Investment, Development and Homebuilding Make Positive Moves in Atlanta

Oct. 29, 2012 - PRLog -- Urban Land Institute Atlanta with partner PwC US presented “Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2013” report at the Buckhead Theatre for nearly 200 guests. According to the report, Atlanta shows signs of improvement and is making positive moves in investment, development and homebuilding.

The annual report showed many participants discerning that, despite a slower-than-normal real estate recovery track, U.S. property sectors and markets will register noticeably better prospect as compared with last year. The multifamily sector remains strong across the nation – showing the top investment and development prospects. Multifamily is one of the sectors suggested for purchases in Atlanta.

At the theatre, PwC representatives Jeff Nasser and Amy Olsen presented highlights from Emerging Trends, reporting specifically that Atlanta moved from 36 to 35 on the “Markets to Watch” list. “Atlanta’s loss of employment and the housing collapse affect interest in commercial real estate … Even with these difficulties, job growth is showing improvement and is projected to increase 2.6 percent,” the report said.

“For Atlanta, some of the ‘best investor’ bets include budding infill locations – bolstered by move-back-in trends and gen-Y appeal,” said ULI Atlanta Executive Director Jeff DuFresne. “As top core districts have become too pricey, districts where ‘hip’ residential communities meet commercial areas are attracting investors.”

A panel discussion followed the presentation, in which moderator Doug Sams of the Atlanta Business Chronicle led panelists Walt Mercer of Suntrust Bank, Egbert Perry of Integral Group and Kiernan Conway of Colliers International in a series of conservations about moving Atlanta forward. The topics included the recently failed TSPLOST and how education affects Atlanta’s growth. Panelists urged listeners to pay attention to the Georgia Port Authority, as Savannah was recently named the third busiest port – and 70 percent of the total economic impact of the port comes to Atlanta. Other topics included infrastructure updates and a shift in demographics and need for multifamily construction. Concerns of overbuilding in the multifamily sector were also voiced.

About the Urban Land Institute

ULI Atlanta is a district council of the Urban Land Institute. ULI is a non-profit education and resource group supported by 30,000 members in 90 countries. (http://www.uli.org)