Beech Street Capital looks very different from most lending partners. Since its founding in late 2010, the Bethesda, MD-based firm has made its mark in the multifamily sector. With more than $4 billion in originations in just over two years, Beech Street is now the number-three Fannie Mae lender nationwide and is rapidly accelerating its Freddie Mac and FHA business.

If you look at the numbers alone, it's undeniable that Jones Lang LaSalle Capital Markets is on an upward trajectory. Having completed $60 billion in investment sales and debt and equity transactions globally in 2011, the firm's deal volume equated to nearly $216 million of trades completed around the globe last year. In the US, the company grew its total capital markets volume by 122% in 2011 and is quickly gaining market share across all property types—multifamily sales volume was up more than 1,000% from 2010 to 2011, and as of May the group's sales volume in office was already 65% of 2011's total.

It's no secret that the net lease market is attracting many investors, new and veteran, seeking a safe sector for their portfolios. While there's no sure thing in the investment realm, net lease does have its pluses, including long-term tenants assuring a steady income stream. But with so many players in the market looking for a great deal, how can savvy investors stay ahead of the pack and land the best net lease transactions? Real Estate Forum spoke with several industry experts to get their take on the net lease market and how to make smart choices when making acquisition decisions.

While it was highly publicized that Grubb & Ellis Co.'s brokerage division had suffered ills during the recession, and several brokers and teams moved on to other firms, its investment-management division and the REITs it co-sponsored and advised could have been unfortunate casualties. Instead, the senior executives that had been in charge of managing Grubb & Ellis Healthcare REIT II started American Healthcare Investors to co-sponsor the REIT and renamed it Griffin-American Healthcare REIT II shortly before Grubb filed for bankruptcy. The team has now been together for approximately six years and has collectively acquired and managed $3.5 billion worth of healthcare properties on behalf of thousands of investors.

LOS ANGELES-Parking needs and adaptability to future tenants must be assessed before offices get too 'creative,' say two real estate and land-use attorneys.

IRVINE, CA-The single-family home developer is geared up for the addition of apartment development to its repertoire.

IRVINE, CA-The fund will include nearly 2,000 units of affordable housing spread across 20 properties in 15 states.

EL SEGUNDO, CA-GlobeSt.com learns exclusively that the 146,000-square-foot office building was purchased for $22.65 million.