Sunday, April 27, 2008

CB Richard Ellis Group Inc. Joins the Fortune 500

ORLANDO, FL - CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc. has been named to the FORTUNE 500 list of the largest American companies, debuting at number 404 on the 2008 list.

CB Richard Ellis is the first commercial real estate services firm to be included in the FORTUNE 500.

"A FORTUNE 500 ranking is one of the most widely recognized emblems of business success," said Brett White, (top right photo) President and Chief Executive Officer of CB Richard Ellis. "It underscores the confidence that clients have in our professionals and our global platform, which has made us the leader in commercial real estate services."

"Here in Central Florida, our clients not only have access to the best local market insight and the area's top professionals, but can leverage the breadth and depth of CBRE's full-spectrum global commercial real estate services platform to fulfill any of their real estate needs," said Bill Moss, (photo at left) Senior Managing Director for Florida.

The FORTUNE 500 ranks American companies by total revenue. CB Richard Ellis rose more than 100 places from No. 520 in 2007.

In 2007, CB Richard Ellis reported revenue of $6.0 billion, arranged sales and leasing transactions with total value of $264.2 billion and managed commercial properties and corporate facilities totaling more than 1.9 billion sq. ft.

Earlier this year, CB Richard Ellis was ranked number 11 in BusinessWeek's list of the 50 best performers as well as led National Real Estate Investor's Top Brokerage list for the fifth straight year.
CBRE was also named a 2008 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for outstanding energy management and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

CONTACT:
Jessica Wilhoite
407.839.3158
jessica.wilhoite@cbre.com

Bill Moss
407.839.3140

Wally Stoney Joins Thomas D. Wood & Co. as Vice President

ORLANDO, FL--Thomas D. Wood and Company is pleased to announce their new Vice President, Wally Stoney.

Wally Stoney joined Thomas D. Wood and Company as Vice President—Orlando, where he is responsible for the origination, analysis and placement of real estate debt and equity. Mr. Stoney brings with him 23+ years of commercial real estate finance experience.

Prior to joining Thomas D. Wood and Company, Mr. Stoney served as a Senior Commercial Real Estate Lending Officer with both large money center banks and start-up community banks in the Central Florida area.

Mr. Stoney is a graduate of the University of Florida, and holds a B.S. Degree in Finance and a M.B.A. Degree with a concentration in Finance


Contact:
Wally Stoney (407) 937-0470 wstoney@tdwood.com
Jessica Gurtowski (407) 937-0470 jgurtowski@tdwood.com

Thomas D. Wood & Co. Brokers $1.675M Loan for Clemson Industrial center in Orlando

ORLANDO, FL—John Worrell, (top right photo) Assistant Vice President for Thomas D. Wood and Company, secured financing in the amount of $1,675,000 for Clemson Industrial in Orlando, Florida.

Worrell financed the loan through Thomas D. Wood and Company’s correspondent relationship with StanCorp Mortgage Investors at a permanent fixed rate of 6%.

The term is seven years with a 25-year amortization, and a loan-to-value of 70%.

The 26,480 square-foot retail center was built in 1990, and is home to TCS Communications. Clemson Industrial is located at 3161 Clemson Road, Orlando, Florida.
For further information, please contact:

John Worrell (407) 937-0470 jworrell@tdwood.com

Jessica Gurtowski (407) 937-0470 jgurtowski@tdwood.com


Cambridge Reports Processing 92 Loan Origination Requests in First Quarter

CHICAGO, IL--Cambridge Realty Capital Companies reports processing 92 loan origination requests during the first quarter of 2008, or almost exactly the same number processed by the company during the same quarter in 2007.

“But dollar volume for 2008 origination requests continues to run substantially higher than last year,” Cambridge Chairman Jeffrey A. Davis (top right photo) observes.

Cambridge is one of the nation’s leading senior housing/healthcare lenders, with more than 300 closed transactions totaling more than $2.75 billion since the mid-1990s.

During the first quarter, the dollar volume for the 92 origination requests reviewed was $1.55 billion, compared with 93 requests totaling $1.03 billion million during the same three-month period last year.

In March, Cambridge reviewed 35 origination requests totaling $540.6 million, compared with 27 loans totaling $281.6 million in March, 2007.

Davis points out that lenders close a relatively small percentage of the origination requests they receive, but believes it’s useful to track this information as an indication of market directions.
The substantially higher 2008 origination dollar volume continues to reflect the fact that a higher percentage of new construction deals are probably in the mix, he believes.

Contact:

Evan Washington
Phone: (312) 521-7603
Fax: (312) 357-1611

Jones Lang LaSalle Reports on Metro Washington, DC's First-Quarter Office Market

WASHINGTON, DC--Jones Lang LaSalle presents its Metro DC 1st Quarter 2008 Market Smart report.

(For individual Washington, DC, Northern Virginia and Suburban Maryland Market Smarts and for in-depth analysis and intelligence on the various submarkets that comprise the region's office market, please contact John Sikatis, (top right photo) Communications Dept., Jones Lang LaSalle, 1 202 719 5839 or e-mail John.Sikaitis@am.jll.com.)

In challenging times for both investors and occupiers, we strive to create value and hope these reports complement and enhance your business needs.

A Look Back and Ahead

The continued slowdown in federal spending and increased delivery of vacant buildings to the market have generally served to reduce net absorption and increase vacancy in Metropolitan Washington, DC. Since the mid-term elections, annual growth in federal procurement contracts to private companies has been slashed from 18 percent to approximately 3 percent.


