The Real Estate Roundtable

Thank you to all who participated in our recent Town Hall with POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin! 🏛️📰 We had an insightful discussion on the 2024 election landscape, including the potential for a Senate flip and the impact of a split government on key #CRE issues. No matter the outcome, core issues for the real estate industry—tax policy, energy, housing affordability and liquidity will remain central to the legislative agenda in 2025. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to advocate for solutions that support sustainable real estate investments and economic growth. Read more: 👇 https://bit.ly/3BZugH2

As extreme weather events like Hurricanes Helene and Milton strike, the need for robust flood insurance reform is urgent. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is essential to helping property owners recover from flood-related disasters. However, reforms are needed to ensure the program's long-term sustainability. Policymakers must prioritize a long-term reauthorization, modernize coverage, and introduce new risk mitigation measures to better protect homeowners and communities. Let's work together to secure a more resilient future. #NFIP Learn more: https://bit.ly/4095L40

🏢➡️🏘️ Office-to-residential conversions are reshaping cities across the U.S. With high office vacancy rates and a persistent housing shortage, cities are increasingly turning to conversions to address these challenges. Local governments are rolling out incentive programs, and cities like New York, D.C., and Minneapolis are making major progress—but more support is needed. 🎧 In a recent CBRE podcast, Spencer Levy, Co-Chair of RER’s Research Committee, discussed how Cleveland is leading the charge on office-to-residential conversions and what it means for housing and urban revitalization. https://bit.ly/4eDM4WJ However, regulatory and financial hurdles remain. Policymakers should expand incentives and streamline processes to unlock the full potential of these projects. 📖 Learn more about our recommendations to accelerate progress on property conversions: https://bit.ly/3Y5Vvap #CRE #PropertyConversions #UrbanRenewal #AffordableHousing #HousingPolicy

🏢📄 The Real Estate Roundtable has shared its 2025 tax legislative priorities with Congress, emphasizing policies that support long-term investment, affordable housing, and economic growth. Key recommendations include: • Preserve the reduced capital gains tax rate, crucial for driving real estate investment and job creation 📈 • Retain like-kind exchanges to promote community reinvestment and property improvements 🔄 • Expand affordable housing incentives, such as the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) 🏠 We urge lawmakers to maintain a competitive tax code that supports economic growth and critical #CRE priorities. Learn more in Roundtable Weekly: https://bit.ly/3Y6MQo6 #CRE #TaxPolicy #AffordableHousing

With $240M in federal funding announced by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for Building Performance Standards (BPS), now is the perfect time for state & local lawmakers to ensure these policies are well-designed and consistent across jurisdictions. The Real Estate Roundtable's SVP & Counsel Duane Desiderio has developed a 20-point BPS Policy Guide to help policymakers craft effective, fair, and data-driven standards. The guide offers key recommendations for consistency, transparency, and collaboration to meet climate goals while maintaining prosperous local economies. This policy guide will help #CRE stakeholders collaborate with policymakers to: • Streamline conflicting BPS policies • Leverage data to drive energy standards • Balance climate goals with housing affordability and economic growth We invite policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders to explore how we can shape BPS laws that work for everyone. 🔗 Download the BPS Policy Guide: https://bit.ly/3U20Zlh #RealEstate #BPS #Policy #CRE #Sustainability

We are proud to share that Jeffrey DeBoer, President & CEO of The Real Estate Roundtable, was honored with the Lamplighter Award by the American Friends of Lubavitch. 🌟 This recognition underscores his unwavering leadership and commitment to serving the hashtag #CRE community and beyond. Jeff was recognized alongside Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, with the ceremony chaired by John F. Fish, Chairman of Suffolk Construction and immediate past Chair of The Roundtable’s Board of Directors, and Norm Brownstein, Founder & Chairman of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. Congratulations, Jeff! #Leadership #Service #Communitiy Learn more about the award: https://bit.ly/4gwbBSU Watch 📽 Lamplighter Awards 2024: https://bit.ly/3XR4Xzp

