Seven REITs have been named as 2014 Green Lease Leaders by a new program that recognizes property owners, tenants and brokers who are effectively using leases to save energy in commercial buildings.
Seven REITs Named as 2014 Green Lease Leaders
Fundamentally Speaking: Encouraging Signs in Apartment, Office Sectors
In the latest edition of Fundamentally Speaking, Calvin Schnure, NAREIT’s vice president of research and industry information, discussed some encouraging trends in the office and apartment sectors during the first quarter of 2014.
Schnure noted that the apartment sector witnessed another decline in vacancy rates in the first quarter, reaching a new low for the cycle. The office sector also saw some improvement in vacancy rates, although rates are still several percentage points above what would be considered “normal” in a healthy market, he said.
Quick Study: April a Strong Month for REITs
In the latest edition of Quick Study, Brad Case, NAREIT’s senior vice president for research and industry information, offered an analysis of how the REIT market performed in April and what has driven REIT performance so far in 2014.
Goodwin Procter Lawyer Says Shareholder Activism Uncommon for REITs
Viewpoint: Rise of Female Leaders a Boon to Real Estate Business
The commercial real estate industry has experienced a fundamental shift in recent years as more women than ever are pursuing career paths within the field that have the potential to lead to a seat in the boardroom.
REITs Up Nearly 3 Percent in April, Beating Broader Market
REITs showed renewed vigor in April as the FTSE NAREIT All REIT Index posted total returns of 2.9 percent and outpaced the 0.7 percent return for the S&P 500 Index. April’s advances were an improvement on the 0.3 percent return that REITs had in March.
REIT advances in April followed a solid showing in the first quarter of 2014, when gains for the FTSE NAREIT All REITs Index stood at 8.6 percent.
Practitioners See Long-Term Benefits from FINRA Proposals for PNLRs
Public, non-listed REITs (PNLR) would realize additional long-term growth from proposed regulations that would increase their disclosures of fees and commissions paid to brokers, according to real estate industry practitioners.
Consultant Says Social Media Use Growing Among REITs
Evan Urbania, CEO of ChatterBlast Media, joined REIT.com for a video interview during REITWise 2014: NAREIT’s Law, Accounting and Finance Conference held in Boca Raton, Fla.
Urbania’s company advises clients on how to best utilize social media. He was asked for his assessment of REITs’ incorporation of social media platforms.
Post Properties Tax Director Highlights Importance of Documentation
Kate Mason, senior vice president for taxation at Post Properties Inc. (NYSE: PPS), joined REIT.com for a video interview during REITWise 2014: NAREIT’s Law, Accounting and Finance Conference held in Boca Raton, Fla.
Post Properties is a developer and operator of upscale multifamily apartment communities.
Mason was asked to comment on the issues that are most worrisome to REIT tax directors at this time.
Fitch: REIT Share Buybacks Could Impair Credit Quality
As share buybacks are becoming more appealing for equity REITs, ratings firm Fitch Ratings is warning that they pose risks to the companies’ credit ratings.
Despite outperforming the broader market in the first quarter, shares of equity REITs in general continue to trade below net asset value (NAV), making share buybacks “an intriguing use of capital,” according to a report released by Fitch on April 29. As of the end of 2013, REITs traded at a 7.2 percent discount to NAV. In the previous year, pricing was essentially in line with NAV, according to Fitch.