News Type: Press Release

NEWS: The Real Estate Roundtable Announces FY 2025 Leadership

Posted on by Abigail Grenadier

Kathleen McCarthy Takes Over As New Chair Of The Roundtable’s Board Of Directors; John Fish Commended For Three Years As Roundtable Chair

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — The Real Estate Roundtable announced its FY2025 leadership today, with Kathleen McCarthy (Global Co-Head of Blackstone Real Estate) beginning a three-year term as Roundtable Chair on July 1, 2024. Ms. McCarthy succeeds John Fish (Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Suffolk) who has served as Roundtable Chair since 2021. The Roundtable’s membership also approved a 26-member Board of Directors.

Kathleen McCarthy, Chair of the Real Estate Roundtable, said, “I am incredibly honored to step into the role of Chair of the Real Estate Roundtable. The real estate industry touches every aspect of our economy—from affordable housing and shopping centers to warehouses and data centers. Strong collaboration between the public and private sectors will enable the country to meet the challenges we face and capitalize on the opportunities ahead. John, Jeff, and the entire Roundtable team have advocated for policies to help drive growth and innovation across communities in the U.S., and I look forward to building on their important work.”

“The Real Estate Roundtable and its members have always risen to meet the challenges of the times, and I am confident that under Kathleen’s leadership, we will continue to make impactful strides,” said Jeffrey D. DeBoer, Roundtable President and CEO. “The real estate industry is a cornerstone of economic vitality, job creation, and community development. Kathleen’s extensive experience and strategic vision will be invaluable as we address critical policy issues and advocate for a shared, prosperous future.”

John Fish, the Immediate Past Chair, stated, “It has been a privilege to serve as Chair during such a pivotal period for our industry. I am pleased to hand over the reins to Kathleen. Her expertise and leadership, along with Jeff DeBoer’s vision and guidance, will undoubtedly guide The Roundtable to new heights. The focus on recovery, resilience, and innovation remains crucial as this important organization works with our partners in government to advance our shared interests and strengthen the American economy.”

About Kathleen McCarthy

Kathleen McCarthy is the Global Co-Head of Blackstone Real Estate. Blackstone is the largest owner of commercial real estate globally with a nearly $600 billion real estate portfolio and $339 billion in investor capital under management (as of March 31, 2024), owning and operating assets across every major geography and sector, including logistics, residential, office, hospitality and retail. Ms. McCarthy focuses on driving performance and growth for Blackstone’s Real Estate business.

Ms. McCarthy previously served as Global Chief Operating Officer of Blackstone Real Estate. Before joining Blackstone in 2010, Ms. McCarthy worked at Goldman Sachs, where she focused on investments for the Real Estate Principal Investment Area. Ms. McCarthy began her career at Goldman Sachs in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group.

Ms. McCarthy received a BA in Ethics, Politics and Economics from Yale University. She serves on the Boards of City Harvest and the Blackstone Charitable Foundation, is Chair of the Board of Directors of the Real Estate Roundtable and is the President of the Board of Trustees of The Nightingale-Bamford School.

About John Fish

The Real Estate Roundtable’s Board of Directors was chaired by John Fish, who is Chairman and CEO of Suffolk. Under his vision and leadership, Suffolk has grown into one of the leading privately held general building contractors in the country with $5.6 billion in annual revenue; main offices throughout the country; and experience in high-growth sectors including healthcare, higher education, life sciences, data centers, aviation, gaming, government and commercial. Suffolk is ranked #25 on the Engineering News-Record national list of “Top 400 Contractors.”

He serves on numerous Boards focused on improving the economy, strengthening business, and creating jobs. He is a member of the Business Roundtable, serves on the Executive Committee of the Real Estate Board of New York, and is a member of the Partnership for New York City.

Mr. Fish is a graduate of Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. He received an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering Technology Degree from Wentworth Institute of Technology. He is also the recipient of honorary degrees from Regis College and Curry College.

About The Real Estate Roundtable

The Real Estate Roundtable brings together leaders of the nation’s top publicly-held and privately-owned real estate ownership, development, lending, and management firms with leaders of major national real estate trade organizations to jointly address key national policy issues relating to real estate and its important role in the global economy.

