Keeping you informed on market statistics, real estate news, and events around town

Friday, December 21, 2012

January Calendar of Events


  • 1st   Celebrate 2013
  • 2nd  Whos Bad, a Tribute to Michael Jackson- Vilar Center
  • 3rd   1964, a Tribute to the Beatles- Vilar Center
  • 6th   Beaver Creek Snowshoe series 
  • 9th   Dar Williams- Vilar Center
  • 10th, 17th, 24th   50th Anniversary Film showing in Vail
  • 13th  Jonas Kaufmann-  Vilar Center
  • 16th  Marc Cohn- Vilar Center
  • 17th  Robin Williams & David Steinberg- Vilar Center
  • 20th  Lewis Black- Vilar Center
  • 24th-27th  Beaver Creek Food & Wine Festival
  • 24th   Shook Twins- Vilar Center
  • 31st  Delta Ray & ZZ Ward- Vilar Center

Monday, December 17, 2012

Housing prediction for 2013: Prices will rise

From CNBC reporter Diana Olick


Home prices will continue to rise, anywhere from 5 to 7 percent in 2013 from 2012.
These prices will be driven by continued competition among investors in the distressed market, as well as a return to the market of organic move-up buyers. A lack of supply in some local markets could push prices there even higher, but the concern is that prices would rise faster than incomes, which could leave some potential buyers on the sidelines.
Mortgage availability will be further curtailed by new regulations coming out ofDodd-Frank.
Rules governing risk retention and a borrower's ability to repay a loan have yet to be released, but mortgage bankers are already warning they could make loans more expensive. Mortgage rates will likely rise off their historic lows, but not significantly.
Apartment rents will stay elevated and vacancies low despite the improvement in the housing market.
First-time home buyers are still having trouble returning to the home buying market, despite rising household formation. With lenders requiring higher down payments and complete documentation, these buyers who usually make up over 40 percent of the market are at barely one third of home sales. We will only see the tide turner with far more robust job creation.
Mortgage delinquencies and foreclosures will remain elevated, but continued principal reduction modifications as well as a high level of short sales will alleviate much of the distress.
Foreclosure sales will continue, but the banks are unlikely to flood the market with bank-owned properties, as they have no desire to put downward pressure on prices.
As home prices continue to rise, more borrowers will come up from underwater.
This gain in home equity will help to fuel the renovation market and benefit remodeling retailers like Home Depot, Lowes and Masco.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Eagle County residential inventory is at its lowest point since 2006

Looking to buy a home in the mountains right now is tough for some buyers. The active inventory is at its lowest point since October of 2006 and buyers looking in certain price points are finding there is competition and a limited selection. This is hopefully a good sign that we are on the up swing. Buyers looking for something under $500k up valley are having to act fast. This price point seems to have competition and multiple offer situations. If you are lucky enough to spend over $3M there is a wider selection of properties to choose from although there has been good sales activity in the luxury market range.

So far this year there have been 578 transactions under $500k which is up 27%  from the same time period in 2011. Transactions over $3M are also up 29% over 2011.

If you are looking to buy a home in the mountains contact me and I would be happy to assist.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

December Calendar of Events


    • 8th      Minturn Winter Market
    • 10th    Beginning of Snow Daze
    • 13th    The Shins
    • 14th    Michael Franti and Spearhead
    • 15th    Wilco
    • 15th    Happy 50th Birthday Vail Mountain!
    • 15th    Minturn Winter Market
    • 17th    Vail Holidaze
    • 21st     Michael Bolton
    • 25th     Merry Christmas
    • 31st     New Years Eve Celebration

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Vail Market Update


The Vail Market is keeping up momentum and our inventory is dwindling. The above chart illustrates the total number of active residential listings per month from the beginning of the year.  Based on the number of transactions that have occurred through the month of September we were at a 7.9 month absorption rate. While some price ranges and areas have fared better than others, we are confident this trend will continue. Now is the time to make a move and buy your home in the mountains.

