Curated experiences could be the key to retail's bright future | How will Hudson Yards affect the NYC's residential product? | Bond shortage might force ECB's hand on stimulus
August 21, 2017
The daily source on REITs and real estate investment
E-commerce hasn't killed physical retail, as many observers feared it might -- instead, technology is reshaping the physical shopping experience, writes entrepreneur Daniel Freedman. Amazon's acquisition of grocer Whole Foods and its planned integration into Amazon Fresh are examples of how e-commerce companies are emphasizing the best things about in-person experiences while minimizing the hassle factor.
The European Central Bank may have to taper its bond-buying efforts next year regardless of its inflation target as available bonds in the eurozone start to run low.
Single-family home rental REITs have established themselves as long-term players providing additional housing options at a time when the housing market continues to recover. This commentary reviews this REIT market segment's rapid growth and the outlook for what may lie ahead.
Senior-housing developers are building a new concept in Manhattan despite doubts about how widespread the appeal will be: luxury housing in urban locations for assisted living. The "absolute lack of supply of this product provides some comfort that even though these are pioneering projects, there will be demand," says Michael Knott, managing director at Green Street Advisors.
Malls are adding unique tenants -- such as Madame Tussauds wax museum at Opry Mills in Nashville, Tenn., and an indoor rope course at Palisades Center in West Nyack, N.Y. -- and otherwise trying to emphasize experiences in order to keep the centers full and vibrant. In other cases, they are redeveloping into mixed-use complexes.
Quality Care Properties has filed suit to remove HCR ManorCare as the operator of its skilled-nursing and assisted-living facilities in order to replace it with a court-appointed receiver over unpaid rent. Quality Care Properties also wants to evict HCR ManorCare and find new operators for the properties.
Energy Future Holdings, which is in bankruptcy, is pulling out of a deal to sell power-transmission company Oncor for $9 billion to Berkshire Hathaway, people familiar with the matter said. Instead, the company reportedly is accepting a $9.45 billion takeover offer from Sempra Energy.
Central bank chiefs, including European Central Bank President Mario Draghi and Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, are convening in Jackson Hole, Wyo., this week with two issues high on the agenda. Despite general growth worldwide, inflation remains low and delegates will explore the reasons while keenly awaiting Draghi's scheduled speech, which may give some indication of a move toward tapering the ECB's stimulus scheme.
Representatives of Canada, Mexico and the US said after the first round of renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement they are receptive to moving swiftly. The countries said they "are committed to an accelerated and comprehensive negotiation process that will upgrade our agreement."