Landscape architect Peter Walker, founder of PWP Landscape Architecture in Berkeley, California, has been chosen as the 2012 recipient of the ULI J.C. Nichols Prize for Visionaries in Urban Development, the Institute’s highest honor.

How do you guide the resort and real estate businesses through an erratic economy—and the fickle whims of Mother Nature?

With a number of single- borrower as well as multi-borrower deals in the queue, sales of commercial mortgage-backed securities could reach $45 billion in 2012, a 40 percent increase over the 2011 total. While that is only a fraction of the historical high-water mark in 2007, it represents significant progress in the rehabilitation process and argues for a pickup in buy-sell transaction velocity in 2013.

Drop whatever you are doing and go refinance something; how can it be any better than this?

The Trepp, LLC survey showed commercial mortgage spreads coming in a few basis points during the survey period as securitized lenders reduce spreads to borrowers, reflecting the benefit of the recent rally in the most creditworthy CMBS bonds. Institutional lenders continue to utilize floor pricing in the sub-4 percent range, reflecting a more competitive lending environment.

Commercial mortgage spreads widened a few basis points as floor pricing continues in effect with rates in the 4.0 percent to 5.0 percent range, according to the latest Trepp, LLC survey.

On July 6, representatives of ULI joined other transportation leaders at the White House for the signing by President Obama of MAP-21, the two-year reauthorization of the federal transportation program.

The Trepp, LLC survey showed commercial mortgage spreads coming in five to 10 basis points during the survey period. Floor pricing continues in effect with rates in the 4.0 percent to 5.0 percent range.

Several partnerships ULI has established over the past several months—including those with the World Economic Forum (WEF), Aspen Institute, and Centre for Liveable Cities in Singapore—are presenting new opportunities for the Institute to think big, think ahead, and think beyond the norm.

Urban parks provide a competitive advantage for most forms of real estate—and the bump in value is measurable.