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Dec. 3-4, 2012. This is the ICSC’s “International Conference and Deal-Making”. So what exactly would the ICSC be? Well, it’s the International Council of Shopping Centers. And these folks dedicate themselves to “serving the Global Retail Real Estate Industry”. And deal-making, of course. This was an event designed for anyone involved in the retail real estate/shopping center industry profession – lawyers, marketing specialists, retailers, owner, brokers, developers, shopping center managers, and government employees. A talking point was Next Generation, a program geared towards challenges, interests and trends in retail real estate. The guiding committee felt there was a need to offer a program which helped new retail real estate professionals enter the business — and the trade association — while also offering continuing education and mentoring. So these folks were, erm, learning to “keep it “real”…?”
Dec. 4-6, 2012. Triple Play is a realtor-related convention and trade expo, and it claimed to be brim-full of Real Experts, Real Connections and Real Success. Keynoters gave us some idea of what topics are currently on the minds of real estate practitioners; topics like “Residential Property – a down and dirty guide”, “Tip-toeing through Fraud and Foreclosure”, “Abandoned Property: Residential & Commercial Tenancies”, “Dealing with Distressed Property Reality”, and one session rather alarmingly titled “Go Forth and Sin No More”. It sure sounds like the real estate industry has been grappling with a few negatives lately. But these sessions were offered to try to turn everything positive again. Sort of a place where “realtors could get real again”…?
Nov. 9-12, 2012. NAR is the National Association of Realtors, and they apparently came to Orlando to “discover their Magic”… as in Kingdom, we assume. “Homeownership matters”, we heard, and five “Realtor Heroes” who showed devotion to the dream of homeownership were honored at NAR. One of those heroes was already in her home state of Florida: Tampa’s Connie Johnson, a realtor with Coldwell Banker Real Estate. Johnson had devoted herself to helping both people and pets. As 2009 President of Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay (RTTB), she led an organization that repairs homes for people in need. RTTB typically remodels or rebuilds some 30 homes a year, but Johnson ramped up work during her tenure and remodeled 72 homes. ”“Realtors work tirelessly to improve the quality of life for people in their communities, whether it’s through homeownership or other acts of kindness and generosity” said the prize speech. Sounds like magic was indeed discovered…
Oct. 7-11, 2012. REISA is the Real Estate Investment Securities Association, and it purports to be the leading alternative investments association providing education and advocacy for the property industry. It claims to influence 20,000 professionals who offer and manage alternative investments. These typically include non-traded REITs, real estate partnerships, real estate income and development funds, tenant-in-common interests and the like. Over 800 attendees came for the educational tracks, breakout sessions, roundtable discussions, keynote speakers and discussions with their fellow property professionals. This gathering was not just about Real Estate Securities. Also in attendance were oil and gas interests, banking, equipment and other sectors, all on hand conducting or taking in presentations and demonstrations. Real-estaters “keeping it real”, you might say….
June 28-30, 2012. NAAE is the National Apartment Association Education Conference and Exposition, purportedly the largest event in the multifamily housing industry. The National Apartment Association (NAA) is America’s leading advocate for quality rental housing. NAA’s mission is to serve the interests of multifamily housing owners, managers, developers and suppliers. This event brought together more than 6,000 attendees who attended education sessions to enhance their professional development, build partnerships, and meet with more than 325 suppliers to see firsthand the latest technology and trends in this sector of the construction and real estate industry. Y’know, we always wondered, why is it called the “real estate” industry? Is this to distinguish it from the, er, phoney estate industry? And would that have anything to do with subprime mortgage lending? Just askin’….
June 24-26, 2012. The Building Owners and Managers Association of Seattle is a professional trade association with several hundred members from over 250 firms, who either own or manage commercial real estate, or provide goods and services to the industry. Established as long ago as 1912, (when William Howard Taft was president and the First World War was still undreamed of), BOMA has established itself as the local voice of the Office Building and Commercial Real Estate Industry. Its mission is to actively represent the best interests of Seattle’s commercial real estate owner, the real estate professional, and industry service providers, through effective leadership and advocacy, the collection and dissemination of information, and the professional development and accreditation of the real estate professional. Something to build on, we’d guess….
May 20-23, 2012. ReCon is the Global Retail Real Estate Convention, and delegates to the show heard that what these folks are into is “building networks”, which is what you saw everyone doing in the so-called Leasing Mall, or convention floor. This is the big meet for the shopping center industry, and provides exhibition, deal-making and educational opportunities for retail real estate professionals from around the world. With over 30,000 attendees and 1,000 exhibitors, it is the largest industry convention of its kind, we heard. Realtors, shopping center owners and managers got to meet up with retailers to discuss new or existing leases in retail centers around the country. Kind of like a shopping mall for shopping malls…
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