WASHINGTON, DC-There is no shortage of examples supporting Washington, DC’s status as one of the top multifamily markets--top in valuations, investment sales and even development activity. However, this track record is not without its risks, as panelists at the ninth-annual RealShare Washington, DC will discuss. 

There will be 400 attendees at this year’s event, which is being held on February 15, at the Ronald Reagan Building, according to RealShare conference producer Kim Last. Panels will look at such topics as “The Leasing Market: The 6 Hot Concessions You Can Still Get,” “The Future of Downtown Versus the Suburbs” and “The Outlook on Investment Sales in Washington.” Closing out the event will be a power panel of local executives discussing the deals they’ve recently completed.

Participating in that session will be Simon Ziff, president of Ackman-Ziff Real Estate Group; Bill Fortier, senior vice president of development, Americas, Hilton Worldwide; Paul Massey, CEO of Massey Knakal; Clay Adams, chief investment officer of Jamestown Properties; Adam Ifshin, president and CEO of DLC Management Corp., Chip Rodgers, senior vice president of the Real Estate Roundtable; and Doug Donatelli, chairman and CEO of First Potomac Realty Trust.

Then there is the multifamily panel, which intends to get beyond the feel-good story, which is common in the DC market today, and explore the hidden risks. David Kessler, managing principal of the Reznick Group, will be moderating. Participating on the panel include: Rob Seldin, senior vice president of Archstone; Byron Steenerson, president and CEO of Alliant Capital LLC; Jones Lang LaSalle’s Scott Melnick; and Patrick Gniadek, AvalonBay’s vice president of investments.