20 years ago which resulted in major losses for the life insurers.

“Life insurers’ portfolios today demonstrate that they have learned from past missteps dealing with commercial real estate,” said Senior Vice President Jeffrey Berg. Right now, the sector has only moderate exposure to commercial loans and these loans were well-diversified across geographies and property types as well as these loans were conservatively underwritten and maturities were well-distributed.

Alex Zylberglait provides commercial real estate investment advisory as well as research, estate planning, asset allocation, valuation, financing, special assets services, transaction advisory and commercial property acquisition and disposition services.

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By AZ Advisory Team, December 11, 2009 1:17 pm

Commercial Real Estate Investment: The latest results of the Moody’s REAL Commercial Property Index continue to indicate that our country’s commercial real estate markets are definitely experiencing a tremendous downturn, with prices plummeting at a whopping 42.70% since the peak set in October 2007.

Alex Zylberglait provides commercial real estate investment advisory as well as research, estate planning, asset allocation, valuation, financing, special assets services, transaction advisory and commercial property acquisition and disposition services.

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By Alex Zylberglait, December 7, 2009 4:17 pm

Got news today that a real estate giant in Qatar, called Barwa is exploring investment opportunities in US commercial real estate and is encouraging other investors to join him as he made a presentation at a one-day business seminar “Entering the US Market“.

Barwa Real Estate Company deputy chief executive officer and Group Strategy & Investment executive director Mohamed Abdul Aziz al-Saad said in a report that the company’s investment exploration will be focused on commercial properties.

The company with over QR25bn (USD6.8bn) in assets value, has previously invested in Sudan, UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Switzerland, France, Turkey, among other countries, as part of its international portfolio.

“It’s not going to be centered on coastal areas in the US only…” al-Saad added.

More and more foreigners are seeing opportunities opening up for commercial real estate investments. Howabout you, what do you see? From wherever part of the globe you are, opportunities are opening up here in the U.S for foreign investors. Contact me for a free consultation.

Alex Zylberglait provides commercial real estate investment advisory as well as research, estate planning, asset allocation, valuation, financing, special assets services, transaction advisory and commercial property acquisition and disposition services.

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By AZ Advisory Team, November 19, 2009 4:09 pm

U.S. commercial real estate transactions rose in the third quarter for the first time since around 2007 but is still way down from a year earlier, said the National Association of Realtors. This organizatio, which hosted the 2009 REALTORS® Conference & Expo in San Diego which ended last Monday, said in its report that Commercial Leading Indicator for brokerage activity index rose 0.9 percent from the prior quarter’s fifteen-year low to 102.4, the first rise since the second quarter of 2007. Still, the index is 11.1 percent below the 115.3 reading in the third quarter of last year.

But NAR’s chief economist, Lawrence Yun, stressed that the lack of financing for commercial real estate transactions is slowing down our economic recovery. Yun addressed the government to take action to relieve some of the lending pressure as banks become troubled with the increase of toxic loan portfolios over-leveraged by commercial properties that are losing value now.  Banks then become shy about lending money which create a challenging environment for commercial transactions.

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By AZ Advisory Team, November 17, 2009 11:00 pm

Losses due to commercial real estate loans are what U.S. regional banks face greater exposure to according to a Fitch Ratings report. This may increase the possibility of their future ratings being downgraded. The risk is generally manageable for large financial institutions while the downgrades would be more prevalent among the regional mid-sized to smaller banks.

“The potential for further deteriorations in commercial real estate portfolios is a major contributor to Fitch’s negative outlook for the banking sector,” said Thomas Abruzzo, co-head of Fitch’s North America financial institutions group. “Loan losses are increasingly likely given the expectation for ongoing declines in commercial real estate markets,” he said in the report.

Alex Zylberglait provides commercial real estate investment advisory as well as research, estate planning, asset allocation, valuation, financing, special assets services, transaction advisory and commercial property acquisition and disposition services.

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By Alex Zylberglait, November 16, 2009 9:32 am

As we continue to track the amount of debt in distress across all product types and geographies, it is evident that it’s a matter of time until lenders begin to divest these assets. Even though they currently do not have as much pressure to realize losses immediately they will eventually have to do something about it. Considering they are not generally lending money at this time, the increased defaults will only make their balance sheets that much more unattractive. Having said that, I do not believe that we are likely to see an RTC 2 of some sort but rather the divestiture of troubled or toxic assets will likely come in the form of waves; that is as bank’s balance sheets gradually improve they will likely divest of certain assets over time. The wildcard in all of this, of course, is any kind of government intervention that would act to accelerate or decelerate this probable scenario.

