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As green building mushroomed in recent years, some industry and legal observers predicted a flood of litigation would accompany that growth. The issue has even spawned a new term—LEEDigation. Though the level of concern about green building risks may have been overblown, read what legal experts are offering as recommendations to guard against green building–related disputes.

With an increasing shortage of housing across the United States driving up home prices and rents, communities and developers need to adopt a broader strategy. Important part of that approach will be infill development, adaptive use, and changes in zoning regulations to encourage the development of so-called “missing middle” buildings with multiple units that younger couples and families can afford to purchase, according to speakers at a recent housing conference.

Coworking, in which entrepreneurs, startups, and even corporate small teams interact in an open office, is growing exponentially. In the process, it may transform land use.

Most economists agree that home sales will remain in a slump for at least the next few years, but demand for apartments is accelerating. This trend is expected to continue over the next decade, due largely to the echo boom generation’s (Echo Boomers) coming of age and entering the rental market.

Built in 1931, the 102-story Empire State Building is undergoing a retrofit that will make it one of the greenest structures in New York when completed in two years. Read Anthony E. Malkin explain the decision to create a window refurbishing facility onsite and how the eight steps taken in the retrofit will reduce energy use by 38 percent, save $4.4 million annually, and avoid 105,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions over the next 15 years—all without creating tons of waste for landfills.

A number of factors are encouraging developers to try to bring Mother Nature on as a partner. On the carrot side, some governments are offering incentives to build green. There are sticks as well, which are also helping to keep builders focused on their carbon footprint

Hines, which recently opened operations in Athens, offers its view of prospects for an economic recovery following nearly a decade of austerity.

A recent poll revealed that social media are now used by the majority of adult online users. The commercial real estate industry, however, has been slow to figure out the best way to use this emergent technology. Read how going beyond Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn by creating an active presence on Foursquare, Yelp, and YouTube is poised to usher real estate into its time in the sun in 2011.

The Trepp, LLC survey showed commercial mortgage spreads widening about 5 basis points during the survey period as the markets head for a time out until after Labor Day. Floor pricing remains in the 4.0 percent to 5.0 percent range.

In an opinion piece for Urban Land, ULI Foundation Governor and developer John McNellis argues that the lack of affordable housing in places like California’s Palo Alto hinders one of America’s fastest growing job markets.