The collective value of assets held by Roundtable members exceeds $4 trillion. The Roundtable’s membership represents more than 3 million people working in real estate; 12 billion square feet of office, retail, and industrial space; over 4 million apartments; and more than 5 million hotel rooms. It also includes the owners, managers, developers, and financiers of senior, student, and manufactured housing—as well as medical offices, life science campuses, data centers, cell towers, and self-storage properties.

The Roundtable’s policy news and more are available on The Roundtable website.

Other Roundtable Leadership Changes

Joining The Roundtable’s Board of Directors as of July 1 are:

  • Conor Flynn, CEO, Kimco Realty Corporation; First Vice Chair, Nareit
  • Michelle Herrick, Head of Real Estate Banking, J.P. Morgan
  • Diane Hoskins, Global Co-Chair, Gensler; Chairman, The Urban Land Institute
  • Michael H. Lowe, Co-CEO, Lowe
  • Andrew P. Power, President & CEO, Digital Realty

See the complete list of the FY2025 Roundtable’s Board of Directors here.

Stepping down from The Roundtable Board as of July 1 are:

  • Michael D. Brown, Travel & Leisure Co. President & CEO, Immediate Past Chair, American Resort Development Association
  • Debra A. Cafaro, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ventas, Inc., Immediate Past Chair, The Real Estate Roundtable
  • W. Matthew Kelly, CEO, JBG Smith, Chair, Nareit

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CRE Executives Express Tempered Optimism Despite High Interest Rates and Tight Liquidity

Posted on by Abigail Grenadier

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — Commercial real estate executives expressed tempered optimism about property markets in The Real Estate Roundtable’s Q2 2024 Sentiment Index as high interest rates and liquidity challenges linger. The Q2 Sentiment Index registered the same overall score of 61 from the previous quarter as uncertainty persists about future asset values and availability of capital.

The Roundtable’s Current Sentiment Index registered 55, a 2-point increase over Q1 2024. The Future Index posted a score of 66 points, a decrease of 4 points from the previous quarter. Any score over 50 is viewed as positive. ­­­­The Overall Index this quarter of 61—a measure of senior executives’ confidence and expectations about the commercial real estate market environment—is scored on a scale of 1 to 100 by averaging the scores of the Current and Future Indices.­­­­

The Q2 Sentiment Index topline findings also include:

  • Evolving market trends continue to shape the real estate landscape. A majority (66%) of Q2 survey participants expect general market conditions to show improvement one year from now. Additionally, 45% of respondents said conditions are better now compared to this time last year. Only 11% of Q2 participants expect general market conditions to be somewhat worse in a year, a slight increase from 6% in Q1.

  • Class B office properties are facing ongoing challenges, attributed to an ongoing “flight to quality.” Industrial and multifamily sectors show tempered growth, yet their underlying fundamentals remain robust. Retail sectors are healthy, propelled by consumer spending, while interest in data centers continues to ascend.

  • A significant 75% of Q2 survey participants expressed optimism that asset values will be higher (44%) or the same (31%) one year from now, indicating some semblance of expected stability.

  • The real estate capital markets landscape remains challenging. For the current quarter, 65% believe the availability of equity capital will improve in one year, while 64% said the availability of debt capital will improve in one year. The 36% of participants who said the availability of debt capital would be worse in one year is an increase from 24% in Q1 who voiced the same expectation.

  • Regarding sentiment on the availability of equity capital, 65% of survey respondents expect conditions to improve, compared to 26% who stated that availability of equity capital was better a year ago.

Some sample responses from participants in the Sentiment Index’s Q2 survey include:

“Real estate fundamentals are shaping up to be very strong in one to two years. Companies that have a long-term perspective and can be patient will benefit from strong employment growth, demographic shifts, and stable occupancies.”

“The mom-and-pop investors who own class B office are hurting the most. The institutional investors are diversified, so they are faring better.”

“Stability in asset values isn’t just about reaching pre-2022 levels; it’s about establishing a new norm based on sustainable growth.”

Data for the Q2 survey was gathered by Chicago-based Ferguson Partners on The Roundtable’s behalf in April. See the full Q2 report.

