We've discussed trends in median prices and Case-Shiller as well as IHS Global Insight's view that Las Vegas is the most undervalued large metro area but fundamentally, where are Las Vegas home prices? While fundamental values are unobservable, we can use proxy indicators such as the price-to-rent ratio. One can think of this like a price/dividend ratio in stocks. As the exhibit below demonstrates, the recent price/rent ratio is far below the baseline, which we've established based on the 2001-2002 years be... read more

Ernst & Young recently released its Global Real Estate Investment Trust Report 2010: Against all odds. For U.S REITs, the report notes several key components that factor into their outlook. Firstly, after a horrible 2008 and a choppy 2009, REITs have been able to raise significant capital, mostly through the sale of shares. Another aspect of this sector is deleveraging, although many REITs still have significant debt. I would guess that many of these REITs will have to pay down some more of this debt befor... read more

Today there was an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal regarding possible strengthening in mark-to-market rules. Banks have often been opposed to these rules because they are forced to write down values in times when they believe markets to be irrational, when investors flee a market based on fear. Conversely, banks may be holding loans at artificially high-values. Investors are tired of this, knowing that banks are holding some loans in la la land and are not moving forward in moving these loans and ult... read more

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CIRE Magazine recently did a Q & A with Ron Opfer, Director of Special Asset Solutions at Coldwell Banker Premier Realty and a recipient of ESRI's CCIM grant. Opfer discusses our use of ESRI's arcmap software as well as our data collection efforts. We present this information graphically so that bank clients can fully understand the economic and property landscape surrounding the assets that they hold. Click here to read the article.  ... read more