Alex Zylberglait provides commercial real estate investment advisory as well as research, estate planning, asset allocation, valuation, financing, special assets services, transaction advisory and commercial property acquisition and disposition services.

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By AZ Advisory Team, November 10, 2009 5:09 pm

Real Capital Analytics, Inc. estimates that commercial real estate loans in default, foreclosure, or bankruptcy now total roughly to $130 billion are finding its way out in the market as distressed assets.  Investors will score bargains on office building premium properties. This last quarter of 2009 through 2011 would be the best time for investors to buy at or near cyclical lows. View Alex Zylberglait’s listings – Office and Industrial Buildings in Miami.

Alex Zylberglait provides commercial real estate investment advisory as well as research, estate planning, asset allocation, valuation, financing, special assets services, transaction advisory and commercial property acquisition and disposition services.

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By AZ Advisory Team, November 9, 2009 10:32 am

Real estate professionals are now trekking to Latin American countries and elsewhere to recruit new investors as international buyers are activating the market and reactivating sales in South Florida.  Foreign investors are learning how to invest in commercial real estate in South Florida / Miami area as they become aware that assets have never before been so depreciated in a country like America. It’s now cheaper to buy an apartment in Miami than in major Latin American cities, such as Buenos Aires, Mexico City and large cities in Brazil. South Florida’s appeal remains strong among foreign jet setters, who are drawn to the beachfront metropolis as much for its palm trees and fine weather as its United Nations-like cultural inclusivity.  There’s also a sense that the market may only get marginally worse before bottoming and mending.  This all add up to a handsome opportunity for thousands of global buyers. Read news report.

Alex Zylberglait provides commercial real estate investment advisory as well as research, estate planning, asset allocation, valuation, financing, special assets services, transaction advisory and commercial property acquisition and disposition services.

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By Alex Zylberglait, October 26, 2009 5:46 pm

If you are thinking about purchasing commercial real estate, it’s important to know that there are things that you can do to enhance and increase the value of your investment. As such, when you search for a commercial property, look at the property’s potential in addition to its historical data. Because the value of commercial real estate is primarily driven by the cash flow that the property generates, any strategy you employ has the potential to increase your cash flow, decrease your expenses, and increase your overall equity and the value of the property.

Case in point is a Class B office building known as Golden Eagle Plaza at 525 B St. in downtown San Diego which was turned into an arguably Class A superstar by Hines Interests LP.  The San Diego Business Journal reports that Hines upgraded this well-located, 22-story office building, by refurbishing it with a new lobby, new roof, elevators, controls and systems, and by getting a LEED certification.  Read full article here.

Now that commercial real estate assets are anticipated to devaluate in the coming months, investors like you should be seeking new strategic assets to invest in. The economics of purchasing existing buildings (especially when its owners are  distressed) with fairly good fundamentals and then upgrading them is very promising.

Aging properties, making sure it passes its Forty-Year Recertification, must also be upgraded or the best tenants will look elsewhere when they seek additional space in the coming years in response to the anticipated growth in the economy.

Hines’ retrofit strategy seems to be paying off as early as now:  San Diego’s large law firms ares moving to Golden Eagle Plaza like the firm of Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP, have already committed to 100,000 square feet in the building.

Stay tuned for my future posts as I elaborate further on how you can increase the value of your commercial real estate property.

Alex Zylberglait provides commercial real estate investment advisory as well as research, estate planning, asset allocation, valuation, financing, special assets services, transaction advisory and commercial property acquisition and disposition services.

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By AZ Advisory Team, October 23, 2009 10:45 pm

With five of the selected nine asset managers for the Treasury Departments Public Private Investment Program now fully funded with their debt and equity capital commitments, there is some $12.27 billion in purchasing power aimed at the so-called legacy – or to be more precise, toxic – assets still clogging the real estate markets. In short, the program is close to execution as the asset managers now begin what they were ultimately chosen to do: seek out and purchase toxic debt.  Read full article here.

Alex Zylberglait provides commercial real estate investment advisory as well as research, estate planning, asset allocation, valuation, financing, special assets services, transaction advisory and commercial property acquisition and disposition services.