Our Q3 2024 Sentiment Index Report is here, as covered by Connect CRE! This quarter, the survey suggested a growing confidence among commercial real estate executives in the future of the #CRE market, despite ongoing challenges. Q3 Sentiment Index Topline Findings: All indices reported increases compared to the previous quarter and one year ago. Overall sentiment index registered a score of 64, an increase of three points over the previous quarter. The Current Index registered 59, a four-point increase over Q2 2024. The Future Index posted a score of 70 points, an increase of four points from the previous quarter, indicating that uncertainty surrounding the future of asset values and availability of capital persists, but has lessened. Evolving market trends continue to shape the #CRE landscape. + 70% of Q3 survey participants expect general market conditions to show improvement one year from now. + 48% of respondents said conditions are better now compared to this time last year. + A significant 88% of Q3 survey participants expressed optimism that asset values will be higher or the same one year from now, indicating some semblance of expected stability. + The real estate capital markets landscape remains challenging, but 71% of respondents believe the availability of equity capital will improve in one year, while 60% said the availability of debt capital will improve in one year. Some subsector asset classes, such as data centers and student housing, are well-positioned from both a fundamentals and capital availability perspective. However, Class B office properties continue to face ongoing challenges, and the fast pace of multifamily and industrial rent growth has subsided. Roundtable President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer said, “The increase in our Q3 Sentiment Index indicates that while uncertainty remains, the industry is gradually regaining confidence. Leaders are seeing signs of stabilization in asset values and a potential improvement in the availability of capital, which are encouraging signals as we navigate this complex environment.” Take a closer look at the full report here: https://bit.ly/47mb0PC

🎧 Don’t miss The Roundtable's SVP & Counsel, Duane Desiderio, joins Darin Mellott and host Spencer Levy of CBRE’s podcast, Come Together: How Collaboration and Regulation Will Shape Commercial Real Estate. 🏢 In this insightful discussion, Duane delves into the critical role of collaboration between the public and private sectors in addressing today’s pressing real estate challenges, office-to-residential conversions, and the housing shortage. #CRE #Collaboration #RealEstateTrends

Our President & CEO Jeffrey DeBoer recently joined POLITICO and National Association of REALTORS® CEO Nykia Wright at the #DNC for a productive discussion about how #CRE impacts all Americans, and what’s next for the industry in Washington. They touched on: 🏠 Affordable housing & housing supply 🏙️ Safe cities 💲Jobs & pension plans 📊 Tax policy, and more Take a moment to watch the segment here: 🎥 https://bit.ly/47a4c7H We look forward to continuing to educate policymakers on both sides of the aisle about the importance of CRE and the need for smart public policy that supports a vibrant industry and economy. #affordablehousing #realestate #economy

We welcome the @White House's proposal to streamline the permitting process for housing and clean energy projects involving historical buildings. Exempting these projects from the Section 106 review process is a positive step that will help combat NIMBYism and accelerate the development of much-needed housing and sustainable energy infrastructure. The new rule excludes certain housing conversions and clean energy retrofits from the lengthy Section 106 process if they have a federal nexus through grants, loans, or permits, such as HUD loans, DOT loans, DOE loans for solar panels, GSA disposals, or specific environmental permits. While this is a great start, there's more work to be done. Projects without a strong federal nexus, like private housing accepting Section 8 vouchers or those qualifying for federal rehab tax credits, will not benefit from this exemption. Additionally, buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places and state-level historic preservation processes are still subject to review. We’ll share more analysis of the proposal in the coming weeks. RER looks forward to working with policymakers to further eliminate barriers and promote efficient development to meet our nation's housing and energy needs. 🏘️Read the full announcement: 👇 https://bit.ly/3SE0n4z Additional RER recommendations: 👇 White House Conversion Letter: https://bit.ly/3VXRvbV RER President & CEO, Jeff DeBoer's Hill Testimony: https://bit.ly/3UJAOk7