For the past year, he's advised Real Capital Analytics on its newly created global property database. "RCA's global database is a paradigm shift in the way investment data is shared," he says. "The old idea of closely protecting data in a culture of secrecy is being replaced by a belief that accessing the data is only the first step. The real skill is using interpretive skills that come from market knowledge and experience, to distill the data into meaningful investment strategies." Here are more of his thoughts:

GlobeSt.com: Why is RCA calling this the "first global commercial real estate transaction database"?

Williams: No one has previously collected detailed data about sales of commercial/investment properties--that is, office, retail, hotels, multi-family, industrial and development land-- across the world. RCA has done this for US markets since 2000. Now, after overcoming such issues as different ways of measuring buildings, converting currencies at the time of the sale and smoothing technical and reporting protocols, the database--with mapping--is about to be launched.