Silver Portal to launch blockchain-based real estate trading platform July 27, 2017 | Loretta Clodfelter | irei.com Blockchain may be the hottest buzzword in finance right now. Also known as distributed ledger technology, it is the structure underlying cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ether. But the technology has much wider applications in the world of finance.…

Finra promotes Susan Schroeder to head unified enforcement effort Ms. Schroeder had been serving as head of enforcement since the departure of Brad Bennett earlier this year July 26, 2017 | InvestmentNews.com The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. has promoted Susan Schroeder to executive vice president and head of enforcement. She had been serving as…

Apt. Rent Growth Breaks Slowdown Streak June’s nationwide increase marked the first time since early 2016 in which the rate of year-over-year growth increased from the prior month, says Yardi Matrix. July 27, 2017 | PAUL BUBNY | GlobeSt.com SANTA BARBARA, CA—After decelerating for more than a year, US multifamily rents stepped on the gas in June,…

New Trophy Apartments Filling A Void Gateway cities are seeing a boom in class A apartment construction, but secondary metros also have some vibrant areas that can support new trophy properties.  July 19, 2017 | BRIAN J. ROGAL | GlobeSt.com ST. LOUIS—Cities like Chicago have recently seen thousands of sleek new apartment units pop up near their…

Investment Property Tax Statute Helps Grow U.S. Economy, Build Communities July 27, 2017 | ANTHONY CHERESO  For the first time in more than three decades, Washington is set to tackle a comprehensive overhaul of the U.S. tax code. If accomplished, American companies will have a competitive advantage with lower corporate tax rates, in addition to providing…

Real Estate Cycle Remains in Growth Phase, Professor Says July 20, 2017 | Reit.com Glenn Mueller, professor at the Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management at the University of Denver, joined REIT.com for a video interview at REITWeek 2017: NAREIT’s Investor Forum at the New York Hilton Midtown. Mueller said he considers the real estate…

Transactions Slow In Still Active US Market Uncertainty at the start of the year helped cause a lull, but the uncertainty has faded, and acquisition pipelines are filling up. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="620"] This Indianapolis industrial property recently hit the market. Secondary cities like this are increasingly popular, and industrial is the hottest sector.[/caption]  …

BACK-TO-SCHOOL AND BACK-TO-COLLEGE SPENDING TO REACH $83.6 BILLION July 13, 2017 | Ana Serafin Smith | NRF.com WASHINGTON – With consumer confidence rising and more young people in school, back-to-college spending is expected to hit an all-time high this year while back-to-school spending is expected to see its second-highest spending level on record, according to the National…

Which REIT Sector is Most Undervalued? July 18, 2017 | By Brad Case | Reit.com I’ve noted in other recent market commentaries that exchange-traded REITs seem to be undervalued, in the sense that multiple valuation metrics that have historically been reliable predictors of future total returns are in distinctly bullish ranges.  For example, if the historical relationship between…