If you’ve been following sales trends in alternative investments, you’ve likely noticed that sales are down. After reporting sales of $350.9 million in June, nontraded REIT (NTR) sponsors’ monthly total for July fell to $245.8 million – a difference of 30%. Business Development Companies (BDCs), nonlisted Interval Funds, and nonlisted Closed-End Funds were also down…

Investors looking at prospectuses for nontraded REITs (NTRs), Business Development Companies (BDCs), and other alternative investments might see a diagram, organization chart, or other explanation of the entities involved in the offering. But, how can the reader make sense of their roles, especially if some of those entities have the same name or are the…

It looks like there’s yet another reprieve on the final implementation of the Department of Labor (DOL) Fiduciary Rule. After sitting on the back burner while President Trump called for a reassessment of the ruling, the DOL earlier this year said that it wouldn’t start full enforcement until January 1, 2018. Now the date has…

Despite the huge rise and popularity of online shopping, there’s still a need for bricks and mortar stores. According to a recent study, by 2025, the share of online grocery spending could reach 20% of the total market, representing $100 billion in sales. However, as one supermarket executive puts it, “You can’t forsake the 80%…

It’s no secret that Baby Boomers make up a significant portion of the U.S. population. Born between 1946 and 1964, Baby Boomers are now reaching the ages of 53 to 71. As this group continues to age, the number of Americans ages 65 and older is projected to more than double from 46 million today to over…

A Primer on Student Housing July 14, 2017 | by Beth Glavosek | Blue Vault Did you know that student housing is a robust and still-developing sector of real estate? Some real estate operators are acquiring older student housing developments and modernizing them, while others are building brand-new housing that meets the expectations of today’s students.…

A Basic Overview of Commercial Real Estate Leases July 7, 2017 | by Beth Glavosek | Blue Vault Occupancy and tenant relationships are an important part of commercial real estate ownership. The structures of tenant leases can vary, depending upon who is expected to bear certain costs. According to Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) authors, versions…

What are Cap Rates? June 30, 2017 | by Beth Glavosek | Blue Vault If you spend any time around commercial real estate professionals, chances are good that you’ll hear the term ‘cap rate.’ Short for capitalization rate, the term offers a metric for a real estate asset’s performance. Cap rates’ ups and downs are a…

Advisors’ Perspectives: What are the Cons to Alternatives? June 16, 2017 | by Beth Glavosek | Blue Vault We’ve been looking at the pros and cons of nontraded REITs and other alternative investments from advisors’ viewpoints. We heard from several independent Broker Dealer (IBD) sales and marketing executives that alternative investments are showing a lot of…