LOS ANGELES—“Historically, over the last two to three years, I think the returns have been better in the Western region,” says Richard Lewis, a principal at Commonwealth Partners LLC, in a video interview at Allen Matkins recent View From the Top conference, which GlobeSt.com has exclusively obtained. The video offers insights into the real estate investment market from the country's top-tier experts. Lewis goes on to say, “Effective rents relative to values were better on the West Coast as opposed to the East Coast, and we are finding that has become more of a parody nationally.”

The video report interviews the experts that spoke on the event's real estate investment panel, and records each speakers recap and personal analysis as well as highlights from the panel discussion itself. “We put the industry leaders together from Kilroy Realty, Hudson Pacific, CBRE, Eastdil Secured and others who shared their insights in regards to how the California market has been effected by the economic recovery, job growth, the influx of foreign capital into the coastal markets and other fundamental drivers,” Tony Natsis, an attorney at Allen Matkins, tells GlobeSt.com

The video captures experts discussing everything from the most booming markets to the best way to maximize an investment's return. The good news, according to the experts, is that the slow recovery has created much more transparency with less irresponsible behavior. “We're not seeing some of the irresponsible underwriting and lending practices that we saw at the peak of the market,” says Kevin Shannon, vice chairman at CBRE Investment Properties.

Although most of the leaders had a bright outlook, they did talk about the potential for a downturn, which will inevitably happen at some point. “What do you do to get ready for whatever that cycle could be,” Victor Coleman, CEO of Hudson Pacific Properties, asked the audience. M. Eli Khouri, EVP and chief investment officer of Kilroy Realty, added, “You have to put yourself in a position to take advantage if it does end with a thud.” One interesting point made by Coleman is that the tech and media industries are driving these investment markets; however, the companies are so new that they have not yet had to survive a downturn. David Osias, managing partner at Allen Matkins, had the same thought, explaining that these companies “are everyone's darlings right now, but whether they have the management power to last through a down cycle will be interesting to see.  There is a bust cycle eventually.”