The large federal funding shortage has caused hiring to recede as local payrolls increased by 28,100 jobs in the twelve months ending in February 2008, the slowest job growth in six years within the region.


While the relocation of Volkswagen's North American headquarters from Michigan to suburban Virginia, the Corporate Executive Board's 633,000-square-foot lease at the new Waterview building in Arlington, and a significant move by the Department of Justice to the NoMa submarket in the District highlighted activity, the Metro DC market was largely defined by increased incidents of renewals and a record amount of new development.


The supply-demand dynamics essentially stalled rental rate growth in the first quarter and drove aggressive landlord concession packages in outlying markets.


Fundamentals remained deeply divided depending on both location and product type, as the trophy segment of the market, in the District's core CBD and East End, Northern Virginia's inside the Beltway markets of Rosslyn-Ballston, Alexandria and Tysons Corner, and Suburban Maryland's Bethesda and Silver Spring CBDs continued to display vacancy levels below market averages and command the highest rental rates.


Vast inventories of commodity Class A space in the District, along with the Dulles Toll Road in Northern Virginia, and the I-270 Corridor in Maryland, however, offered tenants a multitude of options and placed downward pressure on net effective rents as concession packages have soared.


Uncertainties regarding the recovery of the national economy and specifically, the housing, construction and financial sectors, will dampen overall office market fundamentals both nationally and regionally in 2008.


However, regionally, the lack of federal spending growth and excessive new supply delivering to the market will be the true catalysts that lead to a continued overall softening of demand and increase in space options over the coming quarters.

Should you need further information or have questions, please do not hesitate to contact:

John Sikaitis
202.719.5839
1801 K St. NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20006

Marcus & Millichap Lists 51,785-SF Shopping Center in Little Elm, TX


LITTLE ELM, TX– Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services, the nation’s largest real estate investment services firm, has retained the exclusive listing for Village at Eldorado, (photo above) a 51,785-square foot shopping center in Little Elm.

Jason Vitorino, (photo at right) an associate vice president in the Dallas office of Marcus & Millichap, and Thomas Tucker, an associate also in the firm’s Dallas office, are representing the Dallas-based seller.

“Village at Eldorado is a perfect long-term Class A asset situated in one of the fastest growing markets in the country,” says Vitorino. “A new owner would enjoy a consistently increasing income stream, solid appreciation and little-to-zero landlord responsibility.”

Located at 2831 West Eldorado Parkway, the shopping center is situated on a 7.98-acre lot at “Main and Main” in Little Elm on the southeast corner of Eldorado Parkway and FM 423.
Built in 2006, Village at Eldorado boasts an excellent tenant mix including Starbucks, Firehouse Subs, H&R Block, Kobe Sushi & Steak, Marble Slab, ReMax First Realty, Sprint and UPS Store. Surrounding retailers include Lowe’s, Wal-Mart Supercenter, 24 Hour Fitness, Hobby Lobby, Walgreen’s, Dollar Tree, Wachovia, AutoZone and Wells Fargo.

PRESS CONTACT:

Stacey Corso
Communications Department
Marcus & Millichap
925 953 1716


Colliers Arnold Tampa Bay Reports First-Quarter Office Results


TAMPA, FL--Colliers Arnold's Tampa Bay office has completed a four-page, first-quarter office market report that shows the condition of the local market with national market comparisons.
A quick re-cap summary shows:

Q1 2008 Overall Vacancy Rate: 11.7%
Q1 2008 Class Office Vacancy Rate: 12.7%
Average Overall Direct Asking Rate: $21.34 p.s.f.
Average Class A Direct Asking Rate: $24.31 p.s.f.
Q1 2008 Office Under Construction: 1,106,612 s.f.
Q1 2008 Office New Completions: 430,582 s.f.
Total Inventory of Office space: 76,473,612 s.f.

For a detailed copy of the report, please contact Russ Sampson, (top right photo) executive vice president and director of brokerage services or Karen Temmen, research direct at the addresses below.

CONTACT:

Karen Temmen Research Director
Colliers Arnold - Commercial Real Estate Services
311 Park Place Blvd., Suite 600
Clearwater, FL 33759
Phone: 727/442-7184 Fax: 727/449-2428 e-mail: ktemmen@colliersarnold.com

Marcus & Millichap Names Michael Kaiyi Yu as Top Hospitality Investment Specialist Nationwide

Yu closed more than $61 million in hospitality transactions last year.

ENCINO, CA-- Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services, the nation’s largest real estate investment services firm, has recognized Michael Kaiyi Yu (top right photo) as its top hospitality investment specialist in 2007.

Yu, an associate vice president of investments based in Houston, facilitated transactions valued at $61.89 million.

“We are proud to recognize Michael Kaiyi Yu as the firm’s top-ranking hospitality investment specialist,” says Robert Hicks, senior vice president and managing director of Marcus & Millichap’s National Hospitality Group. “Michael’s ranking demonstrates his exceptional knowledge of the national hospitality market, superb transaction expertise and dedication to providing unparrelled advisory services to all of his clients.”

Yu joined Marcus & Millichap in July 2003 and was promoted to associate vice president of investments in January. He was also promoted to director of the National Hospitality Group in early 2008. His transactions last year included a $13 million hotel in Munster, Ind.; a $5.72 million hotel in Austin, Texas; and a $4.97 million hotel in Dallas.

CONTACT:
Stacey Corso
Public Relations Manager
Marcus & Millichap
2999 Oak Road
Suite 210
Walnut Creek, CA 94597
Office: 925.953.1716
Mobile: 415.672.6460
Fax: 925.953.1710
http://www.marcusmillichap.com/