
17. What's Next in Multifamily Innovation?
From new sustainability features to rooftop urban gardens and more efficient use of space, the next wave of innovations for apartments will make living there cheaper and better for residents, say speakers at NMHC's Annual Meeting.
From new sustainability features to rooftop urban gardens and more efficient use of space, the next wave of innovations for apartments will make living there cheaper and better for residents, say speakers at NMHC's Annual Meeting.

1. What Condoleezza Rice Says About Trump and Putin
"There's only room for one alpha male in the international system, so how long do you think that bromance will last?" the former Secretary of State tells attendees at NMHC's Annual Meeting last week.
"There's only room for one alpha male in the international system, so how long do you think that bromance will last?" the former Secretary of State tells attendees at NMHC's Annual Meeting last week.

2. The Airbnb of Commercial Real Estate Arrives
Spacegrab is a new online commercial leasing platform that allows tenants to sublease a portion or all of their space, and it launches today.
Spacegrab is a new online commercial leasing platform that allows tenants to sublease a portion or all of their space, and it launches today.

3. Multifamily's Lowest-Risk Markets, And Its Highest
The apartment market least likely to see a rent recession is not located in any of the Smile States, according to RealPage's MPF Research.
The apartment market least likely to see a rent recession is not located in any of the Smile States, according to RealPage's MPF Research.

4. What The Jump in 10-Year Rates Did to Pricing
Although price movement since the election has been "limited," CBRE's Spencer Levy says that "pricing pushback from buyers remains strong."
Although price movement since the election has been "limited," CBRE's Spencer Levy says that "pricing pushback from buyers remains strong."
Advertisement

5. Rewriting the Narrative On Apartment Demand and Oversupply
The US will need to build more than 4.6 million new apartment homes across a range of price points by 2030.
The US will need to build more than 4.6 million new apartment homes across a range of price points by 2030.

6. The Apartment Sector's Undersupply Problem
PGIM Real Estate Finance's Michael McRoberts tells GlobeSt.com that new housing supply falls short of meeting demand by a few hundred thousand units per year.
PGIM Real Estate Finance's Michael McRoberts tells GlobeSt.com that new housing supply falls short of meeting demand by a few hundred thousand units per year.

7. Multifamily Execs See Market Retreating
"Weaker conditions are evident across all sectors as the apartment industry adjusts to changing conditions," says the National Multifamily Housing Council's Mark Obrinsky.
"Weaker conditions are evident across all sectors as the apartment industry adjusts to changing conditions," says the National Multifamily Housing Council's Mark Obrinsky.

8. Cap Rates: The Story's in the Details
While some segments and classes saw greater compression or expansion, generally speaking "there was limited movement in cap rates" during the first six months of this year, says CBRE's Spencer Levy.
While some segments and classes saw greater compression or expansion, generally speaking "there was limited movement in cap rates" during the first six months of this year, says CBRE's Spencer Levy.

9. Will 1031 Exchanges Survive?
"It's possible that Congress and the President could pass tax reform measures without fully vetting the implications to the commercial real estate industry," says Tom Georges with Stan Johnson Co.
"It's possible that Congress and the President could pass tax reform measures without fully vetting the implications to the commercial real estate industry," says Tom Georges with Stan Johnson Co.
Advertisement

10. Federal Realty's Ingenious Plan for Its Unused Parking Space
The REIT is partnering with Freight Farms, a company that retrofits shipping containers with vertical farming technology.
The REIT is partnering with Freight Farms, a company that retrofits shipping containers with vertical farming technology.

11. Interest Rates and Cap Rates? It's Complicated
The cap rate stories didn't play out in lockstep with the Federal Reserve's 25-basis point rate increases this past December and in June and March of this year.
The cap rate stories didn't play out in lockstep with the Federal Reserve's 25-basis point rate increases this past December and in June and March of this year.

12. The Benefits of Zero-Cash-Flow Deals
A small and slightly lesser-known family in the net-lease sector, the zero-cash-flow market has increasingly picked up popularity with both domestic and foreign investors, SRS's John Redfield tells GlobeSt.com.
A small and slightly lesser-known family in the net-lease sector, the zero-cash-flow market has increasingly picked up popularity with both domestic and foreign investors, SRS's John Redfield tells GlobeSt.com.

13. Why So Much Private Equity Is Shifting to Multifamily
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA—Private-equity investors like the strong cash-on-cash that multifamily can provide as compared to hotels, retail and office properties, panelists at the IMN Multifamily Forum here tell attendees.
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA—Private-equity investors like the strong cash-on-cash that multifamily can provide as compared to hotels, retail and office properties, panelists at the IMN Multifamily Forum here tell attendees.

