The Real Corner, a social networking site aimed toward providing greater connection between commercial real estate professionals. The site is catered specifically toward this industry and as such offers an effective platform for professionals to network, collaborate and do business, its founders say. Site developer Communications Network is a collaboration between The Peer Forum LLC and Pine Tree Commercial Realty LLC, a shopping center developer and owner, also of Chicago.

"I've had the opportunity to see value created by bringing people together with similar backgrounds, expertise and challenges and sharing best practices and asking and answering each others' questions," Michael Moore, founder of The Peer Forum and president and co-founder of Communications Network, tells GlobeSt.com. "This is an extremely tough time for the commercial real estate world, so the potential and power of social networking and peer counseling is astronomical right now. What will be different about The Real Corner is its focus on real estate, and we saw an opportunity to create a platform that allows people to connect that can help people navigate through this tough time."

The social networking site is targeted to serve the specific needs of the commercial real estate industry, and is expected to continue to grow and add more functionalities as time goes on and it becomes more established. Members of the site can currently take advantage of functions including forums, blogs, chat, industry groups, job postings, industry news feeds, special articles, and uploading images and information about their assets or services. The site was designed with use by brokers, developers, tenants, construction companies, bankers, trade associations, investors, lawyers, insurance agents, asset managers, and the media in mind.

"There wasn't a single Web site before this that dealt with the full range of commercial real estate professionals," Peter Borzak, a principal of Pine Tree, tells GlobeSt.com. "It also offers a social networking ability for people to connect with each other, and the real estate community is a networking type of group. Real estate professionals are rethinking their corporate strategies and their place in the world so now, more than ever, it's important for people to have this type of forum."

Moore says the site was designed for use by professionals of all levels of technological expertise. "In any business community, you have people with various degrees of familiarity with social networking," Moore says. "Our site will be easy and inviting for people not comfortable yet with social networking, but people who are already into it can jump in and see the advantages of being connected to the broader commercial real estate community."

Instant Insights /

Social Networking: Real Estate Style

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