Policy Page
CRE sentiment rises, but weighed down by construction cost challenges
Improving economic conditions have led to an improvement in the NAIOP CRE Sentiment Index, indicating both overall optimism and several ongoing concerns. However, respondents are now more pessimistic about construction costs than in any prior survey, and most expect construction labor costs to increase.
The future of office work has arrived
The economic rebound is fueling job growth in office-using sectors, which comes as the state lifts requirements that employers accommodate telework arrangements. Now that the future has arrived, I am sure that all employers would agree that employees are the most critical resource for success. Striking the right balance for the new workplace will likely be case-sensitive, and will no doubt take some time and a great deal of patience.
Geopolitics and demographics impact commercial real estate in our region
Our state is making headlines these days in a number of good ways. One contributing factor is certainly geopolitics, the study of how place matters. While this term is more often used to describe countries and explain the origin and source of their wealth, culture and military strategy, we can also see how this applies at the state level.
Got a feeling ’21 is (going to) be a good year
As we seem to be nearing the final stages of the global pandemic with more people getting vaccinated, federal stimulus monies pouring into our state and a new federal administration that is much more friendly to New Jersey, many of us are feeling that 2021 is going to be a good year.
Regional mindset, new recipe needed to keep our talent and project pipeline flowing
It’s high time that New Jersey’s local officials start doing things differently and placing a higher priority on talent attraction, collaborative regional (not parochial) planning and being on the same page. Economic development experts from outside the state seemed to concur at NAIOP New Jersey’s recent Annual Meeting and Commercial Real Estate Outlook.
