Author: Savannah Rollins

In commercial real estate, not every opportunity is created equal. Some sparkle at first glance but fade with time. Others seem ordinary but blossom into career-defining deals. After decades in this business, I’ve learned that success often comes down to asking the right questions before diving in. That’s why I developed the QUALIFY framework. QUALIFY is an acronym — a checklist, really — designed to evaluate whether a prospect or assignment is worth your time and effort. Here’s what it stands for: —Quantitative Need: Is there a real, measurable requirement? A client who says, “I’m looking for space,” isn’t enough.…

In July 2024, I had the opportunity to interview Professor of International Taxation at the University of Mannheim Business School, Christoph Spengel, about the future of the EU taxA tax is a mandatory payment or charge collected by local, state, and national governments from individuals or businesses to cover the costs of general government services, goods, and activities. mix. A lightly edited transcript from that interview is below and shows the importance of balancing different types of revenue-raising policies with societal goals. Sean Bray: How do you perceive the current EU tax mix as it stands today? Christoph Spengel: I…

Counterintuitive results always make good copy, so the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) has a winner with a new analysis claiming that “New Data Shows Wealth Expands After Higher State Taxes on High-Income Earners.” But this is not at all what the data show. IPS only succeeds in demonstrating that America has more millionaires than it used to, not that high-taxA tax is a mandatory payment or charge collected by local, state, and national governments from individuals or businesses to cover the costs of general government services, goods, and activities. states are doing well in attracting or retaining them. No…

The great office restructuring has begun — thanks to the pandemic’s passing. In January, Kerin Van Andel, JLL executive vice president of workplace strategy, lost her nameplate on the wall outside her JLL office on the 13th floor of a twin tower skyscraper complex on South Flower Street in downtown Los Angeles. She previously occupied a square office, but when the downtown offices were remodeled, she moved to a breezy area where windows can be opened and quarter-paneled glass doors fold back — giving way to a terrace balcony. The collaborative office space — which JLL calls “hotelling” — replaced…

Since mid-January, there’s been an uptick nationwide of people heading back to workspaces. The numbers curated from electronic badges being swiped coincide roughly with Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration on Jan. 20 and his team’s subsequent mandate that federal workers return to the office five days a week, similar to corporate-led initiatives nationwide. Kastle Systems’ “Back-to-Work Barometer” measures badge swipes weekly, comparing current occupancy levels with pre-pandemic levels in 10 major cities. The data baseline is February 2020, before Covid-19 closed  workplaces globally. More workers have returned to their place of employment since May 2023, but the pace has bumped up again…

In the aftermath of the pandemic, industrial lease negotiations entered uncharted territory. But unlike the Great Recession, this period saw a surge — not a collapse — in rental rates, particularly in Class A logistics warehouses throughout Southern California. Rents doubled, in some cases even tripled, driven by soaring demand, constrained supply and e-commerce acceleration. That upward trajectory has since leveled off, and now we’re seeing a return to more normalized leasing conditions. However, rental rates have not yet subsided to pre-pandemic levels. Many in the industry expect downward pressure to continue throughout 2025, especially in markets with rising vacancy…

By Biz Carson | Bloomberg Markets In San Francisco’s financial district, the One Montgomery building evokes the opulence of America’s turn of the 20th century gilded age. With its Tuscan columns, marble staircases and bronze doors, the Renaissance Revival landmark once housed Crocker Bank, named after one of the tycoons who built the western portion of America’s first transcontinental railroad. These days, the property exemplifies the city’s shifting fortunes: Ghazi Shami, chief executive officer of the record label Empire, bought it in January for $22.5 million, more than 70% below its selling price only six years before. Ghazi grew up…

Credits for Taxes Paid to Other States Individuals who reside in a state with an income tax can claim a credit from their home state for income taxes paid to other states, so while paying income taxes to other states does not necessarily increase an individual’s total state tax liability (this depends on whether the other state has higher rates on that income), it does substantially increase the complexity and costs associated with filing. Since states have the authority to tax individuals where they live and where they work, it is relatively common for more than one state to stake…

It’s hard to conceive of the American dream without access to affordable goods. Consider how America’s middle class lives today. They own their own houses, have access to limitless entertainment options and have a diet which consists of food that comes from halfway around the world. That we can access all that on a middle-class income, historically, has not been the norm. It’s a triumph that has only been made possible thanks to the complex supply chains that bring us these goods from far-away places and compete to keep costs low-enough for us to be able to afford them. No…

Tucked into the scenic hills of Lower Lucas Valley in San Rafael, Appleberry Drive is a beloved streets for Eichler enthusiasts in Marin County —and for good reason. This tranquil stretch of mid-century modern architecture has long attracted homebuyers seeking the iconic design and indoor-outdoor lifestyle that Eichler Homes are known for. And today, we’re excited to share a new listing that beautifully captures all of that charm—plus some serious upgrades. A Modernized Gem at 833 Appleberry Drive Just listed at $1,550,000 by Marin Eichler homeowner Renee Adelmann of Bay Area Modern Real Estate, this modernized Atrium-Model Eichler is not…