Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Stirling Commercial Group Merges With Stirling Sotheby's International Realty


LAKE MARY, Fla. – Stirling Commercial Group, a commercial real estate services company formed in 1989, has joined forces with Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, the luxury home specialist that is part of the largest luxury real estate brand in the world.

Roger Soderstrom,(top right photo) founder and owner of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, also founded Stirling Commercial Group.

“When Stirling International Realty joined the Sotheby’s International Realty network in January of 2006, Sotheby’s was not positioned to include commercial real estate services companies,” Soderstrom explained.

What happened in the meantime is the globalization of commercial realty.

“Today there is a strong global demand for high quality commercial properties in Florida, and Sotheby’s has now opened its brand and its global network to present commercial properties to foreign buyers who have a strong interest in buying income-producing properties and investments,” he said.

Sotheby’s International Realty is the world’s most popular luxury real estate brand, Soderstorm said.

“Stirling Sotheby’s has been receiving requests from commercial clients who want to list their properties with Stirling Sotheby’s to increase their global exposure,” Soderstrom said.

“In today’s market we need to be global and we need to create new services for our clients,” Soderstrom said.

“When the market is slow in Florida, market demand worldwide adds a tremendous element to commercial values,” he added.

For more information, please contact

Roger Soderstrom, Owner/Founder Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty 407-588-1260

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142

NAI Realvest negotiates industrial lease of 4,200 SF at Soldiers Creek Business Center

ORLANDO, FL. – NAI Realvest has negotiated an industrial lease for 4,200 square feet at Soldiers Creek Business Center, (photo at left) 2120 Ronald Reagan Blvd. in Longwood.

Michael Heidrich, (top right photo) principal at NAI Realvest negotiated the lease agreement representing the landlord, Landworks Group, LC of Sanford

Madison, Wisconsin-based Cascade Asset Management LLC is the new tenant who leased suites 1100 and 1104 at the center. Forest Askew of Colliers Arnold represented the tenant.

For more information, please contact:

Michael Heidrich, Principal, NAI Realvest, 407-875-9989 mheidrich@realvest.com

Janice Paiano, Director of Marketing, NAI Realvest 407-875-9989 jpaiano@realvest.com;

Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

Hotel Brokers International Completes 22 Transactions in 2008 Second Quarter; 43 in First Half

Price Per Hotel Up Significantly



(Photos of HBI featured properties on left side, from top, are South Carolina, 170 rooms; Virginia, 124 rooms; Minnesota, 32 rooms; Arkansas, 79 rooms. On the right side, from top, are Indiana, 66 rooms, Ohio 64 rooms, Connecticut, 104 rooms and Florida 200 rooms.)


KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 29, 2008—Hotel Brokers International (HBI), the nation’s largest hotel brokerage organization with more than 30 offices from coast to coast, today announced that its members sold 22 hotels in the 2008 second quarter, up from 20 properties in the same period a year earlier, for a total of 43 transactions in the first half.


Total transaction volume in dollars rose by more than 52 percent for the second quarter and was up 30 percent for the 2008 first half. Average price per room increased 11 percent for the second quarter and 41 percent for first half, compared to the 2007 first quarter and first six months, respectively.

Concurrently, HBI said that its TransActions Data Services Division recorded a total of 206 hotels sold in the 2008 first half for an aggregate $4.58 billion, down significantly from 486 hotels sold for more than $15.7 million in the first six months of 2007. HBI’s TransActions Data Services Division tracks all publicly announced sales across the nation.

“Larger transactions, those of more than $10 million, have declined significantly, with only 73 deals above that amount reported in the first half, compared to 258 in the same period last year,” said H. Brandt Niehaus,(top right photo) CHB, president of HBI and Louisville-based Huff, Niehaus & Associates, Inc.


“Mid-market hotel transactions have declined, but there still is a lot of active trading taking place, especially in the $10 million and under range. HBI has not seen the sharp declines experienced by the hotel brokerage community as a whole.


" We are seeing a lot of brokers who traditionally don’t deal in or have experience in transactions of under $10 million now seeking listings in this category. That, probably more than anything, describes the current ‘big-box’ hotels market. Fortunately, we have seen minimal impact on our business.”

Capitalization rates for the 2008 first half rose to 10.2 percent from 9.3 percent in last year’s first half.