The Real Estate Roundtable brings together leaders of the nation’s top publicly-held and privately-owned real estate ownership, development, lending and management firms with the leaders of major national real estate trade associations to jointly address key national policy issues relating to real estate and the overall economy.

NEWS: CRE Executives Report Ongoing Financing and Liquidity Issues Causing Price Discovery Difficulties

Posted on by Abigail Grenadier

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — Industry executives report commercial real estate asset classes continue to face a variety of challenges centered around higher financing costs, increased illiquidity, and uncertain post-pandemic user demand. Reduced transaction volume has also contributed to difficult price discovery, according to The Real Estate Roundtable’s Q4 2023 Sentiment Index.

Roundtable President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer said, “Commercial real estate is at the front line of change in how people use the built environment in a post-pandemic society. Steep interest rate increases and diminished liquidity caused by regulatory pressures have led to much lower transaction volume and continued uncertainty in price discovery. The challenges facing different asset classes in the broad, complex CRE landscape is reflected in our Q4 Sentiment Index.”

The Roundtable’s Sentiment Index—a measure of senior executives’ confidence and expectations about the commercial real estate market environment—is scored on a scale of 1 to 100 by averaging the scores of Current and Future Sentiment Indices. Any score over 50 is viewed as positive.

The Q4 Sentiment Index topline findings include:

• The Q4 2023 Real Estate Roundtable Sentiment Index registered an overall score of 44, a decrease of two points from the previous quarter. The Current Index registered 32, a one-point decrease from Q3 2023, and the Future Index posted a score of 57 points, a decrease of two points from the previous quarter. These stable indices highlight the persistent challenges faced by participants in the real estate market.

• Although there are variations among asset classes and even within specific property types, ongoing uncertainty within the broader commercial real estate industry persists due to concerns about liquidity, capital availability, interest rates, and remote work. Bright spots exist in smaller classes, such as data centers, outlet malls, and hotels, while multifamily and industrial continue to attract interest. Within the office sector, class “A” properties with top of-the-line amenities are the lone high performers.

• An overwhelming 92% of survey participants indicate that asset values have decreased compared to the previous year. The valuation process has been challenging due to limited transactions, and the combination of current cap rates and fluctuating interest rates has further complicated pricing, ultimately leading to a view that asset values have decreased relative to one year ago.

• Survey participants express ongoing concerns about the capital markets landscape, with 70% indicating that the availability of equity capital has worsened compared to a year ago, and 86% believing the availability of debt capital is also worse.

DeBoer added, “We welcome efforts at all levels of government to incentivize conversions of commercial use to residential use. Yet various CRE markets and asset classes need more time to adapt to the new preferences of clients; more flexibility to restructure their asset financing; and patience while adjusting to the evolving valuation landscape. In addition to conversion activities, The Roundtable continues to urge the federal government to return to the workplace and support measures to assist loan modifications and increase liquidity available to all asset classes and their owners. We also remain opposed to regulatory proposals that impede capital formation.”

Some sample responses from participants in the Sentiment Index’s Q4 Survey include:

“Your perspective depends on what assets you hold and the strength of your balance sheet.”

“The distribution of capital is highly dependent on specific sectors and asset quality.”

“There will be a ‘great revaluation’ cycle with more real estate assets priced lower. There haven’t been enough transactions to collect good data, and the transactions that are happening are in the most dire of circumstances, which is driving erratic and less reliable market information.”

Responses by survey participants reflect recent, persistent challenges facing certain sectors and assets. In comparison to last quarter, sentiments on current conditions are down by 1 point, perceptions of future conditions are down by 2 points, and overall conditions are down by 2 points.

Regarding sentiment on the state of current asset values, 92% of respondents believe they are lower than one year ago, 3% feel they are higher, and 5% believe asset values have remained the same compared to a year ago. This contrasts with the Sentiment Survey one year ago, when only 59% of participants expected asset values would be lower in this Q4 2023, indicating a steep decline in current perceptions of asset values.

Survey participants also commented on the availability of equity capital, with 70% noting it is worse compared to one year ago, 3% stating it has improved, and 27% that the availability of equity remains the same. For the availability of debt capital, 86% of participants believe it is worse compared to one year ago, 2% feel it has improved, and 12% believe the availability of debt remains the same.

