Author: Beth Mattson-Teig
Beth Mattson-Teig is a freelance business writer and editor based in Minneapolis. She specializes in commercial real estate and finance topics. Mattson-Teig writes for several national business and industry publications and is the author of numerous white papers.
Articles by Beth Mattson-Teig
- Capital Markets Update: Real Estate Industry Braces for More Credit Tightening Ahead
Published on August 14, 2023 in Capital Markets
Although deals are still getting done, it is a tough market to find capital to fund acquisitions and development, and the need to deleverage maturing loans in a higher rate environment is fueling concerns about rising commercial real estate loan stress. That challenging market is evident in slumping transaction activity. - Tackling Office-to-Residential Conversion in St. Paul
Published on April 06, 2023 in
In St. Paul, Minnesota, the 386 Wabasha Avenue building was originally erected in 1971 and occupied by service company Ecolab for more than 40 years. - Cracks Appearing in U.S. Office Sector Lending; More Pain Ahead?
Published on March 13, 2023 in
Office property owners who were able to weather the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic are crashing into a hard reality wrought by sharply lower demand and higher interest rates. Undercurrents of stress are now emerging in the form of defaults. - Bringing Net Zero Commitments to U.S. Federal Buildings
Published on February 01, 2023 in
Energy performance requirements for federal buildings could propel change across the real estate industry. Because the federal government is the country’s largest owner and occupier of space, the rules will have a sizable impact. - Investors Backing Off Opportunity Funds in 2023
Published on January 03, 2023 in
The boom in private-equity real estate fundraising that has delivered a slew of billion-dollar megafunds in recent years has slammed into some formidable headwinds. Yet, near-term challenges are not diminishing the appetite for capital among a still-crowded field of fund managers and sponsors. - Can the Fed Manage a Soft Landing? Economists Weigh In on Looming U.S. Recession in 2023
Published on December 02, 2022 in
Although opinions vary on whether the U.S. Federal Reserve Board can successfully manage a “soft landing,” many in the commercial real estate industry are bracing for a U.S. recession in 2023. - Borrowers Feeling the Pinch from Shifting Capital Markets for Commercial Real Estate
Published on November 09, 2022 in
Developers and investors seeking capital to finance commercial real estate are facing a new reality in which capital is both more expensive and less available. Borrowers still have options, but those options depend on the credit quality and type of deal, as well as what that borrower is looking for in that loan. - Female Leaders Share Insights on Their Path to Success in CRE
Published on October 26, 2022 in
Two industry leaders discussed how they broke through the glass ceiling, lessons they learned, and how they are helping support a new generation of leaders at the ULI Fall Meeting. - Private Capital and Valuations Driving Commercial Real Estate M&A Activity
Published on October 03, 2022 in
Rising interest rates have not derailed a steady pipeline of merger and acquisition activity in commercial real estate—at least not yet. The sector has seen a number of mega-mergers announced this year but not well above the historical average. - Path to Net Zero Begins with “Energy Diet”
Published on December 20, 2021 in
At the 2021 ULI Fall Meeting, experts from Nuveen Real Estate and Boston Properties shared strategies, case studies, and results of efforts to achieve operational net zero at the asset and portfolio levels. - Decarbonizing the Built Environment through Renewable Energy Auctions
Published on November 05, 2021 in
ULI Greenprint Innovation Partners: Purchasing renewable energy through online auctions is one way to procure greener energy for properties quickly, efficiently, and in the exact amount that serves both operational and environmental, social, and governance needs. - Gateway versus Secondary Markets Battle Dependent on Strategy
Published on October 14, 2021 in
Are secondary markets stealing the lunch—tenants and investor capital—of gateway cities? Not so fast. One key takeaway from the panel discussion “Markets Shift: Are the Lines Blurring between Traditional Gateway Markets and Secondary Cities?” is that the death of the gateway market has been highly exaggerated. - How Real Estate Can Build Back Better after the Pandemic
Published on October 14, 2021 in
A common phrase heard during the pandemic is that people cannot wait to get back to normal. “If there is anything that we know now, it is that normal just doesn’t work for far too many people,” said Julia Stasch, president of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, moderator of a ULI Fall Meeting general session titled "Build Back Better: The Mandate and the Opportunity," featuring Brookings Institution vice president and director Amy Liu, and founder and chairman of PSP Partners and former U.S. Secretary of Commerce in the Obama Administration Penny Pritzker. - Emerging Trends in Real Estate® 2022: Flexibility, Convenience Will Shape the Next Decade