Niehaus says, “Any time there is a significant shift in the economy, the expectations gap between buyer and seller widens. The buyer is looking ahead at the economy for his pricing and the seller is looking at the past year. Currently, there is about a 50 to 100 basis point spread between buyers and sellers.

“While it may sound self-serving, buyers and sellers need brokers more than ever in today’s market,” he noted. “A third party can build the necessary bridges and find creative ways to get deals done.”

Transactions are taking about 30 to 60 days longer to complete than a year ago, as lenders are requiring more due diligence.


“Equity requirements generally have increased from a range of 15 to 20 percent in early 2007 to 25 to 35 percent today. However, SBA loans under $10 million are still available with as little as 20 percent equity. Personal guarantees also are becoming a factor. Nonetheless, financing remains available at historically attractive rates. HBI brokers are playing a larger role in helping to identify funding sources and in putting the packages together.”

About HBI

Hotel Brokers International, with more than 100 hotel brokerage specialists, is the world’s leading hotel sales organization. The organization annually accounts for the greatest market share of mid-market transactions in the United States.

In addition to the Hotel Investor’s Marketplace, HBI sponsors the Certified Hotel Broker program and publishes TransActions Recap, the leading source of hotel real estate sales data.
HBI currently has more than 150 properties listed for sale in its proprietary database and access to more than 15,000 hotel investors and owners.

In addition to broker services, HBI offers affiliate membership to professionals in allied fields, including franchising, lending, appraisals and investment services.

For more information about HBI’s hotel listings or to become a broker or affiliate member, HBI may be reached at (816) 505-4315 or via the Internet at http://www.hbihotels.com/.
CONTACTS:

Julie Tullbane, Daly Gray Public Relations, T 703-435-6293, F 703-435-6297, julie@dalygray.com

Glenda Webb, Hotel Brokers International (816) 505-4315

Melanie Boyer, Daly Gray Public Relations, 703) 435-6293

Cushman & Wakefield Negotiates Sale of Corporate Oaks and Centerpointe for $47.3M


TAMPA, FL-– Cushman & Wakefield negotiated the sale of Corporate Oaks (photo at left) and Centerpointe (top right photo) in Tampa, Florida for $47.3 million. This represents Central Florida’s largest office sale this year.

The property was 92 percent occupied at the time of the sale. The two buildings combined total 350,232 rentable square feet.


Executive Director Mike Davis (Capital Markets) and Associate Director Rick Brugge, CCIM (Capital Markets) negotiated the sale on behalf of the seller, USAA Real Estate Company. The buyer was TA Associates

Mr. Davis was quoted as saying, “This is indicative that buyers remain bullish about commercial properties in the Tampa Bay area.”

.Contact: Debbie P’Simer
813-204-5333
debbie.p’simer@cushwake.com

Marcus & Millichap Names Three New Senior Vice Presidents


MARCUS & MILLICHAP PROMOTES DAVID J. DEMATTEIS TO SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT INVESTMENTS IN PALO ALTO OFFICE

PALO ALTO, CA — Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services, the nation’s largest real estate investment services firm, has named David J. Dematteis (top right photo) to senior vice president investments in the Palo Alto office, according to regional manager Steven J. Seligman. (top left photo)

“David has earned a reputation as one of the most knowledgeable investment specialists in the nation,” says Seligman. “He is a consummate professional, continually striving to expand his knowledge and expertise. Dematteis’ focus on client services has earned him a high degree of loyalty and respect from investors as well as his peers.”

Dematteis joined Marcus & Millichap 25 years ago, specializing in the multi-family market. He was inducted into the firm’s prestigious Chairman’s Club in 2005 and the Seven-Figure Club in 1988. Also in 1988, he was honored as the No. 5 agent in the firm. He has received six National Achievement Awards and 19 annual Sales Recognition Awards.

Dematteis earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California, Berkeley in business administration.

MARCUS & MILLICHAP PROMOTES EARLE J. HYMAN TO
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT INVESTMENTS IN ENCINO OFFICE

ENCINO, CA— Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services, the nation’s largest real estate investment services firm, has named Earle J. Hyman (photo at left) to senior vice president investments in the Encino office, according Mitchell R. LaBar,(middle right photo) managing director and regional manager of the firm’s Encino office.

“Earle has earned a reputation as one of the most knowledgeable investment specialists in the nation,” says LaBar. “He is a consummate professional, continually striving to expand his knowledge and
expertise. Earle’s focus on client services has earned him a high degree of loyalty and respect from investors as well as his peers.”