Monday, October 22, 2012

November Calendar of Events


  • 2nd   Keystone Opening Day
  • 4th    Underground Sound featuring Jaimee Paul
  • 9th    Breckenridge Opening Day
  • 9th    Winter Dance Series- Ailey II
  • 16th  Vail Opening Day and Gondola Dedication
  • 21st   Beaver Creek Opening Day
  • 22nd  Thanksgiving
  • 23rd   Beaver Creek Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony
  • 30th   Birds of Prey Downhill race 

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Vail Gondola construction update

Photo: Jack Affleck/Vail Resorts

Construction on the new Vail Gondola is on schedule. Last week a spider helicopter dropped posts and parts on along the mountain. Only one month until the mountain opens!

Thursday, October 4, 2012


Vail's new high speed gondola is moving right along. The lower gondola terminal is almost complete and the mid-Vail terminal building is enclosed. Earlier this summer a Huey Helicopter helped pour concrete bases for the new gondola lift towers that were inaccessible by road. Towers 19, 17, 8 were poured on day one and 9 & 4 on day two.  Vail Resorts has said they are on schedule to open on 11/17. 

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

October Calendar of Events


  • 1st-7th       Vail Restaurant Month Family Week
  • 6th-7th       Vail Valley Cup soccer tournament
  • 7th              Leon Redbone
  • 14th            Gregory Alan Isakov
  • 21st            Danielle "Ate the Sandwich" Anderson
  • 26th-28th   Vail Ski and Snowboard Club Ski Swap
  • 28th            The Motet plays Parliament- Funkadelic
  • 30th            Minturn Trick or Treat
  • 31st            LionsHead 20th Annual Trick or Treat Trot

The leaves are changing and autumn has arrived in the mountains. There is still time to come and view this spectacular array of colors. My hubby and I took a hike last weekend up to Pitkin Lake in East Vail and this is one of the scenes we got to experience. There are still events going on to enjoy and Sunday, September 23rd marks the last of the Farmer's market in Vail. Come up and see the valley!

Thursday, August 30, 2012

September Calendar of Events


    • 1st-3rd - Vail Jazz Foundation Labor Day Festival www.vailjazz.org
    • 1st-3rd - Gourmet on Gore www.gourmetongore.com
    • 1st - Minturn Market
    • 1st-2nd - Beaver Creek Oktoberfest
    • 2nd - Vail Rotary Duck Race
    • 7th-9th - Vail Oktoberfest in Lionshead
    • 8th-9th - Wheels and Wings Show www.vailautoshow.com
    • 8th - Minturn Market
    • 9th - Vail Farmers Market
    • 14th-16th - Vail Oktoberfest in Vail Village
    • 14th-16th - Beaver Creek Luxury Lifestyle Festival
    • 16th - Vail Mountain School Home Tour
    • 17th - Start of Vail Restaurant Month
    • 20th - America Cup International Fly Fishing Tournament
    • 22nd - Minturn Fall Festival
    • 23rd- Last Vail Farmers Market

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Featured Property Single Family Home in West Vail




3052 Bellflower Dr

$650,000


A great opportunity to own a single family home in Vail. This 3-bedroom home offers an open floorplan, wood burning fire place, vaulted ceilings, 2-car garage and lock off. No transfer tax and easy access to the free bus.

For more information visit www.BetsyLaughlin.com

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

August Calendar of Events

  • 1st- Boneyard Brawl Bike Race
  • 2nd,9th,16th- Beaver Creek Rodeo
  • 3rd-5th- Beaver Creek Arts Festival
  • 3rd- Vail International Dance Festival Presents International Evening I www.vaildance.org
  • 4th-  Vail International Dance Festival Presents International Evening II
  • 6th-  Vail International Dance Festival Presents NOW
  • 9th-11th- Beaver Creek Wine & Spirits Festival www.beavercreek.com
  • 9th-  Vail International Dance Festival Presents Martha Graham Dance CO
  • 10th- Vail International Dance Festival Presents Ballroom Spectacular
  • 10th- America Crown Circus
  • 11th- Vail International Dance Festival Presents Dance TV
  • 14th- Hot Summer Nights featuring Chali 2Na & House of Vibe
  • 17th-19th- Vail Soul Music Festival
  • 21st- Hot Summer Nights featuring Kyle Hollingsworth Band
  • 23rd- USA Pro Cycling Challenge in Beaver Creek
  • 30th-9/3- Vail Jazz Foundation Labor Day Weekend Festival www.vailjazz.org

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

The Wealthy are buying in Vail


 Residence sales over $5M have seen an increase over 2011. Since January 1st of this year there have been a total of 20 sales compared to 16 for the same time period last year.  Buyers are recognizing Vail is a special place and have confidence in investing in our market. 

