Retail sales jumped in November as U.S. shoppers ramped up their spending as the crucial holiday season began.

The question is not “if?” but “when?” blockchain technology will be available to investors in commercial real estate.

Zuk Financial Group, a Lake Forest, Calif.-based hybrid that oversaw $1.6 billion in client assets while affiliated with National Planning Corp., has decided to remain with that firm's new owner, LPL Financial.

According to Marcus & Millichap’s First V.P. for Research Services John Chang, here is an Executive Summary of the key components of the House and Senate tax reform bills which may impact CRE investment, followed by some specific interpretations of potential impacts:

Several factors, including consolidation in the independent advice industry and PE's own growing mountain of cash, are fueling the zeal to invest

In the financial services industry where pretty much everything you’re “allowed” to do is strictly regulated, achieving great marketing becomes even more of a challenge.

“Investors are looking to engage in secondary and tertiary markets, where they see increasing opportunity," says Jeff Lee with Capital One Multifamily Finance.

The House and Senate tax bills appear to benefit businesses in general, but one sector that may be the biggest winner is real estate.

"...Bluerock attributed much of its total revenue growth to the past year's significant investment activity and pointed to this year's sale of four properties as an offsetting factor.”