Data for the Q4 survey was gathered in October by Chicago-based Ferguson Partners on behalf of The Roundtable. See the full Q4 report.

The Real Estate Roundtable brings together leaders of the nation’s top publicly-held and privately owned real estate ownership, development, lending and management firms with the leaders of major national real estate trade associations to jointly address key national policy issues relating to real estate and the overall economy.

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The Real Estate Roundtable’s Board of Directors Announces Blackstone’s Kathleen McCarthy as Chair-Elect

Posted on by Abigail Grenadier

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — The Real Estate Roundtable’s Board of Directors has elected Kathleen McCarthy (Global Co-Head of Blackstone Real Estate) as Chair-Elect, to begin her three-year term as Roundtable Chair on July 1, 2024.

Chair-Elect McCarthy will succeed John Fish (Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Suffolk) who has served as Roundtable Chair since 2021.

“The Real Estate Roundtable and its Board of Directors are thrilled to announce Kathleen McCarthy as our Chair-Elect,” said Mr. Fish. “Kathleen is an extraordinary leader in the real estate industry and has been a key contributor to The Roundtable’s mission as a member of our Board. Her extensive experience and expertise as co-head of the world’s largest real estate platform brings a unique and invaluable perspective to our policy discussions.”

Mr. Fish added, “Kathleen’s fact-based approach and understanding of policies impacting commercial real estate will help advance policies that benefit communities, create jobs and accelerate economic growth. I am delighted that Kathleen will be the next Chair of The Real Estate Roundtable.”

Ms. McCarthy stated, “I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to serve as Chair of the Real Estate Roundtable and build upon the important work being done by John, Jeff and the entire Roundtable team. The opportunities and challenges facing our industry require innovative approaches and strong engagement between the public and private sectors. Advocacy for policies in an industry that touches so many aspects of everyday life is crucial and I’m committed to advancing our sector for the benefit of communities across the nation.”

Roundtable President and CEO, Jeffrey D. DeBoer commented, “I am excited about our Board’s decision to select Kathleen McCarthy as our Chair-Elect, and look forward to working more extensively with her as we continue The Real Estate Roundtable’s solid track record of driving change in our industry for the benefit of all stakeholders.”

About Kathleen McCarthy

Kathleen McCarthy is the Global Co-Head of Blackstone Real Estate. Blackstone is the largest owner of commercial real estate globally with a $585 billion real estate portfolio and $333 billion in investor capital under management (as of June 30, 2023). Blackstone Real Estate is an industry leader in opportunistic, core plus and debt investing across North America, Europe and Asia. Ms. McCarthy focuses on driving performance and growth for Blackstone’s Real Estate business.

Ms. McCarthy previously served as Global Chief Operating Officer of Blackstone Real Estate. Before joining Blackstone in 2010, Ms. McCarthy worked at Goldman Sachs, where she focused on investments for the Real Estate Principal Investment Area. Ms. McCarthy began her career at Goldman Sachs in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group.

Ms. McCarthy received a BA with Distinction from Yale University. She serves on the Boards of City Harvest, the Real Estate Roundtable, the PREA Foundation, and the Blackstone Charitable Foundation, and is the President of the Board of Trustees of The Nightingale-Bamford School.

About John Fish

The Real Estate Roundtable’s Board of Directors is chaired by John Fish, who is Chairman and CEO of Suffolk. Under his vision and leadership, Suffolk has grown into one of the leading privately held general building contractors in the country. With over $4.5 billion in annual revenue, Suffolk is currently ranked #23 on the Engineering News-Record national list of “Top 400 Contractors.”

He serves on numerous Boards focused on improving the economy, strengthening business and creating jobs. He also serves on the Executive Committee of the Real Estate Board of New York and a member of the Partnership for New York City and New York Building Congress.

Mr. Fish is a graduate of Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science.  He received an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering Technology Degree from Wentworth Institute of Technology. He is also the recipient of an honorary degree from Regis College and Curry College

About The Real Estate Roundtable

The Real Estate Roundtable brings together leaders of the nation’s top publicly-held and privately-owned real estate ownership, development, lending and management firms with leaders of major national real estate trade organizations to jointly address key national policy issues relating to real estate and its important role in the global economy. 