Published on October 14, 2021 in
Despite potential storm clouds ahead, survey results from the Emerging Trends in Real Estate® United States and Canada 2022 report show strong optimism. - ULI’s Fall 2021 Real Estate Economic Forecast Reveals Near-Term Optimism for Real Estate
Published on October 13, 2021 in
Despite a forecast for higher inflation and rising interest rates, experts continue to have a favorable view on returns and performance for commercial real estate. However, the high tide of the improving economy is not raising all boats to the same level. There remains a clear bifurcation across and within property sectors. - Demand for Commercial Real Estate Remains Strong Despite “Bumpy” Outlook for Economy
Published on October 12, 2021 in
The pandemic is a bit like jury duty: no one quite knows just how long it’s going to last. That analogy set the stage Tuesday morning for a panel discussion titled “Economic Outlook and What It Means for Real Estate”—with a keynote by Austan Goolsbee, professor of economics at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, followed by a discussion with Constance Moore, former president and chief executive officer of BRE Properties and a ULI trustee and governor, and Roy March, chief executive officer of Eastdil Secured, also a ULI governor. - Preparing for a Comprehensive Climate Plan in Canada
Published on May 04, 2021 in
A recent ULI webinar—with member speakers from ULI Toronto, ULI British Columbia, and ULI Alberta—addressed what leading real estate companies are doing to decarbonize their operations and development in anticipation of regulatory requirements. - Developers Leveraging New Tools to Quantify Social ROI
Published on September 09, 2020 in
As is common in the infrastructure and regulatory world, economic analysis is increasingly being used in the real estate industry to provide quantifiable insights into the long-term outcomes of design and investment strategies related to owner, occupant, and community impacts. Companies are using evidence-based research to understand how changes in the workplace can have a direct impact on both employee well-being and bottom-line financials. - Using Data to Drive Modernization for Next-Level Portfolio and Asset Resilience in Commercial Real Estate
Published on July 27, 2020 in
Many owners have already picked off the low-hanging fruit of installing LEDs, and upgrading equipment where budgets allow. Modernization—and specifically, the ability to leverage tools to take a deeper, more granular dive and capture more operational data—is allowing owners to identify hidden inefficiencies, reduce energy use, and boost net operating income. - ULI’s Latest Forecast Calling for Strong U.S. Rebound in 2021
Published on May 26, 2020 in
The latest "Real Estate Economic Forecast," produced by the ULI Center for Capital Markets and Real Estate, points to a U.S. economy that has likely already hit bottom, with growth resuming in the second half of the year that will soften some of the blow. Panelists on a ULI webinar said that this outlook comes with crossed fingers due to uncertainty related to the path of COVID-19 and the time it takes to develop an effective vaccine. - Owners and Tenants Adjusting to a New World for Multifamily
Published on April 01, 2020 in
Multifamily property managers in the United States are developing a new playbook to deal with the COVID-19 crisis. The primary focus for apartment owners and managers is making sure their residents and employees are safe. At the same time, the industry is very much in the customer service business. - More of Middle America Facing Rising Cost of Rental Housing
Published on February 05, 2020 in
The latest research from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies highlights a problem that many communities are experiencing firsthand—that the cost burden for rental housing is expanding and pushing higher up the income ladder to affect middle-income households more significantly. - Mass Timber’s Expanding Presence in the Commercial Building Industry
Published on January 23, 2020 in
First movers on using mass timber for both structural and design elements are seeing a growing wave of projects lining up before them. The regulatory environment is also adapting while the business model is expanding. - ULI Forecast Predicts Continued Modest Growth Ahead through 2021
Published on October 07, 2019 in
The persistent theme over the current economic cycle of “lower for longer” growth has contributed to a record expansion cycle that has surpassed 10 years. Results from ULI’s latest “Real Estate Economic Forecast” show that trend is likely to continue into 2021, said panelists speaking on a webinar discussing the survey results. - Working with the Private Sector to Tackle the Workforce Housing Shortage in the Washington, D.C., Region
Published on August 07, 2019 in
The Washington Housing Initiative wants to put capital to work to preserve a dwindling supply of workforce housing across the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, bringing together a large group of public and private stakeholders—including experienced multifamily developers, owners, and operators—to create a strategic model addressing the workforce housing shortage that can be shared broadly with other communities battling the same problem. - Partnership for Building Reuse Helps Support Code Change in Chicago
