The event is part of the RealShare Conference Series produced by New York City-based Real Estate Media, publisher of GlobeSt.com and Real Estate Forum. It will be attended by more than 500 industry insiders, a notable increase over last year's attendance level. Needless to say, the area's success has attracted attention from abroad, so there is also an international faction among the registrants. "This has been a calendar event for the Washington, DC commercial real estate community," Real Estate Media president Jonathan A. Schein tells GlobeSt.com. "Each year, we get more attendees. We're going to have to take it to a larger venue."

This year's venue, however, will still offer registrants a wide range of topics to explore, as well as a bevy of opportunities for networking. The half-day conference will be shaped at the start by Schein's opening remarks, which are to be followed by the Town Hall Meeting highlighting the future of leasing, investment and development with regard to everything from the prospect of maintaining the tight market to the effects BRAC may have on Northern Virginia. From there, the conference takes on a new twist with the debut of Pardon the Interruption, a 15-minute tête-à-tête between two leading real estate players--Monument Realty principal Jeff Neal and Boston Properties executive vice president Ray Ritchey--that will keep the two volleying their opinions back and forth. "In Ray Ritchey and Jeff Neal we have two of most respected and intelligent dealmakers in the market and they will be offering comments on a wide-range of topics, some more real estate related than others," Real Share Conference Series director Richard Kelley tells GlobeSt.com. "I think our audience is in for a real treat."

The morning's activities will also include an address by keynote speaker Peter Linneman, Linneman Associates principal and Albert Sussman Professor of Real Estate, Finance and Public Policy, Wharton School of Business. Speaking from both an economic and academic perspective, Linneman will offer up his views on future economic and industry trends that could affect the DC market this year. The morning will conclude with the presentation of Inside the Real Estate Mind, hosted by Real Estate Media editor-in-chief Michael G. Desiato. Desiato will pick the brain of panel guest and industry veteran Mitchell Schear, president of Charles E. Smith Commercial Realty, peppering him with questions on his company's current plans for repositioning Crystal City as a leading live-work-play destination, its ideas for DC's Anacostia waterfront, and much more.

The rest of the morning and the afternoon will be dedicated to a host of concurrent sessions targeting the most pertinent issues of the day. The initial segment of sessions will include such subjects as achieving deals in a low cap rate environment, how the condo craze is effecting affordable housing, and getting your foot in the door of the investment sales arena. Afternoon sessions will cover low-profile dealmakers, the future of the Anacostia Waterfront, and how record-low office vacancies could go even lower. "We've added exciting new panels and sessions to make this our best conference yet," Schein says.

Instant Insights /

RealShare EXCLUSIVE: Conference Analyzes Years-Long Success of DC Market

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