US realtors say commercial real estate investment waning

WASHINGTON (Thomson Financial) - Investment in commercial real estate appears to have peaked and turned down although vacancies and rents have not changed significantly, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) said today.

"The credit crunch has hit the commercial real estate market," was the explanation from NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun.

Investment rose 39 pct in 2007 to a record 427 bln usd, up from the previous record 306.8 bln in 2006. The NAR forecast for 2008 expects a 30-40 pct investment drop, erasing all of last year's increase.

The investment cycle is turning, said realtor Patricia Nooney of St. Louis. "It appears investor confidence has declined, and some private investors have had problems obtaining financing." With economic uncertainty growing, "transaction volume is likely to decline," she said.

Walnut Creek investment consulting firm renamed Inverness Real Estate Investments

A Walnut Creek real estate investment consulting firm has changed its name to Inverness Real Estate Investments.

The name change for the company, formerly known as 1031 Exchange Options, reflects its expanded roster of investment opportunities, said Cary Losson, Inverness founder and president.

Inverness offers consulting on co-ownership structured real estate, including tenants-in-common and Delaware statutory trust properties, real estate investment trusts and real estate fund investments. Its clients have completed more than 3,000 transactions, with a total value of more than $3 billion, according to a company news release.

The rebranding and additional investment offerings will help the company reach a broader market, Losson said.

"While much of our past business came from clients seeking investment properties to complete a 1031 exchange, we have seen over the past three years that our broad selection of real estate investment opportunities is drawing increased interest from direct investors," Losson said.

Real Estate Cold; Real Estate TV Hot

NEW YORK (AP) -- Real estate may have cooled considerably as an investment, but not real estate television.

House flipping and home renovation programs are still big hits on cable. While "for sale" signs sprout on lawns across the country, TV programmers are like developers who plow ahead with new housing projects anyway.

A new season of the A&E Network's "Flip This House" - one of a troika with TLC's "Flip That House" and Bravo's "Flipping Out" - premieres Saturday night.

A&E has several new programs in development. At least six new ones are beginning on TLC in the next year, starting with "Date My House," where former "Bachelor" Bob Guiney hosts a program where potential buyers spend a night in a home on the market.

HGTV had its highest prime-time ratings ever in January.

Real-estate programs defy market slowdown

NEW YORK -- Real estate might have cooled as an investment -- but not as fodder for television.

House-flipping and home-

renovating programs are still big hits on cable. While "For sale" signs sprout on lawns nationwide, TV programmers are like developers who plow ahead with new housing projects anyway.

A new season of Flip This House on A&E -- one of a troika, with Flip That House on TLC and Flipping Out on Bravo -- is to begin Saturday.

A&E has several new programs in development, and at least six new ones are beginning on TLC during the next year, starting with Date My House -- in which host Bob Guiney, the former Bachelor, has potential buyers spend a night in a home on the market.

HGTV had its highest prime-time ratings in January.

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