Here is a snapshot of transactions over $5M thru June 2012:
  •  $152,160,000 in total sales volume
  •  6 sales in Vail Village
  •  1 sale in Lionshead, 1 sale Vail Golf Course
  •  5 sales in Beaver Creek, 5 sales in Bachelor Gulch
  •  2 sales in Arrowhead
  •  $14,100,000 highest sold price 
  

Thursday, June 21, 2012

July Calendar of Events

  • July 1st- Vail Farmers Market (every Sunday in July)
  • July 1st- Bravo Dallas Symphony
  • July 3rd- Avon's Salute to the USA
  • July 3rd- Bud Light Hot Summer Nights featuring Martin Sexton
  • July 4th- Beaver Creek Independence Day Celebration
  • July 4th- Vail America Days Parade
  • July 5th- Beaver Creek Rodeo
  • July 6th- Bravo Philadelphia Orchestra
  • July 7th- Minturn Market (every Saturday in July)
  • July 10th- Bud Light Hot Summer Nights featuring Queen Nation
  • July 13th-15th- Vail Arts Festival
  • July 17th- Bud Light Hot Summer Nights featuring Dirty Dozen Brass Band
  • July 20th-22nd- Beaver Creek Antique Festival
  • July 20th- Bravo New York Philharmonic
  • July 22nd-28th- 72nd Annual Eagle County Fair and Rodeo
  • July 24th- Bud Light Hot Summer Nights featuring
  • July 28th- Colorado River Ride
  • July 29th- Vail International Dance Festival Opening Night

Friday, June 1, 2012

Featured Property- Single Family Home in Eagle Vail

 333 Daisy Lane
Eagle Vail, Colorado
$877,000


A wonderful gathering place for family and friends, with expansive valley views on Whiskey Hill. Enjoy entertaining in your sunny living room with gas fireplace, separate formal dining room, and modern kitchen. This four bedroom home offers a family room, art room, and one bedroom lock-off. Deep two car garage with ample storage throughout. Don't wait or this special home will be gone!


Wednesday, May 23, 2012

June Calendar of Events


  • May 31st- June 3 Teva Mountain Games  http://www.tevamountaingames.com/summer
  • June 6 Vail Rec District Bike Race
  • June 9-10 Tough Mudder  http://toughmudder.com/events/
  • June 12  Bud Light Hot Summer Nights - Jerry Joseph and the Jack Mormons
  • June 15-17 Vail King of the Mountain  http://www.kingofthemountainvolleyball.com/
  • June 18-21 Warrior Vail LaCrosse Tournament 
  • June 19 Bud Light Hot Summer Nights - Pimps of Joytime
  • June 25 Bravo Vail Valley Opening night
  • June 26 Bud Light Hot Summer Nights - Karl Denson's Tiny Universe
  • June 28 Beaver Creek Rodeo Series Opening Night
  • June 29-July 1st Vail Arts Festival

Thursday, April 26, 2012

The end of ski season

Another ski season has come and gone and the Vista Bahn ski lift is being retired. It will be replaced by a new high speed gondola and construction at the base of Vail Mountain is underway. The Vista Bahn is not being relocated but recycled and reused for spare parts. The new gondola will have the number “1” to commemorate Vail’s original gondola in that location. The cabins will be designed to carry 10 passengers and each will feature heated, cushioned seats and Wi-Fi access for guests. With a speed of 1,200 feet per minute, the gondola will be the fastest gondola of its type in the world, creating a 40 percent increase in uphill capacity and decrease the ride time to Mid-Vail.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

11 Irrefutable Signs of a Real Estate Recovery

From the Wall Street Journal


Auto sales. Consumer confidence. Manufacturing. Retail Sales. Exports. You name it. Over the last six months, nearly every facet of the U.S. economy has shown improvement. And the real estate market is no exception.

Here’s the irrefutable proof:

Recovery Sign #1: Housing Starts. In February, housing starts checked-in at an annual rate of 698,000 units. That’s up 14.7% from the 608,800 starts in 2011… up 18.9% from the 586,900 starts in 2010… and up 25.9% from the record-low 554,000 starts in 2009. Even after the uptick, though, we’re nowhere close to the high-water mark of 2.07 million starts hit in 2005.