14. Why ICSC's RECon Already Feels Different This Year
Based on preconvention conversations with retailers to the tenor of the sessions ICSC is providing, this year has more of an emphasis on technology as it relates to consumer engagement, says a retail source and attendee we spoke with in preparation for the upcoming event.
Based on preconvention conversations with retailers to the tenor of the sessions ICSC is providing, this year has more of an emphasis on technology as it relates to consumer engagement, says a retail source and attendee we spoke with in preparation for the upcoming event.
Advertisement

15. Trump Plans Will Mean CRE Winners, Losers
Apartments and industrial, among other sectors, could see cash flow acceleration, while net lease could suffer if inflation and higher interest rates come, write analysts at Fitch Ratings.
Apartments and industrial, among other sectors, could see cash flow acceleration, while net lease could suffer if inflation and higher interest rates come, write analysts at Fitch Ratings.

16. Attacking the Affordability Crisis
Multifamily is the perennial darling of the CRE industry. But a deeper dive shows a major gap in specific markets between supply and demand. NorthMarq Capital's Melissa Marcolini Quinn offers a mortgage banking perspective.
Multifamily is the perennial darling of the CRE industry. But a deeper dive shows a major gap in specific markets between supply and demand. NorthMarq Capital's Melissa Marcolini Quinn offers a mortgage banking perspective.

17. What's Next in Multifamily Innovation?
From new sustainability features to rooftop urban gardens and more efficient use of space, the next wave of innovations for apartments will make living there cheaper and better for residents, say speakers at NMHC's Annual Meeting.
From new sustainability features to rooftop urban gardens and more efficient use of space, the next wave of innovations for apartments will make living there cheaper and better for residents, say speakers at NMHC's Annual Meeting.

1. What Condoleezza Rice Says About Trump and Putin
"There's only room for one alpha male in the international system, so how long do you think that bromance will last?" the former Secretary of State tells attendees at NMHC's Annual Meeting last week.
"There's only room for one alpha male in the international system, so how long do you think that bromance will last?" the former Secretary of State tells attendees at NMHC's Annual Meeting last week.

2. The Airbnb of Commercial Real Estate Arrives
Spacegrab is a new online commercial leasing platform that allows tenants to sublease a portion or all of their space, and it launches today.
Spacegrab is a new online commercial leasing platform that allows tenants to sublease a portion or all of their space, and it launches today.

3. Multifamily's Lowest-Risk Markets, And Its Highest
The apartment market least likely to see a rent recession is not located in any of the Smile States, according to RealPage's MPF Research.
The apartment market least likely to see a rent recession is not located in any of the Smile States, according to RealPage's MPF Research.

4. What The Jump in 10-Year Rates Did to Pricing
Although price movement since the election has been "limited," CBRE's Spencer Levy says that "pricing pushback from buyers remains strong."
Although price movement since the election has been "limited," CBRE's Spencer Levy says that "pricing pushback from buyers remains strong."
Advertisement

5. Rewriting the Narrative On Apartment Demand and Oversupply
The US will need to build more than 4.6 million new apartment homes across a range of price points by 2030.
The US will need to build more than 4.6 million new apartment homes across a range of price points by 2030.

6. The Apartment Sector's Undersupply Problem
PGIM Real Estate Finance's Michael McRoberts tells GlobeSt.com that new housing supply falls short of meeting demand by a few hundred thousand units per year.
PGIM Real Estate Finance's Michael McRoberts tells GlobeSt.com that new housing supply falls short of meeting demand by a few hundred thousand units per year.

7. Multifamily Execs See Market Retreating
"Weaker conditions are evident across all sectors as the apartment industry adjusts to changing conditions," says the National Multifamily Housing Council's Mark Obrinsky.
"Weaker conditions are evident across all sectors as the apartment industry adjusts to changing conditions," says the National Multifamily Housing Council's Mark Obrinsky.

8. Cap Rates: The Story's in the Details
While some segments and classes saw greater compression or expansion, generally speaking "there was limited movement in cap rates" during the first six months of this year, says CBRE's Spencer Levy.
While some segments and classes saw greater compression or expansion, generally speaking "there was limited movement in cap rates" during the first six months of this year, says CBRE's Spencer Levy.