Published on June 07, 2019 in
The city of Chicago is celebrating the adoption of an extensive overhaul of its building code that has been decades in the making. The new code means some big changes ahead for the city. For ULI Chicago’s Building Reuse Initiative, it also represents a significant step forward in its work to clear a path for more building reuse throughout the city. - Global Real Estate Investors See Slowing Growth in U.S. and Europe, Increased Interest in Asia
Published on May 28, 2019 in
ULI research highlights continued demand for property as investors try to balance their appetite for yield amid potential market risks. - Funding ULI Diversity Initiatives in Four U.S. Regions
Published on May 20, 2019 in
Ten years ago, ULI Colorado launched its Real Estate Diversity Initiative (REDI). The grass-roots program has become a model within the Institute for fostering education and career opportunities for people of color and women that is now poised for national growth. ULI is leveraging a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to expand the REDI program throughout its network of district councils in the United States to St. Louis, Kansas City, Memphis, and Indiana. - ULI Real Estate Economic Forecast Sees More Runway Ahead for Current Growth Cycle
Published on May 02, 2019 in
The U.S. economy is weeks away from celebrating the start of its record-breaking 11th year of economic expansion, and the latest ULI Real Estate Economic Forecast is pointing to an even longer run that could extend through 2021, as discussed on a webinar hosted by ULI. - ULI Minnesota Helping Mayors Bridge Rural-Urban Policy Divide
Published on March 11, 2019 in
Minnesota’s urban and rural mayors are putting partisan politics aside and joining forces to find common ground on issues that include housing, transportation, and the workforce in an effort led by the ULI district council for the Twin Cities region. - Balancing Nashville’s Skyline with More Downtown Density
Published on February 19, 2019 in
Nashville has a new 65-story residential tower on the drawing board that could set a new record as the tallest building in the city. The proposed project highlights the change underway in the city. - Changing the Narrative on Affordable Housing in the Twin Cities
Published on December 18, 2018 in
Stakeholders who have worked to push for more affordable housing know firsthand that it can often be a contentious issue. But what if there were a way to avoid strategies that “backfire” and instead leverage more effective messaging to build public will and get people excited about providing high-quality housing for everyone? Advocates for more affordable housing described what methods are working for them, including the recent zoning changes in Minneapolis, at a recent ULI Minnesota event. - ULI Forecast Highlights Bifurcated Retail Sector, Strength in Industrial
Published on October 01, 2018 in
Results from the fall ULI Real Estate Economic Forecast show a rise in economic expansion in 2018, with growth tapering in 2019 and 2020. Tax reform is largely credited with the economic bounce that has occurred this year, with gross domestic product (GDP) growth that jumped from 2.2 percent in 2017 to an expected 3 percent this year, according to the survey conducted by the ULI Center for Capital Markets and Real Estate. - ULI Forecast Calls for Positive Outlook through 2018, Slowing in 2019
Published on April 19, 2018 in
The new ULI Real Estate Economic Forecast is taking a more bullish view on the U.S. economy—at least for the remainder of this year. As compared with the fall survey, key indicators such as gross domestic product (GDP) growth, jobs, and the Consumer Property Price Index (CPPI) all trended higher. But that boost may be short lived with growth tapering in 2019 and 2020. - Reconnecting a Bisected Neighborhood in St. Paul, Minnesota
Published on March 29, 2018 in
As part of ULI’s 10-Minute Walk campaign, a ULI Advisory Services panel presented recommendations on a proposed land bridge in St. Paul—a project that is both a physical and symbolic connection for the Rondo neighborhood. - Encouraging Aspiring Developers to Think Both Big and Small
Published on March 12, 2018 in
Speaking at a ULI Minnesota event, Kevin Cavenaugh, owner of Portland-based Guerrilla Development, said bigger is not necessarily better, and oftentimes it is worse, in terms of the complexity and risk. - Stadium Hosting Super Bowl Helped Kick Off Urban Renewal in Minneapolis
Published on January 29, 2018 in
Millions of people will be watching this year's Super Bowl. But for the host city of Minneapolis, the event is also a chance to showcase its newest sports venue and the urban revitalization that has come with it. - As Buildings Get Smarter, Managing the Added Security Risk
Published on November 08, 2017 in
Innovations in sensors, digital tech, and the “internet of things” (IoT) have created connected buildings that are becoming standard fare today. That evolution in building tech is generating more operating efficiencies—and opening the door to bigger cyber security risks. - Industrial Continues to Shine as ULI Forecast Calls for Slower Growth