Hyman began his career with Marcus & Millichap 21 years ago, specializing in multi-family properties. He serves as a director of the firm’s National Multi Housing Group. He has won 11 National Achievement Awards and 20 Sales Recognition Awards. Hyman was inducted into the prestigious Seven-Figure Club in 1994.

Hyman earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.

MARCUS & MILLICHAP PROMOTES NICHOLAS SCELSA TO SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT INVESTMENTS IN SACRAMENTO OFFICE

SACRAMENTO, CA— Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services, the nation’s largest real estate investment services firm, has named Nicholas Scelsa (photo at right) to senior vice president investments in the Sacramento office, according to regional manager Robert Hicks.

“Nicholas has earned a reputation as one of the most knowledgeable investment specialists in the nation,” says Hicks. “He is a consummate professional, continually striving to expand his knowledge and expertise. Nicholas’ focus on client services has earned him a high degree of loyalty and respect from investors as well as his peers.”

Scelsa began his career with Marcus & Millichap 23 years ago, specializing in retail properties. He has been inducted into the firm’s prestigious Chairman’s Club twice and the Seven-Figure Club in 1995. He has earned 10 National Achievement Awards and 14 Sales Recognition Awards.

Scelsa graduated from Columbia University School of Law.

Press Contact: Stacey Corso
Communications Department
(925) 953-1716

Monday, July 28, 2008

Sawbuck Realty Wins Most Innovative Brokerage Award From Inman News Service

Start-up Company Cited for Innovative Business Model

(Steve Barnes, left and Guy Wolcott, right, co-founders of Sawbuck Realty)

SAN FRANCISCO, July 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Sawbuck Realty (www.sawbuckrealty.com) was named the Most Innovative Brokerage of 2008 by Inman News Service at its Real Estate Connect Conference.

The prestigious Inman Innovator Awards honor forward-thinking technologies, Web services, business models and innovators in online real estate, brokerage and media companies.

The Washington, D.C.-based company was cited for its business model that connects buyers to top local agents while saving them money via low-cost mortgages and settlement services.

Finalists for this year's brokerage award included Chase International, Diamond Dwellings, Russ Lyon Sotheby's International Realty, and Redfin.

Past winners include Coldwell Banker, ReMax, and Century 21.

The brokerage award honors companies that demonstrate extraordinary levels of innovation through the use of technology or the Internet; that enhance the real estate transaction for consumers; that positively impact the real estate industry; and that redefine key business models within the market.

"We're extremely honored to receive the real estate industry's most prestigious award for innovation just six months after our launch. We set out to make buying or selling a home simpler and less expensive. This recognition by industry leaders tells us that we are on the right track with our pro-consumer approach," said Guy Wolcott, (top right photo) Sawbuck co-founder, who accepted the award at the conference.

Wolcott also participated in a panel during the conference where he discussed how Sawbuck matches buyers with outstanding real estate agents.

Unique among online real estate companies, Sawbuck combines sophisticated home search technology with personal service and access to the best local buyer's agents, while also offering tremendous savings.

Buyers save over $4,500 at closing plus hundreds of dollars every year with a below-market mortgage rate.

Other Winners
Other winners of this year's Inman Innovator Awards are Bob Hale, (bottom left photo) president and CEO for the Houston Association of Realtors (Innovator of the Year), Estately (Most Innovative Web Service), Roost (Most Innovative Technology), Agent Genius (Most Innovative Blog) and Frontdoor (Most Innovative Web Site).

About Sawbuck Realty

Sawbuck Realty (www.sawbuckrealty.com) is a web-based real estate broker headquartered in Washington, DC. Sawbuck's unique business model: empowers buyers with the best search tools, technology and information; connects buyers with the very best local agents; gives buyers a below-market mortgage with no closing costs; and negotiates the lowest possible settlement costs for buyers.

Sawbuck and its network of real estate agent partners currently serve the Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC markets. The company plans to expand to other market areas, including Baltimore, Philadelphia and Chicago.

CONTACT:

Stephen Cook of Sawbuck Realty, +1-202-257 3652,

GVA Advantis Presents Second-Quarter Report on Metro Orlando's Office and Industrial Markets

(Aerial photo above of Orlando's business section with Lake Eola in foreground.)

ORLANDO, FL--GVA Advantis presents its second-quarter reports on Metro Orlando's office and industrial markets.

