Originally published by Matt Richtel on May 28, 2020 for The New York Times.

Upon arriving at work, employees should get a temperature and symptom check.

Date: Thursday, June 11, 2020
Time: 2:00PM/EDT

The economic disruptions from COVID-19 have had significant impact on the credit quality of tenants, building occupancy and demand from buyers, resulting in substantial uncertainty in the valuation of commercial real estate and complexity in the accounting for lease modifications.  John Thomas, CEO of Physicians Realty Trust, and Dennis Power, CFO of the Opus Group, will share their experiences with tenant collections, lease concessions, market demand, and the resulting impacts on real estate valuation across their market niches. Brent Maier will provide his view on the impacts he has seen in his role as the leader of Baker Tilly’s real estate transaction advisory services team while Mike Kamienski and David Jamiolkowski, also from Baker Tilly, will share their view of how these issues will impact financial reporting from a real estate impairment and lease accounting perspective. Don’t miss this discussion of critical topics so you understand the valuation and leasing impacts from COVID-19.

The companies represent different approaches to the future of real estate, and their success or failure will offer important lessons to landlords.

The collapse of WeWork’s $47 billion valuation was the most exciting real estate story of 2019. Landlords, lenders, customers and competitors watched in awe as the company crashed into a wall of scrutiny and ridicule. In 2020, Airbnb might offer a similar spectacle, with a $35 billion valuation and a growing number of questions about the company’s long-term prospects.

What propels both companies? The changing needs of end users and the growing appetite of venture capital investors to disrupt the way real estate assets are operated and transacted. Both trends will keep transforming the industry, regardless of the struggles of WeWork or Airbnb.

The NAIOP Research Foundation has published the NAIOP Office Space Demand Forecast for Q2 2020.

Key Takeaways:

• Due to the turmoil in the national economy, rising unemployment and continued uncertainty about future work arrangements, the U.S. office market absorption is forecast to decline into negative territory through the second quarter of 2021.
   
• The steepest declines may be experienced in the third quarter of 2020, with NAIOP's model forecasting a drop of 16.3 million square feet. Absorption rates will increase as the economy begins to gain traction in 2021.
   
• While the economic benefits of density and agglomeration are well-documented, COVID-19 may necessitate a type of "de-densification" in office space, at least in the near term. As a result, current office-using space will face short-term logistical challenges.
   
• While U.S. states begin the process of a staged re-opening, employees will arguably put a premium on workplace cleanliness. They will also put a premium on personal space, which may contribute to increased demand for office space.
   
• Many large organizations have begun to consider a "hub-and-spoke" model for work arrangements, enhanced by technology that allows for the economic gains from agglomeration while recognizing the challenges created by the pandemic.

During April 17, 2020, NAIOP Charlotte Board Meeting, the following market perspectives were offered from board members:

• Construction continues to proceed. Seeing smaller work crews on-site, but not slowing progress. Not seeing material issues at this time. New deals, if capitalized, are moving forward.
• Developer and investors are hoping construction pricing to decrease as much as 20% but the construction industry is saying maybe 2%.
• Seeing construction lending delayed by 30‐60 days due to banks focusing on PPP.
• Big picture – Charlotte is still looking good to pull out of this when the time is right.
• “Uneven” based on product type and where a project is in the process.
• Retail is brutal. The only tenants that haven’t requested rent relief are grocery stores, drug stores, and quick-serve restaurants. Each answer is different. We need to look at the space and how we continue to provide a new experience in the retail of the future.
• After this, we will have a greater realization that we create community – not sure brick and mortar retail will be dead.
• On Monday (4/20), City will hold their first virtual rezoning meeting which will include public input through council members, chat, speaking upon appointment. No decline in zoning or permitting applications.
• C‐4 is a new coalition of general contractors on a call twice a week with city and county (maybe 80 people on each call). As a group, developed best practices for a safe environment.
• Many hotel owners are closing their location or 5‐15% occupancy.
• Not seeing distressed sales yet.
• In corporate America, how well offices adjust for future remote working? They are seeing some indications of 10% of remote workers to 30% remote workers. Corporations looking at hoteling and new design features. Will the old‐fashioned suburban office park may come back? New projects, looking at touchless entry for security and door entry.
• WELL program – thinks that may have a good opportunity for a future program.

Originally published by Dror Poleg for the 2020 Spring Issue.

The companies represent different approaches to the future of real estate, and their success or failure will offer important lessons to landlords.

The collapse of WeWork’s $47 billion valuation was the most exciting real estate story of 2019. Landlords, lenders, customers and competitors watched in awe as the company crashed into a wall of scrutiny and ridicule. In 2020, Airbnb might offer a similar spectacle, with a $35 billion valuation and a growing number of questions about the company’s long-term prospects.