The collective value of assets held by Roundtable members exceeds $4 trillion. The Roundtable’s membership represents more than 3 million people working in real estate; 12 billion square feet of office, retail and industrial space; over 4 million apartments; and more than 5 million hotel rooms. It also includes the owners, managers, developers and financiers of senior, student, and manufactured housing—as well as medical offices, life science campuses, data centers, cell towers, and self-storage properties.

The Roundtable’s policy news and more are available on The Roundtable website.

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Commercial Real Estate Executives Optimistic Despite Challenging Market Conditions

Posted on by Trey Jackson

August 16, 2023 (WASHINGTON, D.C.) — Industry leaders remain optimistic about future market conditions while acknowledging uncertainty due to interest rate increases, maturing office loans, financing costs, prolonged remote work policies, and labor productivity, according to The Real Estate Roundtable’s Q3 2023 Sentiment Index.

Roundtable President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer said, “Many maturing loans were financed when base rates were near zero and now need to be refinanced in a challenging environment where rates are much higher, values are lower, and markets are less liquid. Higher rates are also contributing to cyclical pressure on valuations. On top of that, remote work has devastated America’s downtowns and stalled office demand.”

DeBoer added, “The economy has undergone significant transformations due to the pandemic. The realities and challenges we face today requires us to rethink how businesses and people use offices, retail, housing, medical care, and more. Future buildings must accommodate the changes to be successful. The Roundtable will continue to advocate and support measures that boost the availability of credit and enhance the formation of capital in the commercial real estate industry, particularly during these times of market uncertainty.”

The Roundtable’s Economic Sentiment Index—a measure of senior executives’ confidence and expectations about the commercial real estate market environment—is scored on a scale of 1 to 100 by averaging the scores of Current and Future Economic Sentiment Indices.­­­­ Any score over 50 is viewed as positive. ­­­­

The Q3 Sentiment Index topline findings include:

All indices reported increases: The Q3 2023 Real Estate Roundtable Sentiment Index registered an overall score of 46, an increase of five points from the previous quarter. The Current Index registered 33, a six-point increase from Q2 2023, and the Future Index posted a score of 59 points, an increase of four points from the previous quarter.

Disparities between asset classes persist in these challenging market conditions. Hotel and retail markets are largely performing well. Niche asset classes continue to generate interest. On the other hand, office is performing poorly, and rental growth in multifamily and industrial are starting to abate.

Perceptions of declining asset values continue to dominate, with 95% of survey participants reporting that asset values are lower as compared to last year. While Class A properties across all asset classes are trading at competitive prices, managers are still in a “wait and see” mindset for other assets, resulting in lower transaction volumes and an inability to complete accurate valuations.

The availability of capital —both debt and equity—continues to be a pressing topic; 85% and 69% of survey participants, respectively, believe that today’s conditions are more difficult than a year ago. Although managers face a difficult capital raising environment, only 24% and 9% of participants believe debt and equity availability respectively will be worse a year from now as the industry works to creatively solve financing issues.

Data for the Q3 survey was gathered by Chicago-based Ferguson Partners on The Roundtable’s behalf in July. See the full Q3 report.

The Real Estate Roundtable brings together leaders of the nation’s top publicly-held and privately-owned real estate ownership, development, lending and management firms with the leaders of major national real estate trade associations to jointly address key national policy issues relating to real estate and the overall economy.

Roundtable Releases FY2023 Annual Report, “Sustained Strength, Sustained Solutions”

Posted on by Trey Jackson
The Real Estate Roundtable's 2023 FY2023 Annual Report cover

The Real Estate Roundtable has released its FY2023 Annual Report, which coincides with the June 30 conclusion of the organization’s fiscal year. The report details how the industry experienced significant transformation due to the global pandemic—yet emerged resilient and adaptive, achieving successes over the past 12 months on several national issues in the tax, energy, and capital formation policy areas. 

