At a time when the real estate market is anemic, student housing development is relatively robust. Long considered a laggard in the multifamily sector, student housing is becoming a standout as more developers are taking a harder look at the field, in light of rising rents and increasing enrollments. Learn what any entrepreneur should do before delving into this potentially lucrative housing sector.

South America’s largest and most vibrant economy, Brazil, is very hot for real estate development nowadays. It is also one of the fastest-growing emerging countries in the world, with gross domestic product gains of 7.5 percent last year, and expectations of 4.5 percent this year—substantially outpacing the United States. Learn what companies should know before jumping into this exciting real estate market.

Though considered one of the markets hardest hit by the real estate downturn, Arizona is also expected to offer the greatest opportunity in the coming years for those willing to adapt and learn. Read what five young professionals are doing to push boundaries and shape the future of the real estate industry in Arizona.

Sustained, moderate strength in some of this month’s economic data creates a creditable sense of well-being, while see-sawing continues in the Barometer capital markets data and the weak housing data stay very weak. Overall, 51 percent of key indicators in the Barometer were worse when compared with one year ago, 44 percent were better, and 5 percent were unchanged. Read more about the economy, real estate capital markets, housing, and commercial/multifamily investment property.

National and regional housing policy leaders gathered recently in the nation’s quintessential “edge city,” Tysons Corner, Virginia, to discuss why it’s so important to include workforce housing in a planned transformation of a sprawling suburban office park to a walkable, green urban center. Read what ULI members and other experts say about the need for, and ability to, include workforce housing in this particular project and nationally.

Vibrant parks can serve as a catalyst for economic regeneration of urban areas. Amanda Burden, a commissioner with the Department of City Planning in New York City and previous recipient of ULI’s J.C. Nichols Prize for Visionaries in Urban Development, moderated a session with leading thinkers in park development across the country. Read about the successful efforts in New York, Detroit and Houston and how these parks have spurred development.

The largest U.S. metropolitan areas continue to be home to the largest number of immigrants, with more than 1 million in places such as New York, Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco. But the major metros with the fastest-growth immigrant populations were mostly in the southeast region of the country. Read which of the country has the metros with the fastest growing immigrant populations.

Today’s land-lease communities are nothing like the mobile home parks of the past. Given the unique characteristics and capabilities of the business model, these communities continue to enjoy a near-universal sellers’ market, even in the current recession. In today’s market, no other investment realty opportunity offers as many self-help measures by which one can increase cash flow and value.

The retail real estate market currently suffers from an oversupply of space—the result of overbuilding before the financial crisis struck in 2008—plus a dearth of retailers now willing and able to fill space. Consumer spending is down for the foreseeable future as the buying public remains wary of returning to the days of large credit-card debt. While welllocated retail destinations may continue to thrive and maintain national retailers, plenty of others are going to keep losing tenants. In this environment, town centers and mixed-use centers may have an edge over their mall counterparts.

The future looks a lot more female for residential developments that correlate with income and educational attainment.