Ask anybody in the real estate business and they’ll most likely agree: Being busy is a good thing.
We couldn’t agree more as a publication that covers this industry and thrives on all of the deal making, construction activity and other bits of news that help us bring you a monthly magazine and a daily newsletter. The market has been so busy that I’m not quite sure where the time has gone, yet here we are as we prepare to close out the first year of Real Estate NJ.
Looking back on the past 12 months, we’ve been humbled by the response from people across the industry. And it quickly became clear that there was a pent-up demand for a full-time publication devoted exclusively to commercial real estate in New Jersey, so we’re thrilled to continue to provide that for you heading into 2018.
But first thing’s first. Our December issue is especially timely and will hopefully set the stage for a busy year ahead. In our cover story, “Guiding Hands,” we bring you a detailed look at the work of a group that has influenced key policy decisions over the past decade. Known as the Smart Growth Economic Development Coalition, the group has reconvened with new recommendations for New Jersey’s incoming governor and Legislature, with an eye toward improving areas such as public incentives, environmental regulations and local land use.
We break down those proposals and explain just how high the stakes are for the real estate sector, following a wide-ranging interview with the industry leaders behind the report.
And it wouldn’t be a December issue without an official look back. In our Year in Review, we highlight some of the top stories in New Jersey commercial real estate from 2017, including the unprecedented surge in the industrial market. As we told you this summer, the unrelenting demand and the eye-popping rent growth in the warehouse and logistics sector have made it a top priority for investors. And there are few signs of a slowdown on the horizon, so don’t be surprised if we’re still talking about it a year from now.
You can find those stories and more in the pages that follow. As I’ve told people throughout the year, the day-to-day transactions that we cover are the lifeblood of our publication. But the market is evolving perhaps as quickly as it ever has, so we expect there to be plenty to talk about in the years to come.
Thank you to everyone who has read and supported Real Estate NJ online and in print, along with those who provide us with a steady stream of content and feedback. And a very big thank you to those who help make this platform possible, starting with our publisher and founder, Paul Profeta, and the rest of our team involved in producing the publication.
To everyone reading, best of luck in 2018! Enjoy the issue!
Joshua Burd
Editor