Recovery Sign #2: Building Permits. In February, building permits – a proxy for future construction – climbed to an annual rate of 717,000 units. That was ahead of expectations. It also represents the highest level since October 2008.

Recovery Sign #3: Dwindling Inventory. Expect even more building on the horizon. Why? Because new home inventories plumbed their lowest level on record in January at 150,000 units.

If we include existing homes in the mix, the total number of homes listed for sale has dropped – on a year-over-year basis – for 12 consecutive months. Now there are 2.43 million homes listed for sale, which is down 19.3% in the last year and down 39.8% from the record inventory of 4.04 million homes in July 2007.

Recovery Sign #4: Bidding Wars. The lack of inventory is creating a competitive bidding environment. Online brokerage firm, Redfin, reports that agents encountered multiple bids on about 50% of offers in Seattle, Boston, Washington D.C. and Oregon through March 15.

Recovery Sign #5: A Bottom in New Home Sales. Last year, new home sales fell to 302,000 units – the worst reading on record. For comparison’s sake, in 2005, 1.28 million new homes were sold. The market has likely bottomed out. I say that because new home sales in February checked-in at an annual rate of 313,000 units, which is 11.4% higher than last February’s rate.

Recovery Sign #6: A Rebound in Existing Home Sales. In the last year, demand for previously owned homes ticked 8.8% higher to an annual rate of 4.59 million. And the number of contracts to buy existing homes in February jumped even more – up 14% year-over-year.

Recovery Sign #7: Prices. As I’ve written before, prices will be the last sign of a recovery. They’re a lagging indicator, like unemployment. That being said, signs of a price rebound are materializing. Based on the latest Case-Shiller Indexes, prices in Miami and Phoenix – arguably two of the hardest-hit real estate markets – were up in January by 1.2% and 2%, respectively. That marks the third consecutive month of improving prices in Miami and the fourth in Phoenix.

Recovery Sign #8: Rising Confidence. If insiders know best, they’re certainly sending bullish signals. The National Association of Realtors/Wells Fargo Index of builder confidence climbed for the sixth month in March. It’s now at the highest level since 2007.

Individual builders aren’t hiding their optimism, either. The CEO of the nation’s third-largest homebuilder recently said, “A very real trend is beginning to take shape… There are empirical data points that are today confirming that the market is showing real signs of stability.” Indeed!

Recovery Sign #9: Historic Affordability. With prices down an average of 36% from the peak – and rent prices rising – it’s never been cheaper to buy a home. In fact, the National Association of Realtors Housing Affordability Index hit a record high of 206.1 in January. (A value of 100 means a family earning the national median income can afford a median-priced property at current mortgage rates.)

A separate study by Trulia found it’s now less expensive to buy than rent in 98 of America’s 100 most populous metropolitan areas. (Honolulu and San Francisco were the lone exceptions.)

And yet another study found that the affordability gap is widening, strongly in favor of buying. Deutsche Bank reports that the average rent is now 14.9% more than the average home loan payment – up from 8.1% in the previous quarter.

It’s worth noting, too, that borrowing costs are down about 20% in the last year. Mortgage rates hit an all-time low of 3.87% in February – down from 4.95% a year ago.

Recovery Sign #10: Employment. It’s hard to buy a house if you don’t have a job. And no one can deny that the labor market is improving. In the last eight months, the unemployment rate is down almost one full percentage point.

Recovery Sign #11: An Influx of “Smart Money.” Greg Zuckerman of The Wall Street Journal reports, “Over the last couple months some of the best investors on the street… have been making big bets on homebuilders.” And he’s not kidding.

The list reads like a “Who’s Who” on Wall Street. It includes SAC Capital, Blackstone, Caxton Associates, Cerberus, Canyon Partners and CQS U.K.

Bottom line: Add all the hard data up and it’s clear – the real estate market has officially entered recovery mode.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

April Schedule of Events

  • 5th Budlight Street Beat featuring Kinky 6:30 pm
  • 5th Taste of Vail 8th Annual Colorado Lamb Cook-Off and Apres Ski Tasting
  • 6th Taste of Vail Mountain Top Picnic
  • 7th Taste of Vail Grand Tasting
  • 7th Beaver Creek Vintage Ski Fest
  • 9th-15th Spring Back to Vail
  • 12th Budlight Street Beat featuring Funkiphino
  • 15th Beaver Creek and Vail Closing day


Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Epic Pass on Sale for 2012-13 Season

The Epic Pass is being offered for the next ski season. Be sure to purchase before 4/15 to guarantee your price of $659. This is the best season pass deal in the ski industry offering unlimited, unrestricted skiing at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood and Arapahoe Basin. Visit snow.com for more information.
See you on the SLOPES!!