Published on October 13, 2017 in
The latest ULI Real Estate Economic Forecast is predicting more positive momentum ahead for both the economy and the commercial real estate industry through 2019. That being said, the pace of growth is slowing and the survey of 48 economists and analysts clearly reveals some lowering of expectations. - Forecast Calls for Slower Growth in California, But Bullish on Los Angeles
Published on August 28, 2017 in
California may be easing into a soft landing with signs of “ebbing optimism” among developers on the three-year outlook for the state’s commercial and multifamily real estate markets. The latest Allen Matkins/UCLA Anderson Forecast California Commercial Real Estate Survey indicates slower growth ahead in the office, retail, and industrial sectors, but developers are more positive about opportunities in Orange County, Los Angeles, and San Diego. - Twin Cities Employers Bumping Up against Employee/Housing Mismatch
Published on July 31, 2017 in
The Minneapolis/Saint Paul metropolitan area is a prime example of how strong employment growth is putting a strain on the housing supply available in many U.S. cities. Since 2000, the number of Twin Cities households that face a housing cost burden—defined as spending more than 30 percent of their income on housing—has increased by 25 percent to a total of 199,000 households as of 2015, according to the Metropolitan Council. - U.S. Affordability Issues Increase as Household Growth Rebounds in Harvard Report
Published on June 22, 2017 in
The latest research from the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, makes a solid case that the U.S. housing market is firmly on the road to recovery. Yet the report also shines a spotlight on the problems still in play, namely insufficient supply and rising costs that are creating challenges for both renters and homebuyers. - T3 Office in Minneapolis Is Another Step Forward for Timber Construction
Published on April 20, 2017 in
Hines is widely known for building glass-and-steel skyscrapers. So, it would seem that the developer is going a bit against the grain in its latest endeavor with a boutique office property in Minneapolis made largely of wood. - Why Aren’t More Small Apartment Projects Built?
Published on April 14, 2017 in
Large, luxury apartment and condo developments have been dominating headlines and casting a big shadow over the “little guys” in rental housing. A new report released by Enterprise Community Partners and the Bedrosian Center on Governance at the University of Southern California aims to call attention to this overlooked segment of the market. - Calculating the Cost of Excess Parking in Transit-Oriented Developments
Published on February 14, 2017 in
A new study of TOD and parking, Empty Spaces, which focused on five case studies and was released by Smart Growth America in partnership with the University of Utah’s College of Architecture and Planning, found that even some of the top TOD projects in the United States had built too much parking. - How U.S. Communities Are Adapting to Climate Change
Published on December 21, 2016 in
Taking the necessary steps to prepare for climate change—and the extreme weather events that go along with it—can be a daunting task. A new report includes separate case studies of distinct adaptation actions from a diverse group of 17 communities across the nation from Boston to El Paso, Texas. - Loosening the Restrictions on FHA Condo Finance
Published on August 15, 2016 in
Congress has thrown its support behind new legislation that aims to fix some of the problems in the condo financing program of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). The Housing Opportunity through Modernization Act (H.R. 3700) will loosen some of the more stringent regulatory requirements specific to condo mortgage insurance that were introduced in the wake of the housing finance crisis. - Highlighting the Growth, Economic Opportunity in Walkable Urban Places
Published on July 15, 2016 in
New research shows that not only are walkable urban places (WalkUPs) in metropolitan areas ranging from New York City to Knoxville, Tennessee, on the rise nationally, but also the growing demand to locate in those areas is translating into significantly higher real estate rents. - Even in Affordable U.S. Cities, Energy Adds to Cost of Housing
Published on May 13, 2016 in
Improving energy efficiency in low-income households could create a ripple effect of health, economic, and environmental benefits for individuals, families, and communities, says a new report on low-income households in 48 of the largest U.S. cities. - Mapping Access to Transit, Jobs across the United States
Published on May 09, 2016 in
The Chicago-based nonprofit Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) and New York City–based TransitCenter unveiled an interactive transit tool in April that maps the access, quality, and use of transit across 371 cities in the United States, aggregating and mapping data from 805 transit agencies, 15,070 routes, and 543,787 bus and rail stops nationwide. - Stepping on the Scale: The Impact of Incentivizing Benchmarking for Building Owners
Published on March 03, 2016 in