9. Will 1031 Exchanges Survive?
"It's possible that Congress and the President could pass tax reform measures without fully vetting the implications to the commercial real estate industry," says Tom Georges with Stan Johnson Co.
"It's possible that Congress and the President could pass tax reform measures without fully vetting the implications to the commercial real estate industry," says Tom Georges with Stan Johnson Co.
Advertisement

10. Federal Realty's Ingenious Plan for Its Unused Parking Space
The REIT is partnering with Freight Farms, a company that retrofits shipping containers with vertical farming technology.
The REIT is partnering with Freight Farms, a company that retrofits shipping containers with vertical farming technology.

11. Interest Rates and Cap Rates? It's Complicated
The cap rate stories didn't play out in lockstep with the Federal Reserve's 25-basis point rate increases this past December and in June and March of this year.
The cap rate stories didn't play out in lockstep with the Federal Reserve's 25-basis point rate increases this past December and in June and March of this year.

12. The Benefits of Zero-Cash-Flow Deals
A small and slightly lesser-known family in the net-lease sector, the zero-cash-flow market has increasingly picked up popularity with both domestic and foreign investors, SRS's John Redfield tells GlobeSt.com.
A small and slightly lesser-known family in the net-lease sector, the zero-cash-flow market has increasingly picked up popularity with both domestic and foreign investors, SRS's John Redfield tells GlobeSt.com.

13. Why So Much Private Equity Is Shifting to Multifamily
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA—Private-equity investors like the strong cash-on-cash that multifamily can provide as compared to hotels, retail and office properties, panelists at the IMN Multifamily Forum here tell attendees.
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA—Private-equity investors like the strong cash-on-cash that multifamily can provide as compared to hotels, retail and office properties, panelists at the IMN Multifamily Forum here tell attendees.

14. Why ICSC's RECon Already Feels Different This Year
Based on preconvention conversations with retailers to the tenor of the sessions ICSC is providing, this year has more of an emphasis on technology as it relates to consumer engagement, says a retail source and attendee we spoke with in preparation for the upcoming event.
Based on preconvention conversations with retailers to the tenor of the sessions ICSC is providing, this year has more of an emphasis on technology as it relates to consumer engagement, says a retail source and attendee we spoke with in preparation for the upcoming event.
Advertisement

15. Trump Plans Will Mean CRE Winners, Losers
Apartments and industrial, among other sectors, could see cash flow acceleration, while net lease could suffer if inflation and higher interest rates come, write analysts at Fitch Ratings.
Apartments and industrial, among other sectors, could see cash flow acceleration, while net lease could suffer if inflation and higher interest rates come, write analysts at Fitch Ratings.

16. Attacking the Affordability Crisis
Multifamily is the perennial darling of the CRE industry. But a deeper dive shows a major gap in specific markets between supply and demand. NorthMarq Capital's Melissa Marcolini Quinn offers a mortgage banking perspective.
Multifamily is the perennial darling of the CRE industry. But a deeper dive shows a major gap in specific markets between supply and demand. NorthMarq Capital's Melissa Marcolini Quinn offers a mortgage banking perspective.

17. What's Next in Multifamily Innovation?
From new sustainability features to rooftop urban gardens and more efficient use of space, the next wave of innovations for apartments will make living there cheaper and better for residents, say speakers at NMHC's Annual Meeting.
From new sustainability features to rooftop urban gardens and more efficient use of space, the next wave of innovations for apartments will make living there cheaper and better for residents, say speakers at NMHC's Annual Meeting.
GlobeSt.com publishes about 35 pieces of original content per day, five days per week. Over the course of a year, that's upwards of 9,000 stories, interviews and analyses focused on commercial real estate and the various factors that impact the industry. While each of our stories has a story to tell, some of them drew more attention than others. To sum up the year that was, we're spotlighting the 17 most-read articles of 2017. Not surprisingly, a few key themes link several of the top 17. Anything related to the Trump administration, and its implications for CRE, was a big draw. Multifamily remains the darling of asset classes as far as investors are concerned and, clearly, as far as GlobeSt.com readers are concerned: seven of the top 17 stories this year focused on the apartment sector. Investment strategies and the "new economy" also attracted more than the usual number of page-views. Here's our roster of the year's top content based on readership. We thank you for making these your favorites, and for finding the time to take in 9,000 other stories, too.
NOT FOR REPRINT
© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
Paul Bubny

Paul Bubny is managing editor of Real Estate Forum and GlobeSt.com. He has been reporting on business since 1988 and on commercial real estate since 2007. He is based at ALM Real Estate Media Group's offices in New York City.