Real estate investment trusts offer investing alternative June 20, 2017 | by TIM GRANT | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  The average investor isn’t going to buy into a shopping mall or an apartment building. But investing in real estate can be a useful way to diversify a portfolio. That’s why, especially when interest rates are low, fixed-income investors…

Brian Block's lawyer portrays prosecution witness as a liar Lisa McAlister acknowledges she has lied before, but asserts she's telling the truth now June 21, 2017 | by  Bruce Kelly | InvestmentNews.com The defense for Brian Block hit back Tuesday at a key witness in the government's securities fraud case against the former real estate executive, portraying…

Non-Traded REITs: Go Mainstream or Die Fundraising for the sector fell in 2016 due to the combination of impending regulatory changes and lackluster performance, notes Yardi Matrix Associate Director of Research Paul Fiorilla. The sector must continue to lower fees and improve liquidity to attract new investors. June 21, 2017 | by Paul Fiorilla | Commercial…

Brian Block trial witness says Nicholas Schorsch had hand in cooking the books at ARCP Lisa McAlister, former chief accounting officer at the REIT once controlled by Nicholas Schorsch, said Mr. Schorsch instructed Mr. Block to obfuscate accounting fraud in a particular financial line item June 20, 2017 | by Greg Iacurci | InvestmentNews.com A key…

This Is How a 1031 Exchange Helps You Build Wealth The IRS provision increases your real estate purchasing power, but first you have to master the rules. June 5, 2017 | by Kayleigh Kulp | U.S. News Byron Smith Sr. has been investing in real estate for nearly 40 years, building wealth by using a 1031 exchange…

Blackstone may near $1bn for new non-traded REIT June 17, 2017 | Gulf Times Blackstone Group expects to reach the $1bn mark for its first non-traded Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) by the end of the month, people with knowledge of the matter said. The asset manager had gathered $875mn from more than 6,500 investors…

New Nevada law imposes fiduciary duty on brokers The measure, effective July 1, requires advisers to disclose any "profit or commission" they receive and make a "diligent inquiry" about a client's financial condition and goals June 16, 2017 | by Mark Schoeff Jr. | InvestmentNews.com Brokers in Nevada will have to meet a fiduciary standard when providing…

Healthcare Trust, Inc. to Acquire American Realty Capital Healthcare Trust III, Inc. Portfolio for Approximately $120 Million June 19, 2017 | Healthcare Trust, Inc.   NEW YORK, June 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Healthcare Trust, Inc. (the "Company") announced today that the special committee of the board of directors unanimously approved the acquisition of substantially all of the…

Another Rate Hike Causes Little Concern in CRE Circles The move is unlikely to change conditions in the commercial real estate sector, according to industry insiders. June 14, 2017 | by Elaine Misonzhnik | National Real Estate Investor As has been widely expected, the Federal Reserve raised its target interest rate by 25 basis points on Wednesday,…