Roundtable Policy Issues

  • In the introduction to “Sustained Strength, Sustained Solutions,” Roundtable Chair John F. Fish (Chairman & CEO, Suffolk) and Roundtable President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer state, “Adapting to this new reality requires us to rethink how businesses and people use offices, retail and entertainment spaces, housing, medical care, and more. Future buildings must accommodate the changes brought on by the pandemic, as well as those that accompany the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence and technological world. The real estate industry is at the center of this transition, where the future of work, the future of housing, the future of our communities, and much more are being reimagined before our eyes.”

  • The Roundtable leaders add, “However, we are also mindful that embracing these changes is not without its costs and time constraints, and as has proven in the past to be true, the industry’s ability to respond to these changes will be inhibited or encouraged by public policy actions.”

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News Release: While Uncertainty Remains, Commercial Real Estate Executives Are Optimistic About Future Market Conditions

Posted on by Abigail Grenadier

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — The Real Estate Roundtable’s Q1 Economic Sentiment Index reports that industry executives, while optimistic about the future, remain uncertain about current market conditions, citing inflation, rising interest rates, and supply chain disruptions as concerns. However, executives also express that perceptions and outlooks differ across asset classes, as some remain strong and others show concerns.

Roundtable President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer said, “Fundamentally, our Q1 index illustrates that the trends accelerated by the pandemic have led to mixed performances across asset classes. Multifamily and industrial assets have maintained steady growth due to increased housing demand and supply chain needs, while hospitality and student housing are regaining momentum. But in the office sector, remote work policies, concerns over crime and transportation are driving record-high vacancy rates throughout the country, hurting city budgets and small businesses.”

“Looking forward, industry leaders are anticipating the landscape to improve throughout the year, despite recent declines in asset values and the decreased availability of debt and equity capital compared to a year ago. Policymakers should emphasize the need to return to the workplace while considering other innovative solutions such as legislation to convert underutilized offices to housing to entrench this optimism, create jobs, spur economic activity, and increase housing supply and tax revenue,” DeBoer added.

The Roundtable’s Economic Sentiment Index—a measure of senior executives’ confidence and expectations about the commercial real estate market environment—is scored on a scale of 1 to 100 by averaging the scores of Current and Future Economic Sentiment Indices.­­­­ Any score over 50 is viewed as positive. ­­­­

The Q1 Sentiment Index topline findings include:

  • The Q1 2023 Real Estate Roundtable Sentiment Index registered an overall score of 44, an increase of five points from the previous quarter. The Current Index registered at 31, a two-point increase from Q4 2022, and the Future Index posted a score of 58 points, an increase of ten points from the previous quarter.
  • Several survey respondents acknowledged the dangers of generalizing trends across the commercial real estate industry as the disparities between asset classes grow; multifamily and industrial continue to attract interest, hospitality and student housing are beginning to bounce back, meanwhile Class B office is struggling.
  • Nearly all survey participants (93%) expressed that asset values have fallen year-over-year. That said, conversations with industry leaders suggest that the market is still in a period of price discovery. With low transaction volume and a limited supply of debt capital, there is lingering uncertainty as to where asset prices will ultimately land.
  • Survey participants overwhelmingly indicated that the availability of debt and equity capital is worse today compared to one year ago (93% and 82% respectfully). However, over half of participants expect the capital markets to improve over the next 12 months.

Data for the Q1 survey was gathered in January by Chicago-based Ferguson Partners on The Roundtable’s behalf.  See the full Q1 report.

The Real Estate Roundtable brings together leaders of the nation’s top publicly-held and privately-owned real estate ownership, development, lending and management firms with the leaders of major national real estate trade associations to jointly address key national policy issues relating to real estate and the overall economy

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The Real Estate Roundtable and Partner Real Estate Associations Join Together for the First Time to Expand Supplier Diversity Opportunities

Posted on by Abigail Grenadier
CREDS Founding Organizations include The Real Estate Roundtable

The Commercial Real Estate Diverse Supplier (CREDS) Consortium is a first-of-its-kind coalition to provide more opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses in the industry’s supply chain.

