Danielle Douglas is associate editor of Real Estate Forum.

ATLANTA-While robust population and job growth has fueled this city's property markets for the past few years, it may not be enough to combat stagnant rental rates and flat absorption in many segments. This was the overarching concern of the majority of speakers at the first RealShare Atlanta conference.

More than 200 of the area's leading real estate executives gathered at the Westin Buckhead to hear owners, developers and brokers give their assessment of the state of Atlanta¹s office, residential and industrial markets.

In a city noted for its numerous groundbreakings, talk of construction costs and overbuilding took center stage. In a debate-style discussion that kicked of the event, Hines' vice president, Kurt Hartman, suggested that rising construction costs have served as a barrier to entry¬ particularly in residential helping to stave off oversupply in the market. However, John Shlesinger, vice chairman at CB Richard Ellis, contended that, at least in the office sector, many developers see these costs as a mere formality of building. Further, as returns on acquisitions begin to reflect yields from new construction, developers are given more of an incentive to build.