RealShare EXCLUSIVE: Conference Analyzes Years-Long Success of DC Market

WASHINGTON, DC-Brokers, developers, investors and property managers will gather tomorrow at the RealShare Washington, DC conference to ponder just how long the sizzling office and multifamily markets can continue to burn in the Greater Washington, DC area. The region’s role as a leader in commercial real estate–as well as other topics ranging from a possible looming slowdown in the condo market to means of breaking into the competitive investment sales market–will be examined at the conference taking place at the JW Marriott on Pennsylvania Avenue.

The event is part of the RealShare Conference Series produced by New York City-based Real Estate Media, publisher of GlobeSt.com and Real Estate Forum. It will be attended by more than 500 industry insiders, a notable increase over last year’s attendance level. Needless to say, the area’s success has attracted attention from abroad, so there is also an international faction among the registrants. “This has been a calendar event for the Washington, DC commercial real estate community,” Real Estate Media president Jonathan A. Schein tells GlobeSt.com. “Each year, we get more attendees. We’re going to have to take it to a larger venue.”

This year’s venue, however, will still offer registrants a wide range of topics to explore, as well as a bevy of opportunities for networking. The half-day conference will be shaped at the start by Schein’s opening remarks, which are to be followed by the Town Hall Meeting highlighting the future of leasing, investment and development with regard to everything from the prospect of maintaining the tight market to the effects BRAC may have on Northern Virginia. From there, the conference takes on a new twist with the debut of Pardon the Interruption, a 15-minute tête-à-tête between two leading real estate players–Monument Realty principal Jeff Neal and Boston Properties executive vice president Ray Ritchey–that will keep the two volleying their opinions back and forth. “In Ray Ritchey and Jeff Neal we have two of most respected and intelligent dealmakers in the market and they will be offering comments on a wide-range of topics, some more real estate related than others,” Real Share Conference Series director Richard Kelley tells GlobeSt.com. “I think our audience is in for a real treat.”