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HOUSTON-Statistics issued recently by CB Richard Ellis Group Co.about multifamily investment players tell an interesting story.Nationally, concerning deals of $20 million or greater, 27% oftransactions were driven by life and pension funds, while 30% ofthose deals were spearheaded by private capital. But comparingHouston transactions to the national norm reveals a vastlydifferent story, with 9% of those deals going to the institutionalside--and 54% of the deals driven by private capital.

This news doesn't come as a surprise to area experts, who tellGlobeSt.com that Houston's multifamily market has long beenappealing to the private capital entities. On the other hand,institutional money tends to shy away from the area for a varietyof reasons, one of which is because the Bayou City is perceived ashaving a one-horse economy.