Austin Institute of Real Estate

Austin Institute of Real Estate Reports

Council OKs conservation audits for property sales
Austin Business Journal

The Austin City Council approved an ordinance Thursday requiring energy conservation audits and other disclosure requirements as part of the sales process for commercial, multifamily, and single family properties. The ordinance would become effective June 1, 2009...Read More

Thu, 11/06/2008 - 03:00

 

$129B of CMBS Loans on Servicers' Watchlists
Oct 10, 2008 - CRE News

CMBS master servicers have placed a total of $129 billion of securitized commercial mortgages on their watchlists, an indicator of heightened perceived risk.
Nearly $10 billion of that was added since the beginning of September, according to Realpoint... Read More

Fri, 10/10/2008 - 15:34

Market Turmoil Frightens Off Young Investors
Participation in 401(k) Plans Is Dismal, as Is Savings Rate; 'I Don't Know Where to Start'
By Mary Pilon

The idea of saving for retirement always terrified Zack Teibloom. With the stock market's big drop this year, it seems even more daunting.

"I don't even have one K, let alone 401 Ks," says the 23-year-old Mr. Teibloom, a recent college grad who works as an editor for a small magazine in Chicago. "I'm worried that if I put money away, it won't even be safe the way the markets are going."...Read More

Thu, 09/25/2008 - 02:00

Made to Stick: The Myth of Mutual Funds
Why we don't always believe the truth.  
By Dan Heath & Chip Heath 

Let's pull off the Band-Aid quickly. You've come to believe that mutual funds are a smart place to put your money. They're not.

That's the assessment of the smartest minds in finance, supported by a mountain of historical data...Read More

Mon, 09/01/2008 - 02:00

How Low Interest Rates Contributed to the Credit Crisis
By Ethan Penner 

"What inning are we in?" How many times have we all heard that inane question asked and answered in the credit-driven downturn that we've been suffering through for over a year now?

We've heard many answers from financial industry and government leaders, such as "the worst is behind us," or "we'll not need to raise any further capital" -- only to learn in short order that our leaders really did not have the ability to make the market bend to their will...Read More

Mon, 08/18/2008 - 02:00

The Spoiled Children of Capitalism
In large measure our wealth isn’t the product of capitalism, it is capitalism.
By Jonah Goldberg

It’s an old story. Loving parents provide a generous environment for their offspring. Kids are given not only ample food, clothing and shelter, but the emotional necessities as well: encouragement, discipline, self-reliance, the ability to work with others and on their own. And yet, in due course, the kids rebel... Read More

Fri, 08/01/2008 - 02:00