Real Estate Forum

The day will begin with opening remarks by Real Estate Media Inc. editor-in-chief Michael G. Desiato, followed by a "Town Hall Meeting" that will feature a panel of five industry heavy-hitters discussing the current status of Washington, DC as a national leader in the office, retail and multifamily markets. Advantis/GVA president and CEO Petch Gibbons will moderate the panel, which will cover such topics as whether or not the area's longstanding charmed existence as a low vacancy rate destination will last for much longer, if growth will continue, and how increasingly high land costs could affect the market. John Donovan, senior managing director for Metropolitan Washington, DC for CarrAmerica Realty Corp. will sit down with Desiato for RealShare's popular "Inside the Real Estate Mind" presentation.

Peter Linneman, Linneman Associates principal and Albert Sussman professor of real estate, finance and public policy at Philadelphia's Wharton School of Business, will offer attendees a view of the market from the outside looking in; he will take a look at national, regional and local trends that will influence all facets of the market this year. He will be followed by "The Facts and Figures Behind the Washington, DC-area Investment Market," in which Marcus & Millichap managing director Hessam Nadji assesses research statistics for the area's office, multifamily and retail sectors.

There will be two hour-long periods, one in mid-morning and another in the afternoon, during which concurrent sessions on more specific issues will take place. Topics in the morning include "What Goes Up…Must Come Down? Who's Buying, Selling and Why in the Investment Sales Market," "Revitalized & Resurgent...The Outlook for Leasing, Investment & Development in Northern Virginia" and "Baseball & Beyond: Residential, Retail and Office Opportunities at the Anacostia Waterfront." The latter session will cover the wide-ranging development potential for the long-neglected waterfront area in southeast Washington, DC, and other issues such as the impending impact of the city's new $400-million baseball stadium to be built along the Anacostia River.