When people ask me about the health of the local commercial real estate market, they’re usually looking for answers to a black-and-white question: Are we gaining momentum or losing steam? Unfortunately, market conditions are rarely that clear-cut. I think what people really want to know is where our market... Read more

Southwest Florida’s self-storage industry has been on the rise since late 2011 and there’s a new wave of activity in store for 2016. As the residential real estate market improved after the recession, builders’ needs for storage escalated and growth demands were seemingly insatiable. Consequentially, investors saw high potential... Read more

If you haven’t heard the term, “omnichannel fulfillment,” you probably will soon. It refers to the multiple means by which consumers can obtain retail goods. For example, they can buy online for in-store pickup, buy in store and have it delivered, or conduct the entire transaction online. The Retail... Read more

Over the last year or so, Southwest Florida’s real estate market has been heating up, making 2015 a banner year for property owners who wanted to sell during the downturn but couldn’t, even at significantly reduced prices. Today, buyers outnumber sellers, even as real estate prices continue to rise.... Read more

For some landlords, determining which tenant should occupy a space on their rent roll is harder than ever. Although the goals of most landlords are fairly consistent—fill vacancies, increase cash flow, stabilize asset and hope to add overall value — many fail to execute on valuable leases for reasons... Read more

With preliminary 2015 property tax values estimated to rise 5.5% in Lee County and 8.4% in Collier County over 2014, I expect to see an increase in the number of property tax appeals from local property owners. In case you are among them, I have the following top 10... Read more

In Southwest Florida, many of our commercial office buildings are designed with large, private offices built around a cluster of cubicles — the traditional way. But as our economy recovers and the workforce evolves, tenants are demanding a different type of office environment that’s in short supply in our... Read more

Ask Ted Todd about his insurance agency and he’s likely to talk about the importance of good office design, climbing Mt. Fuji or employee health and wellness — basically, anything other than the nuts and bolts of his industry. “It might seem a little silly for a guy who’s... Read more

During its 105 years in business, Mutual of Omaha has become a household name, indelibly identified with the popular TV series, “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom.” Now the insurance industry icon is counting on brand awareness to do the same for its full-service banking subsidiary, Mutual of Omaha Bank.... Read more

As a commercial general contractor, there’s no question that GCG Construction (GCG) has a good name in the industry. Since its establishment as Gulfcoast Consulting Group in 2000, the company has maintained an excellent reputation for the quality and scope of its commercial projects, which range from small tenant... Read more