Metro Orlando’s overall office vacancy rate climbed to 15.3% from 14.5% in the first quarter.

Predictably, effective rent suffered, losing $0.39 PSF over the first quarter. Net absorption took a big hit, landing at (372,251 SF). This is on top of the first quarter’s loss of (170,649 SF).

Eleven of the 12 submarkets measured, the exception being Northwest Orlando, suffered net absorption losses. About half the submarkets ended the quarter with a decrease in sublet space available.

Whereas Downtown Orlando’s average rental rate in the first quarter of 2008 was up over $1 PSF from the year end, it has dropped beneath that year-end level to a more manageable average of $25.54. This can be viewed as a positive reaction to headlines announcing that Florida has endured some of the country’s worst job losses, along with Arizona, California and Nevada, among others.

Market Close Up

· $24.38 Class A overall average asking lease rate on direct vacant space in Orlando

· 1.4 million Total square feet of 15,000 SF+ office space currently under construction

· 44,744 Fewer square feet available for subleasing in the Altamonte Springs/Longwood submarket over 1Q08

· 536 Number of office buildings at 15,000 SF+ being tracked in Orlando’s 12 submarkets

· $130.06 Average price per square foot paid for six Orlando area office properties sold during 2Q08

Industrial Market Highlights

For the quarter, Metro Orlando’s overall industrial vacancy rate climbed to 9.2%, up from 8.0% in the first quarter. Interestingly, effective rent increased approximately $0.29 psf over the first quarter.

Net absorption suffered, however, ending the quarter at (436,886) SF. This is on top of the first quarter’s loss of (267,110) SF. Flex space is experiencing the most substantial vacancy with double-digit availability percentages in all submarkets but one – Orlando Central Park, which is enjoying a low 4.4% vacancy rate.

In what could be an example of the housing market’s detrimental effect on commercial properties, the Airport/Southeast submarket lost a major tenant in Ashley Furniture, (middle right photo) which vacated a 350,000 SF warehouse in April.

The loss of that one tenant resulted in a 3.8% sublet vacancy rate in the bulk warehouse sector of that submarket. Ashley now occupies a much smaller warehouse space in Brandon, Fla., and in early 2007, purchased adjacent land on which to build more space, but ground has not yet broken.

Market Close Up

· $6.81 Overall average asking lease rate on vacant industrial space in Orlando

· 719,000 Total square feet of 20,000sf+ industrial space currently under construction

· 593,463 Increase over 1Q08 in square footage available for subleasing in all 11 submarkets over 1Q08, a 125% increase largely due to one vacating tenant

· 1,254 Number of industrial buildings at 20,000sf+ being tracked in Orlando’s 11 submarkets
$89.32 Average price per square foot paid for seven Orlando area industrial properties sold during 2Q08
For a complete copy of the Office and Industrial Reports, please contact

Shelli H. Browning
Director of Research and Marketing
Advantis Real Estate Services Company
255 South Orange Avenue, Suite 750
Orlando, FL 32801
Office 407.849.6600Direct 407.999.4775
Fax 407.849-6010
E-mail sbrowning@gvaadvantis.com
http://www.gvaadvantis.com/

Cousins Announces New Leases at One Ninety One Peachtree

Deloitte expansion and Winter lease bring landmark Atlanta building to 88 percent leased

ATLANTA, GA--Cousins Properties Incorporated (NYSE:CUZ) has signed new or expanded leases totaling more than 75,000 square feet at One Ninety One Peachtree Tower (top right photo) , a landmark 1.2-million-square-foot office building in downtown Atlanta.

Deloitte, which signed a 260,000-square-foot renewal and expansion at One Ninety One earlier this year, has leased two additional floors totaling approximately 52,000 square feet.

In addition, Atlanta-based Winter Construction has signed at the building, leasing a full floor totaling approximately 25,000 square feet. Winter is relocating to One Ninety One from 1330 Spring Street in Midtown, joining Cooper Carry, Ogletree Deakins, Grey Global and othercompanies who have moved downtown to One Ninety One from Midtown orBuckhead.

"Winter and Deloitte are great companies that we've been fortunate to have long-term relationships with and we thank them for their commitments to One Ninety One," said Tom Bell,(middle left photo) Chairman and CEO ofCousins.

"Even as the economy has become more challenging, we are pleased to see good leasing momentum at One Ninety One and remainc onfident that companies will continue to see the benefits of downtown Atlanta."

