CRE Market Draws New Players

Written By: Jennifer Brenner

The current flux in the commercial real estate market is drawing in a new set of players trying to capitalize on the low prices and lack of available financing in the market, says Michael Verma, senior account executive with ARGUS Software.

Verma, who has trained, consulted and managed the accounts of the globe’s top real estate firm’s for the past seven years, says he sees more securities players and private equity types such as high net worth individuals entering the commercial real estate market for the first time due to the unprecedented opportunities created by the recent market collapse.

“ARGUS sales have always been a good indicator of transaction trends as we are the first to hear from new prospective investors,” comments Verma. Verma has been the top ARGUS account executive for the past three years.

“These alternative investors have access to equity, while the traditional CRE buyers are struggling to find funding. This trend creates a negotiable space for those who previously may have shied away from the competitive transaction market of the past five years,” he adds.

Verma also is seeing a marked acceleration of development and acquisition activity within the multifamily market.

“We are working with these developers on real deals that are being driven by the difficulty for consumers to obtain loans in the single-family market,” notes Verma. Overall Verma sees an uptick in general market activity and optimism regarding the economy.