For sustainable buildings, the topic moving to the forefront is benchmarking to raise the bar on efforts to reduce energy use and carbon emissions. Benchmarking of building energy consumption provides a number of advantages for building owners, occupants, and the broader community. - Retail Trends to Watch in 2016: Food as the True Anchor
Published on March 02, 2016 in
It could be a bumpy first half of the year for retail real estate: Despite continued improvement in key fundamentals and a strengthening U.S. economy, the retail sector is bracing for a bigger shake-out in store closures in the next few months. - Making the Case for More Innovation Districts
Published on December 15, 2015 in
Over the past decade, innovation districts have been popping up around the globe, from Barcelona to Seattle. Although there is no “cookie cutter” formula to these technology-centric developments, they do have some elements in common, including a major anchor institution and a shared goal of bringing together a mix of uses within a dense urban setting. - Remaking the Midwest: Mixed Use and the Rise of 18-Hour Cities
Published on November 25, 2015 in
A new report from CBRE says that major metropolitan area in the U.S. Midwest are experiencing a surge in urban revitalization, with downtown populations doubling over the last decade in cities like Cincinnati, St. Louis, and Kansas City, Missouri. - Despite Looming Clouds, Bright Forecast for U.S. Real Estate
Published on October 02, 2015 in
The latest ULI Real Estate Consensus Forecast calls for relatively smooth sailing ahead as it relates to both continued economic growth and a favorable outlook for commercial real estate investment. But the forecast, which includes survey responses from 48 economists and analysts at 36 leading real estate organizations, is not as bullish as it was six months ago, and there are headwinds looming that are expected to temper growth heading into 2017. - Net Zero Becoming a Reality for New and Refurbished Housing
Published on August 03, 2015 in
Experts at ULI’s recent Housing Opportunity 2015 conference in Minneapolis, however, say that today’s buildings are moving ever closer to net zero becoming a practical reality. - Improving Educational Opportunities for Cities and Suburbs
Published on July 27, 2015 in
Affordable housing projects are often ground zero for the achievement gap that exists in the United States said panelists at the ULI Housing Opportunity conference. Nearly one in four American children (22 percent as of 2013) live in poverty, with half of those children living in neighborhoods of concentrated poverty. - Emerging Best Practices for More Resilient Communities
Published on July 27, 2015 in
“The hard truth is that we really have to rebuild and build new with the expectation of likely extreme weather in the future,” said Harriet Tregoning, principal deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, speaking on a ULI panel. - Cisneros: Change Is the Constant in Urban Revitalization
Published on July 20, 2015 in
For the first time in history, more people are living in urban centers than in rural areas. “It is an amazing thing that is happening around the world,” said Henry G. Cisneros, founder and chairman of CityView, a developer and investment management firm focused on urban residential real estate in the western United States. The former secretary of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said, “The jury is still out on how this plays [out], but we do know where people are going to be. They are going to be in these urban settings, and they are going to be very powerful places.” - Report: Construction Lags as U.S. Homeownership Continues to Slide
Published on June 26, 2015 in
U.S. homeownership rates continue to slide, single-family construction remains near historic lows, and existing-home sales have slowed, according to Harvard's State of the Nation’s Housing 2015 report. - Study: One-Fifth of Americans See Worst Housing Crisis Ever
Published on June 22, 2015 in
New research suggests that the United States is still in the thick of a housing crisis as it relates to the accessibility of high-quality affordable housing for both homeowners and renters. - Converting Mill Space into Affordable Housing in the Twin Cities
Published on June 10, 2015 in
Minneapolis-based Dominium is cooking up a new use for the former Pillsbury flour mill complex on the east bank of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. Four buildings on the 3.2-acre (1.3 ha) site are being transformed into the A-Mill Artist Lofts, a 251-unit affordable housing project that will serve working artists. - Tenant Star Legislation Embraces Voluntary Benchmarking
Published on May 07, 2015 in
Nearly four years in the making, a new federal law authorizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy to jointly create a voluntary Tenant Star program aimed at providing national recognition to tenants who design, construct, and operate highly energy-efficient leased spaces in commercial buildings. - Downtowns Rank Highly on AARP’s New Livability Index
Published on April 23, 2015 in
Mifflin West of Madison, Wisconsin, was named America's most livable neighborhood in AARP's Livability index, followed by the Upper West Side of New York and Boston's Downtown Crossing.