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

March Calendar of Events


  • 2nd-4th Snowball Music Festival - Nottingham Park Avon

  • 3rd Talons Challenge- Beaver Creek Mountain

  • 3rd PinkVail ski for Breast Cancer- Vail Mountain

  • 8th BudLight Street Beat featuring Less than Jake- Vail Village

  • 15th BudLight Street Beat featuring Lez Zeppelin- Vail Village

  • 22nd BudLight Street Beat featuring G Love & Special Sauce- Golden Peak

  • 22nd-25th Korbel American Ski Classic- Vail Mountain

  • 29th BudLight Street Beat featuring Rootz Underground- Vail Village

  • 29th- 4/1 Vail Film Festival

Sunday, February 26, 2012

High end Properties moving in the Vail Valley

2012 has started off strong in the over $5M market. Since January 1st six properties have closed totaling $41,650,000 in dollar volume. The highest sold price this year was $11M for a single family home in Bachelor Gulch. This home was six bedrooms with over 10,000 square feet offering a ski in/out location. The other sales occurred in Vail Village, Beaver Creek, and another home in Bachelor Gulch.

In addition seven properties over $5M went under contract totaling a potential dollar volume of $63,774,000. The highest priced home is $16,889,000 on Mill Creek Circle at the base of the Vista Bahn ski lift in Vail Village.

We are seeing some great activity and opportunities for people to obtain their dream of owning a place in the moutains.

Monday, February 6, 2012

Eagle County real estate summary 2011

Eagle County's real estate market finished 2011 with more sales for less money than the previous year.

The year-end figures show total sales were up by about 100 from 2010. But the value of those sales was down more than $340 million from the year before. In fact, November and December were the only two months in which dollar volume exceeded figures from 2010. Overall, sales volume was down by about 23 percent from 2010.

In the six-county region tracked by Land Title — Eagle, Routt, Summit, Grand, Garfield and Pitkin — Eagle County ranked third in total sales, behind Routt and Summit counties. In average price per sale for both single- and multi-family units, Eagle County was second in the region, behind Pitkin County, which has a greater concentration of second homes.

Throughout 2011, a relatively few sales of expensive property drove up both the average price and the total sales volume. While homes priced at $500,000 or less made up 55 percent of the year's total sales, those deals accounted for just 17 percent of the dollar volume.

On the other side of that coin, sales of $2 million or more made up just 10 percent of all transactions, but accounted for 46 percent of the year's dollar volume.

Eagle and Gypsum accounted for about 24 percent of all sales in 2011, but less than 9 percent of the county's dollar volume.

Vail Village, meanwhile, accounted for less than 5 percent of all sales, but accounted for 16 percent of the county's sales volume.

For the region, only Garfield County's sales volume grew by 6 percent or more — sales volume was either flat or down by more than 6 percent in the rest of the region.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

County hits $1 billion in real estate sales

From the Vail Daily:

EAGLE COUNTY, Colorado — Eagle County's real estate market passed $1 billion in sales for the year in November, but the total dollar volume of sales for 2011 still lags behind the 2010 totals.

According to the latest information from Land Title Guarantee Company, the county passed the $1 billion mark in sales for the 14th year since 1996 — 2009 was only year the county failed to meet or exceed the $1 billion mark.

There were 121 sales in November, nine more than the same month in 2010. Those sales added up to $124.8 million, only the second time in 2011 that dollar volume met or exceeded the 2010 numbers.

As was the case for most of 2011, the majority of sales in November were in downvalley communities. In November, more than 25 percent of all transactions were in Eagle, Gypsum and the surrounding areas. Lower-priced homes also made up the bulk of sales, with 71 percent of all sales being for $1 million or less.

Bank sales also continue to play a large role in the valley's real estate market, and most of those are in the western Eagle Valley. Eighteen of the 27 bank sales for November were in Eagle or Gypsum. Through November, there were 270 bank sales in the county.