Washington, D.C. — Today, an industry-wide group of seven real estate trade associations announced a first-of-its-kind alliance to foster supplier diversity in real estate. The Commercial Real Estate Diverse Supplier (CREDS) Consortium aims to expand economic opportunities for businesses owned by minority- and women-owned businesses (MWBEs) in the chain of providers that supply the real estate industry.

In addition to The Real Estate Roundtable, CREDS Consortium associations include CREW Network, ICSC, Mortgage Bankers Association, NAIOP, Nareit and the National Multifamily Housing Council. CREDS Consortium associations will highlight tools that their members can use to identify, track, report, and procure products and services from MWBEs and companies owned by veterans, LGBTQ+ persons, and persons with a disability.

The Real Estate Roundtable’s President and CEO, Jeffrey DeBoer, said, “Owners, developers, and financiers of commercial and multifamily real estate are committed to help minority, women, and other historically under-represented entrepreneurs prosper in our great industry. The CREDS Consortium can help our members realize their intentions to advance economic opportunities across the vast and varied supply chain that serves real estate, makes our buildings productive, and strengthens the fabric of our communities.”

The CREDS Consortium has launched a two-year pilot program that will run through the end of 2024 with SupplierGATEWAY, a leading supplier management software platform and minority-owned firm that automates and simplifies supplier and vendor management. SupplierGATEWAY’s products include supplier sourcing, registration, risk management, compliance, and management—and provide support for corporate social responsibility, diversity, and inclusion goals.

Members of the CREDS associations can subscribe—at a discounted price—to SupplierGATEWAY’s software platform to search for, connect with, and potentially hire MWBEs as contractors, service providers, vendors, and joint venture partners. CREDS associations’ subscribing members can access the vendor management software and a comprehensive database of MWBE suppliers through the Consortium’s portal page, hosted by SupplierGATEWAY.

Hiring companies can also post their purchase orders and other contracting opportunities through the CREDS portal. Tools available on the platform that measure and track MWBE procurement spending will support companies that intend to advance environmental social, and governance (ESG) and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) goals.

During the pilot program, the Consortium also hopes to gain broad insights into supplier diversity trends across the commercial real estate industry.

Visit Supplier Gateway to learn more about the CREDS Consortium pilot program. An FAQ document can be found here.   

What CREDS Consortium partners are saying:

  • Wendy Mann, CEO, CREW Network

“As a global organization focused on accelerating success for all women in commercial real estate, CREW Network supports this partnership and initiative as an important business strategy to elevate ESG and DEI and create a more equitable industry for all. Women- and minority-owned businesses are a driving force behind economic growth and bringing this diverse talent to the industry is a business imperative. Companies that increase their diverse spend also see an increase in innovation and market share. It’s a win-win.”

  • Tom McGee, ICSC President & CEO

“ICSC is committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the Marketplaces Industry and giving our members ways to identify and source MWBEs is one way we can do this. The CREDS Consortium helps meet the growing demand for diversity in service providers and offers our members direct access to the tools and resources they need to support their own DEI goals.  We are proud to be a founding member of the Consortium and look forward to working closely with the partner organizations to further this important initiative.”

  • Bob Broeksmit, CMB, President and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association

 “The Commercial Real Estate Diverse Supplier Consortium is a great resource for expanding DEI and ESG opportunities in the real estate finance industry. Our members will benefit from the consortium’s work to identify minority- and women-owned suppliers that provide essential products and services. MBA and its members are dedicated to supporting and promoting supplier diversity.”

  • Marc Selvitelli, CAE, NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association

 “NAIOP is proud to be a founding member of this important initiative. By working together, we believe this powerful alliance of real estate associations can propel our member companies’ success in achieving their important ESG goals. Facilitating access to a minority- and women-owned supplier database is an important first step in creating future opportunities between diverse vendors and developers and owners of commercial real estate.”

  • Steven A. Wechsler, President and CEO, Nareit

“Increasing the use of diverse service providers is an industry-wide priority that requires an industry-wide approach, which is why we are proud to be a founding member of the CREDS Consortium. The CREDS-SupplierGATEWAY partnership will enable Nareit’s members to leverage existing software and tools to more quickly increase diversity and inclusivity in their respective supply chains.”

