To keep things moving in CRE, marketing has to be targeted and relevant. That means knowing the customer and understanding their priorities. Studying market trends and the characteristics of in-demand properties is a useful practice for tuning in to the investor in your marketing strategies.

In the United States —and throughout the world— many cities are home to vacant or abandoned industrial properties that once stood as symbols of industrial prosperity. No longer useful for their original purpose, they often sit frozen in time. But, these buildings are highly adaptable. They were built to house large-scale machinery and processing systems, thousands of workers, and unparalleled storage. They provide vast spaces —a blank slate waiting for its next adventure.

The office space your company inhabits is a critical factor in its success. It has an impact on employee productivity and job satisfaction, creates initial impressions on clients and partners, and contributes significantly to the company culture.

Even if you’re fascinated by the huge variety of digital tools we have available in CRE, it can be hard to keep up with all of the trends and developments. There has been a deep change in the industry in recent years, thanks to new technology that makes us more effective and efficient. Digital tools facilitate everything from marketing to project management, and new ideas are constantly being stirred into the mix.

The retail sector has seen its ups and downs in many ways, particularly with the closing of anchor stores dragging down retailers in many markets. It’s holding back rent growth and calling for some creative approaches to keep established companies afloat.

The workplace may be getting a clear idea of what makes millennials tick, but employers and the office sector can’t stop there. The next generation of workers, named Generation Z, has topped the horizon and is beginning to make itself known in the workforce.

The office sector continues to perform well in urban markets overall, but it’s specifically hot in cities where technology is fueling job growth. In those markets, demand is high, new developments are springing up, and rents are soaring.

Today’s CRE professionals literally carry their office in their pocket. Thanks to cloud technology they can have access to virtually any document, anytime, anywhere.  Thanks to the cloud, real estate is becoming a digital service.

On an island that’s 99% developed, where can you go but up? The answer is obvious: Down. With space become ever tighter and more costly in Manhattan, the idea of using so-called “lower-level” space is catching on in a big way.

The market for office space is competitive and complex. Potential tenants have requirements in mind for location, square footage, energy efficiency and other property features. A very visible and critical element is the amenities offered in a space. This has gained importance in the past decade, and is essential in any premium office space.

For the last several years, the big news in commercial office space has been the dominance of technology-related firms. Their demand for space –particularly in urban properties near city amenities -has helped to spur rent growth in major markets. Office leasing by technology firms is the fastest-growing segment of the office market, accounting for 20% of U.S. office leasing activity in the past year.

According to data from Pew Research, this year for the first time, there will be more Millennials than Baby Boomers in the U.S. The Census Bureau predicts that they’ll outnumber the Boomers by almost half a million, and the difference will only grow as the years go on. Millennials make up the generation born roughly between 1980 and 2000, and their lifestyle preferences are having a big impact on commercial real estate.