While the sale with the highest price per square foot was in Vail's Solaris complex, the Vail Golf Course was the area with the highest average sales price — an average of $6.2 million over two transactions. One of those sales was of a newly-built home, which sold for $9.25 million, the highest transaction in all of Eagle County in November.

While just a few sales of multi-million-dollar properties have accounted for a large portion of the total sales volume, November had nine transactions over $4 million, the most transactions in this category in any month in 2011.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Exclusive: U.S. is top 2012 property investment pick

While the United States offers the most stable and secure option in commercial real estate, investors said improvement in rent and occupancy growth and the repeal of a 1980 foreign investment tax would have the strongest impact on their investment decisions, according to the 20th annual survey of Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate (AFIRE) members.
For about the past year or so, investors in U.S. commercial real estate have focused on gateway cities such as New York, Washington, Boston, San Francisco and Los Angeles, driving prices up and yields down.
Meanwhile commercial property in Brazil, with its bubbling economy and safer investment environment, has become a hot spot for global investors. Sao Paulo, Brazil's largest city, jumped to the fourth best city for real estate investment dollars in 2012, up from 26th place last year.
The United States is still very desirable and was second behind the UK in attracting cross border investment in 2011, according to Real Capital Analytics preliminary figures.
"The negative is it doesn't promise a whole lot of capital appreciation because the prime markets are already fully priced," AFIRE Chief Executive Officer James Fetgatter said. "By no means will Brazil replace the U.S., at least not in the forseeable future. Brazil is considered now a much safer place to invest and a place where you can get capital appreciation and good yield."
AFIRE'S survey respondents hold more than $874 billion of real estate globally, including $338 billion in the United States.
Sixty 60 percent of respondents said they plan to increase their investment in U.S. real estate in 2012, down from a record 72 percent last year, according to the 20th annual survey.
Some 42.2 percent said they believed the United States in 2012 would offer the best opportunity for the price of their commercial real estate investments to increase, down from 64.7 percent last year's survey.
The United States lost ground to Brazil, with 18.6 percent saying Brazil's property market offered the best growth opportunity for their investment dollars. That's up 14.2 percentage points, moving Brazil up to second place from fourth, and pushing China down to No. 3, according to the AFIRE survey.
Seventy percent of respondents picked one of the three countries as their favorite, while the remaining 30 percent had top choices from 13 other countries on five continents.
Respondents said they would invest more in U.S. commercial property if the fundamentals of rent and occupancy growth were stronger.
Another U.S. barrier respondents cited was the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA). The 1980 act, originally designed to protect farm property from foreign ownership, subjects foreign buyers to both their domestic and U.S. taxes when they sell their investment, unless their home country has a taxation treaty with the United States.
FIRPTA opponents have argued that the act unfairly penalizes foreign investors of real estate. Such double taxation does not apply if they buy U.S. stocks or bonds.
As for the top cities for foreign investment in 2012, New York remained No. 1. London moved up to No. 2 from No. 3, swapping ranks with Washington. Sao Paulo was fourth, and San Francisco moved up to No. 5 from No. 10 last year.
Europe's sovereign debt problems and looming recession pushed most of the countries there - except for a few such as Switzerland and Poland - off the map for real estate investors. Germany lost about half its support among respondents in terms of stability and price appreciation, according to the survey.
Emerging markets also seem to be getting more popular among potential investors. Respondents identified 25 countries they would consider for investment, up from 18 last year. Brazil topped the list, with China in second place, as each did last year. Turkey moved up to No. 3 from No. 7 last year. India and Vietnam each dropped down one spot, to No. 3 and No. 4 respectively. Appearing for the first time were Colombia, at No. 10, Hungary at No. 12, and Qatar at No. 17.
As for U.S. commercial real estate, respondents said that this year they would most likely invest in apartment buildings, the fourth consecutive year multifamily topped the list. Of all the types of U.S. commercial real estate, the multifamily sector has not only recovered from the post-2007 real estate slump but rents and occupancy are even stronger than before.
Warehouse and distribution centers ranked second, up from No. 5 last year. Office properties were third, up a notch from No. 4. Retail properties - shopping centers and malls - slipped to No. 4 from No. 2. Hotels ranked No. 5, down from No. 3 last year.
The survey was conducted in the fourth quarter by the James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate, Wisconsin School of Business.