  • Sharon Wilson Géno, President, National Multifamily Housing Council

“As a founding member of the Consortium, NMHC proudly continues our longstanding commitment to DEI as a business imperative that drives innovation and success. NMHC knows that connecting more buyers with more sellers, and measuring those connections, are essential steps toward a more robust market that benefits both multifamily firms and MBWE partners that help power the industry. As an alliance, the Commercial Real Estate Diverse Supplier (CREDS) Consortium can amplify our efforts to strengthen industry access for diverse suppliers, and support the ESG and DEI goals of our members.”

  • Ade Solaru, Founder and CEO, SupplierGATEWAY

 “Our partnership with the CREDS Consortium is an important component of our mission to generate meaningful economic impact at scale for our customers. Each member of the CREDS associations can now create meaningful social impact at the local level without sacrificing efficiency, cost or risk.”

About The Real Estate Roundtable

The Real Estate Roundtable brings together leaders of the nation’s top publicly held and privately-owned real estate ownership, development, lending, and management firms with the leaders of major national real estate trade associations to jointly address key national policy issues relating to real estate and the overall economy.

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2022 Annual Report – Building a More Resilient and Dynamic Future

Posted on by Trey Jackson

View Full Report – 2022 Annual Report – Building a More Resilient and Dynamic Future

News Release: Economic Headwinds and Geopolitical Uncertainty Top CRE Executives’ Views About Q2 Market Conditions

Posted on by Abigail Grenadier

 

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — Commercial real estate executives remain optimistic about overall Q2 market conditions despite growing economic headwinds and geopolitical uncertainty, according to The Real Estate Roundtable’s Q2 2022 Economic Sentiment Index released today.

Roundtable President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer said, “The decline in this quarter’s Real Estate Roundtable Sentiment Index reflects concerns regarding inflationary pressures, interest rate increases, labor shortages and supply chain disruptions.  Even so, the overall sentiment of commercial real estate industry senior executives remains positive. Businesses and individuals continue to rethink how real estate meets their evolving working, living, and traveling preferences. Building owners, managers and financiers across the nation are partnering with their business and residential tenants to respond, while also pressing forward in developing and redeveloping buildings to be greener, smarter, and more efficient.”

He added, “Our Q2 Sentiment Index reveals especially bright spots for lease demand in a wide swath of the economy, particularly regarding life sciences, industrial, multifamily, and data center assets.  At the same time however, high inflation, rising interest rates, labor and supply chain shortages are increasing costs associated with all real estate development and operations. The impact of ongoing war in eastern Europe is another cloud tempering optimism. We urge national policymakers to focus on creating jobs and supporting strong real estate asset values. Both actions would buttress the overall economy and help local community budgets provide needed safety, education and transportation services.”

The Roundtable’s Overall Sentiment Index—a measure of senior executives’ confidence and expectations about the commercial real estate market environments—is scored on a scale of 1 to 100 by averaging the scores of Current and Future Economic Sentiment Indices. Any score over 50 is viewed as positive. ­­­­ 

Topline findings include:

  • The Q2 2022 Real Estate Roundtable Sentiment Index registered an overall score of 51, a decrease of 15 points from the previous quarter’s overall score and 26 points lower than a year earlier. Survey respondents remain optimistic but have tempered their expectations due to geopolitical and economic uncertainties, which include rising interest rates, increased inflation, and labor and supply chain shortfalls.
  • Perceptions vary by property type and geography, with industrial, multifamily, life sciences, and data centers continuing to be most favored.  As employers continue to roll out return-to-office policies, the demand for office space remains uncertain.
  • Asset values have trended upward across asset classes compared to last year, while forward-looking expectations are starting to taper off.
  • Participants cited a continued availability of debt and equity capital despite those heightened concerns over rising interest rates, geopolitical concerns, and inflationary risk.

Data for the Q2 survey was gathered in April by Chicago-based Ferguson Partners on The Roundtable’s behalf.  See the full Q2 report.

The Real Estate Roundtable brings together leaders of the nation’s top publicly-held and privately-owned real estate ownership, development, lending and management firms with the leaders of major national real estate trade associations to jointly address key national policy issues relating to real estate and the overall economy.

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