Valliere cited three things that brought the nation to this point: first, “receipts look really good, and I don't see these slowing in the foreseeable future;" second, “there is no new spending, I haven't ever really seen anything like it;” and third, “we're actually seeing real spending cuts for the first time in my career.”

Valliere concluded his presentation with the growing isolationism in America. “I always look as an analyst for new themes, new ideas, something that comes along that perhaps we haven't thought of.” He continued, “The really troubling theme to me is this really strong undercurrent in America toward isolationism. And those of you who have read history certainly know that in the 1930's the US had turned isolationist, so did France, and we all regretted it.”

He explained that “We saw this hornet's nest stirred by the debacle in Syria. That highlighted the growing isolationism in America.” Valliere concluded that, “What is the message that we send as the US becomes more isolationist? It is something that I think will haunt us over the next few years as the country decides which way we want to go on that.”

More than 600 Colliers clients and industry professionals attended the forecast at the California Theatre in downtown San Jose. The greatest optimism was centered on trends and records set in Silicon Valley's real estate market during 2013.

The event also included a panel of speakers: Hanns Lee, senior vice president of Loews Enterprises; Bill Witte, president of Related California; Johnathan Harvey, Turner-Devcon's director of Levi's Stadium; and moderator, Lisa Gillmor, vice president of Gillmor & Associates and three-term council member for the City of Santa Clara.

Gillmor opened the panel discussion on the “Metamorphosis of Santa Clara.” She described how the 49ers and the City of Santa Clara formed their partnership to build a new home for the Bay Area's beloved football team. “We had to figure out how a city of only 118,000 people would pull this off” Gillmor said. “In 2010, we won the election by more than 15 points. So our citizens sent a very loud message that they wanted the stadium in our city.” Gillmor continued, “We created the environment that attracted the stadium.” When speaking about how the city of Santa Clara is business friendly, she said, “We did not think twice when we were asked to cooperate with the super bowl bid.”

Panelist Harvey, part of the general contractor team building the new stadium, gave a rundown of some of the facts and figures of the stadium. While unveiling new photos of the stadium's progress, he described the magnitude of the Levi's Stadium project.

“The site itself is 21 acres, and the field level is 10 acres of that,” Harvey said. “It is a very interesting build process because of the limited space to lay down. We broke ground on April 23 of 2012. And just about six months before that we were told we were going to take a year out of the schedule—which is a whole other story,” Harvey said.

When asked about some of the unique amenities that are in store for fans attending, he described, “The technology piece that is under wraps is going to be a game changer. I can tell you that the infrastructure that is being put in place in the stadium is second to none: It has never been done in a facility this size.”

Lee, followed with an overview of Centennial Gateway, a joint venture with Lowe Enterprises and Montana Property Group, which would serve as an entertainment hub to both the city and the stadium, “It will serve as a gateway to both Related's project and in many ways to the stadium as well.”

Lee continued, “In this particular area, we really believe high density and an urban environment is really going to bring the energy that has been established by the stadium.” Lee closed with, “The stadium has its own energy; obviously it will be extremely energetic on game day, but similar to a large being, it has a thermal mass and the energy doesn't go away.”

Witte described Related California's project, City Place. “This is about a central gathering place that's in the city of Santa Clara and will serve the city, but will also have a regional impact.” Witte went on to describe the demand for a project of this magnitude. “It was catalyzed by the stadium—the demand wasn't created by the stadium—but the stadium focused people's attention on this site.” Witte added, “Despite all of the development in the Silicon Valley, there is really a hole in the doughnut.” he continued. “The whole can be greater than the sum of the parts.” Closing with, “What I am really excited about is to help create a real place, not just collection of buildings.”