Category — Miscellaneous

By now it should be no secret that I’m a big fan of social media. The statistics validating social media’s ability to positively impact performance more than serve as adequate evidence that commercial real estate professionals should be actively engaged in social media marketing. That said, not a week passes where the naysayers and apathetic scoff at social media as if were just a waste of time. If today’s post seems like a bit of a rant, it’s because it is…In the text that follows I’ll share a few brief thoughts in an attempt to reason with those still not switched-on to the many benefits of social media.

As the first few weeks of 2010 pass, business owners, executives, employees, and consumers alike are watching for emerging trends, which will test the accuracy of the 2010 prognostications posited by various industry experts.  While it may be too early to tell, there have been some signs, signals and even M&A transactions which point to industry consolidation and corporate restructuring among brokerages in the commercial real estate industry.  This is likely to continue throughout the year.

Market timing is always an issue when evaluating whether or not to acquire a commercial real estate asset. While the old investment axiom of “buy low and sell high” summarizes the goal of all prudent investors, it also serves to paralyze many investors as they find themselves waiting for the “right time” to make their move. One of the smartest investors I know says, “the only thing that waiting for the bottom insures is that you’ll miss it.” A recent survey conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP., and the Urban Land Institute (ULI) forecasted that the US commercial real estate markets will hit bottom in late 2010, so in the text that follows I thought it my be useful to summarize the findings of the survey for those of you waiting for the bottom…

Going once…going twice…sold to the highest bidder! Auctions, a disposition tactic once reserved for the accelarated marketing needs of distressed assets, will in my opinion become the norm for commercial real estate tranactions moving forward. The question is not if this will happen, but when will it happen. In today’s post I’ll share a few brief thoughts on the main reasons why I believe auctions will someday drive the majority of the transaction volume in commercial real estate, making the markets more efficient as a result.

“Nail The Visible” is an operating philosophy that I have long espoused. I never cease to be amazed at how many people seem to gloss over this most basic (and powerful) of business precepts. The phrase “Nail The Visible” speaks to the importance of nailing initiatives which are visible to your most important constituencies: clients, partners, vendors, co-workers and those you report to, as well as other key stakeholders. In today’s post I’ll share a few brief thoughts on why paying close attention to initiatives in public view is more than just common sense; it’s good business.

Welcome to the MaggiacomoBlog – I know, I know, another blog??? And why now Kevin…aren’t you a little late to this social media thing? These are fair questions to be sure, and I’ll do my best to answer them in the text that follows. But before I go any further, I want to introduce myself to those of you not familiar with my background. I am currently the President and CEO of Sperry Van Ness International, the 12th largest commercial real estate brokerage firm in the world with more than 950  advisors in 3 countries, 38 states and 153 markets and having completed more than 39 billion dollars in sales volume on 12,000 commercial real estate transactions in the last 4 years. I worked my way up the food chain at SVN, joining the firm on September 11^th 2001 to help facilitate our national expansion. I later served as VP of our franchise business, EVP of SVNI, and COO before being appointed President last year. Prior to my time at SVN I, I served as an advisor for RTE Group, a telecommunications real estate advisory firm, spent two years facilitating business development for Costar Group, and began my real estate career in 1995 at CRESA Partners, Boston.  Enough about me….