Don Finkelstein of Finkelstein Associates represented Deloitte and Richard Bowers and Jim Davenport of Richard Bowers & Co. represented Winter in the transactions.

Since acquiring One Ninety One, Cousins has now signed more than 765,000 square feet in new leases to tenants including Il Mulino,Synergy Workplaces, HOK Group, Atlanta Equity Investors, Harold A.Dawson Company, Morgan & Morgan, Grey Global, Cooper Carry, Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart P.C., Merchant & Gould, Fields, Howell,Athans & McLaughlin and Cousins Properties.

CONTACTS:

Investment Community: Jim Fleming, Chief Financial Officer, 404-407-1150 jimfleming@cousinsproperties.com or

Media: Matt Gove, Senior Vice President, 404-407-1490 mattgove@cousinsproperties.com

CB Richard Ellis Named Exclusive Sales Agent for 432-Unit Apartment Community in Jacksonville, FL


JACKSONVILLE, FL - CB Richard Ellis, the world's leading commercial real estate services provider, has been named the exclusive sales agent for Silver Springs Apartments (top right photo) located at 3737 St. John's Bluff Road in Jacksonville, Fla.
The 432-unit community encompasses 361,372 sq. ft and is situated on approximately 21.1 acres.

Dan Allen, Vice Chairman, Dhaval Patel, financial analyst, Grant Momberg, sales assistant and Trip Gillander, sales assistant, have been retained to exclusively represent the owner of the residential community, Equity Residential.

"Silver Springs is within minutes of Jacksonville's job-generating Butler-Baymeadows Corridor, which contains more than 15 million sq. ft. of office space and 50,000-plus jobs providing a deep pool of residents," said Allen. "By making interior capital improvements and possibly converting some buildings to student housing, we estimate rents could improve by $150 per unit, providing an excellent income opportunity for investors."

Built in 1985, •Silver Springs Apartments is positioned between St. Johns Bluff Road and Highway 9-A, approximately six miles southeast of downtown Jacksonville within the city's booming Butler-Baymeadows Corridor.
For more information about this investment opportunity, please visit: http://cbremarketing.com/silversprings

MEDIA CONTACT:
Rebecca Thomas
305.381.6485

Savills Ranked Fourth Largest Real Estate Company in the World

NEW YORK, NY -- July 28, 2008: Savills, an international real estate services company with its American headquarters in New York, has been ranked the world’s fourth-largest real estate firm based on a new global analysis of industry leader revenues.

The ranking appeared in an annual survey of world real estate leaders in the July 12 issue of Estates Gazette, one of the UK’s most widely read commercial real estate publications.

“Cross-border transactions play a critical role in today’s real estate investment market,” said Savills LLC president and CEO John D. Lyons (top right photo) . “This high worldwide ranking demonstrates Savills’ extraordinary global reach. With an experienced professional team who understands capital markets, Savills’ US headquarters in New York has rapidly emerged as a key crossroads for international investment.”

The survey –comparing 2007 revenues of the world’s largest real estate services firms -- found that Savills had risen to number four from number five last year. Savills achieved 2007 revenues of $1.02 billion. The firm has 171 offices with more than 18,000 staff worldwide.

In New York, Savills LLC recently advised a private Irish investor in the acquisition of a portfolio 47 Citibank properties valued at approximately $90 million. The deal represents one of 2008’s largest portfolio transactions in the region.

“This result reflects our global growth having moved into the US, and expanded teams in Europe and Asia over the past year,” said Jeremy Helsby, (top left photo) CEO of Savills Plc. “This international reach will enable us to maximize opportunities in the current challenging economic market.”

Savills LLC – formerly known as Savills Granite – recently expanded its New York headquarters into the entire 36th floor of 599 Lexington Avenue.

About Savills LLC

Savills LLC is a real estate investment banking firm offering investment sales, debt and equity placement, and advisory services. Its professionals have executed more than $21 billion in real estate transactions throughout their careers spanning the full range of property types, including office, medical office, retail, multifamily, industrial and hotels. Parent company Savills Plc is a global real estate services firm with 171 offices and more than 18,000 staff worldwide. The company, established in 1855, has a rich heritage with unrivalled growth.

Media contacts:

The Marino Organization 212 889 0808
Steve Vitoff - steve@themarino.org - x112
Parke Chapman - parke@themarino.org - x170