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Green Building Requirements Are Expanding: Everything You Need to Know
In the aftermath of the pandemic, commercial real estate owners, occupiers, and developers adopted aggressive environmental targets to combat climate change and reduce the carbon footprint of the built world, which accounts for 40% of global carbon emissions. In the years following, sustainability efforts have lost momentum. Although some companies have held onto their environmental…
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Going Green: How All-Electric Buildings Are Changing the Conversation
Commercial real estate developers are voraciously pursuing sustainable construction practices. From publishing aggressive ESG targets to building to green certifications, there have been a number of ways that developers can reduce the carbon footprint of a commercial property. Now, innovative developers are going one step further to ensure the carbon neutrality—or even negativity—of a new…
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Adapting to Weather Changes With Climate Resilient Infrastructure
Extreme weather is increasing in frequency and severity as the impact of climate change becomes more apparent. Natural disasters and severe weather events will have an economic impact across industries, and commercial real estate development is no exception. Looking toward the future, your firm should prioritize climate resiliency, whether that means disaster-proofing existing properties or…
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Benefits of Enterprise Zones and Opportunity Zones for Real Estate Development
Enterprise zones and opportunity zones are essential concepts for your development team to understand as you look for up-and-coming markets to break ground in. Federal and local governments designate geographic regions, often impacted by economic distress or blight, and offer businesses, developers, and investors tax breaks, regulatory exemptions, and other financial incentives to build there.…
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The Developer’s Guide to C PACE Financing
High interest rates and economic uncertainty are making it more difficult for your team to secure capital and get complex projects off the ground. Firms like yours are turning to alternative financing sources to round out their capital stack, from government programs such as Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) or Transit-Oriented Community Incentives to green…
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Top Trends in Sustainable Construction for Multifamily Housing
Developers are increasingly turning to sustainable construction practices as government regulations around carbon emissions become stricter, demand for eco-friendly features increases among consumers, and technological innovation reduces the cost of materials. Initiatives such as Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals, as well as LEED certification and Energy Star ratings, are also incentivizing sustainable building practices.…
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4 Reasons Developers Should Watch Eminent Domain Law This Year
Eminent domain activity is heating up, and developers should pay attention. From the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which passed in 2021, to evolving legal definitions and policy, eminent domain cases are becoming more common and more complex. Developers are increasingly coming into contact with eminent domain activity—both to their benefit and frustration—and it’s important…
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3 Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC)Trends Developers Need to Know
Low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC) are the backbone of affordable housing development. The longstanding government program has helped to create opportunities to develop new affordable housing by providing tax credits that offset affordable rental rates. In light of the national housing crisis—the National Low-Income Housing Coalition estimates that there is a shortage of 7.3 million…
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Understanding the Pros and Cons of Office-to-Residential Conversion
The COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing popularity of remote work has put office building owners in a difficult position. While certain assets have proved resilient – such as Class A office space rich in amenities – Class B and Class C office buildings remain in decline. As a result, many developers are looking for ways…