Over the last two years, the total value of deals remained largely stable, with approximately $25 billion for about 2,300 transactions in multifamily and $15 billion for about 1,500 transactions in the office sector. However, examining individual cities reveal distinct patterns in behavior.

A ULI report says, in a post-pandemic retail world, location is indeed an important driver of success—arguably the key driver—but it is not the be-all and end-all.

For years, Canada has been an attractive place to invest in real estate, thanks to rising rents, valuations, and returns, as well as Canada’s stability and immigration trends. But as in the United States, the Canadian real estate industry was hit hard in 2022 by factors including inflation, resulting in significant disruption. Nevertheless, as in the United States, industry experts say the long-term picture remains positive due to strong fundamental underpinnings.

ULI has announced 20 finalists for the 2023 ULI Americas Awards for Excellence, one of the most prestigious awards programs in the real estate industry. This year’s finalists include 19 developments in the United States and one in Canada. Three additional projects from the United States received special mentions.

Yvonne Yeung, CEO of SDG Strategies, has served as the ULI Curtis Infrastructure Fellow in 2023. During her fellowship, Yeung created a conversation tool to help leaders form actionable strategies to build 15-Minute Communities.

In April, ULI Young Leaders participated in a webinar that addressed the current and future impact of artificial intelligence on the real estate industry and the obstacles and challenges to its adoption.

Two chronic circumstances of the real estate industry compromise the design and productivity of cities—the fact that assets and host markets are often out of sync, and the developer’s inability to control processes and functions. It is time to take better control and facilitate change.

Sponsored content: There is no question that the distinctive neighborhoods of Fort Worth, Texas, are a bedrock of culture, innovation, and economy for the city. With revitalization at the forefront of the city’s economic strategy, municipal leaders are focused on aligning the community and creating sustainable growth for all residents.

The ULI Terwilliger Center for Housing has announced four finalists for this year’s Jack Kemp Excellence in Affordable and Workforce Housing Award and eight finalists for the Terwilliger Center Award for Innovation in Attainable Housing.

Development continues despite concerns about impacts on costs

The global head of corporate real estate at one of the world’s biggest banks told attendees at the 2024 ULI Europe Conference in Milan that a lack of sustainable office assets is “one of the biggest challenges” the company faces.

According to the World Green Building Council, buildings currently account for a staggering 39 percent of global emissions, while trillions of dollars’ worth of real estate assets are at risk due to climate-related disasters. At the same time, utility providers are struggling to scale infrastructure to meet growing energy demands spurred by economic growth and development and unprecedented temperature extremes resulting in higher than usual utility charges and devastating outages. Now more than ever, the industry’s progress toward net zero emissions and resilience is critical.

COVID-19 has exacerbated a crisis of middle-income households being unable to find attainable homes, with frontline workers faring particularly badly, according to a comprehensive data-informed study from the ULI Terwilliger Center for Housing.

ULI MEMBER–ONLY CONTENT: In an opening session of the 2021 ULI Europe Virtual Conference in February, experts said that many had been warning about the possibility of a global pandemic, but the lack of preparation and early detection added to its toll.

ULI MEMBER–ONLY CONTENT: What will the new post-COVID tech-enabled workplace look like? Experts and members of ULI’s European Technology and Real Estate Council discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic will reshape expectations, practices, and technologies in the long run; the changing relationship between building owners and tenants; the potential effects on providers of shared and flexible office environments; and other trends.