Based on your experience, where is the economy? While some economists think we are doing well, that is based on what they read in charts and not what happens on the street.

Which property owners are sitting on commercial properties that are going to lose value in the vortex of property depreciation?

What needs to be done in order to bolster downtown Chicago and suburban office building leases?

Does anyone really know what’s going on?   I have been analyzing the crumbling sub-prime mortgage markets along with some of the related hedge funds.

I’ve been watching the experts and business analysts on CNBC for the last two weeks. It’s a much more complex issue than what some have defined it as (i.e. a “simple market correction” or a “tightening of the credit within the mortgage business”).

Why are many commercial real estate developers still locked into selling office space like they did in the past? In their minds, space is the final frontier. Traditional amenities like air conditioning, parking and elevators are a given. There are a whole host of intelligent amenities that are now must-have requirements.

Trying to lease space without these new amenities is like trying to sell a car without power steering or a radio. Options that were rare or even non-existent are now considered to be standard features by those who are looking for premium space.

Are Chicago business journalists finally starting to understand the issues that generate foreclosures?

Last week, Crain’s Chicago Business ran a story about the rise in foreclosures within the Chicagoland area. It’s good to see they pointed out something we uncovered and talked about six months ago. Though they focused on adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) being the cause for most of the defaults, it’s more complex than that.

Last week I attended the Killer App Expo for Municipal Broadband as a guest of the Graham Richard, mayor of Fort Wayne, Ind., who has been recognized with several awards for innovation and achievement in municipal government. He spoke about:

When it comes to real estate acquisitions, many smart investors have turned to taking their money from the stock market and have invested it into REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts). Some of these groups have provided 20 to 50 percent returns to their investors. These are great returns on investment, but are there any hidden time bombs lurking behind the marble facades and talking elevators?