Date: Thursday, June 11, 2020
Time: 2:00 PM/EDT

The economic disruptions from COVID-19 have had significant impact on the credit quality of tenants, building occupancy and demand from buyers, resulting in substantial uncertainty in the valuation of commercial real estate and complexity in the accounting for lease modifications.  John Thomas, CEO of Physicians Realty Trust, and Dennis Power, CFO of the Opus Group, will share their experiences with tenant collections, lease concessions, market demand, and the resulting impacts on real estate valuation across their market niches. Brent Maier will provide his view on the impacts he has seen in his role as the leader of Baker Tilly’s real estate transaction advisory services team while Mike Kamienski and David Jamiolkowski, also from Baker Tilly, will share their view of how these issues will impact financial reporting from a real estate impairment and lease accounting perspective. Don’t miss this discussion of critical topics so you understand the valuation and leasing impacts from COVID-19.

Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2020 - Thursday, June 25, 2020
Where: Online

NAIOP's can't-miss industrial conference is going virtual!

We Can't Wait to See You in Pinehurst
Thursday, March 25 - Friday, March 26, 2021

Click Here to Read More

People are talking about NAIOP's courses... NAIOP continues to offer on-demand courses free for members through August 1. Here's some of the great feedback from course registrants so far.

No code is required, just log in with your NAIOP member ID to access the offer. Take up to 90 days to complete a course after registering.

Click Here to View Courses

NAIOP is proud to honor up-and-coming commercial real estate professionals, 35 years of age and under, for their valued contributions and commitment to the industry with the annual Developing Leaders Award. The award is presented to those who have shown exemplary achievements and demonstrated outstanding professional accomplishments in the commercial real estate industry.

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2020 NAIOP Developing Leaders Award.
Deadline: June 26, 2020

Click here to read more

NAIOP would like to hear from its members on your outlook for NAIOP events in 2020, both those hosted by NAIOP Corporate and those presented locally by chapters. Check your email for the survey invitation (sent May 27 and May 31) and complete the survey by Friday, June 5.

Join NAIOP Developing Leaders on Wednesday, June 3rd for a special webinar to talk with your peers about today’s COVID-driven climate and how its impacting our industry and your careers. Four DLs from the office, industrial and acquisitions sectors will take your questions, talk about how their companies are handling the pandemic’s effects, and how they believe it will reshape careers and the ways we do business. This is an exclusive program for NAIOP Developing Leaders only.

Moderator:
Kaitlin Goetzman, Senior Associate, Investments, The Brookdale Group

Originally published on May 19, 2020 by Paul Letourneau

One doesn’t have to look far to see the immediate impact of the novel coronavirus on commercial property markets. Across the U.S., millions of white-collar workers are now working from home, stores and restaurants have closed their doors, and nearly 17 million Americans filed for unemployment insurance in the first three weeks after the pandemic began shutting down cities. Nearly one-third of apartment dwellers didn’t pay their rent in the first week of April, in addition to the countless retailers and hotel companies that are unable to make their lease or mortgage payments.

Originally published on May 19, 2020 by Brielle Scott

There is no doubt COVID-19 has accelerated the already changing nature of commerce and work and introduced a new layer of considerations for commercial real estate development. 

Originally published on May 22, 2020 by Jennifer LeFurgy, Ph.D.

Economist Douglas Holtz-Eakin Gives his Take on the U.S. Economy and the Government’s Unparalleled Response

Originally published on May 20, 2020 by Alex Ford

As states begin to slowly reopen their economies, governments, businesses and the public as a whole are contemplating what a post-coronavirus America will look like. Some aspects of this “new normal” – such as limited capacity requirements in public spaces and stricter sanitation mandates, to name a few – are already taking shape. But with a cure potentially months or years away, who bears responsibility if a customer or employee contracts the virus? The question is yet another example of the unprecedented times in which we are living, and has emerged as a key wedge issue among various stakeholders.

Social distancing hasn’t stopped NAIOP Charlotte members from getting together (virtually) to continue to engage, learn, and socialize. Below are highlights from several recent member only events. A special thank you to our 2020 Cornerstone Sponsors. With their support, NAIOP Charlotte has been able to keep the conversations and information flowing during our time of social distancing.

March LWAL: Our first virtual Lunch with a Leader featured Taiwo Jaiyeoba and Alyson Craig from the City of Charlotte. Jaiyeobe and Craig shared how the city is adjusting to COVID-19 and keeping commercial development moving forward to maintain a healthy region.  If you were not able to participate in the webinar and would like to listen, click here to access the recording.