This could be the best year the real estate industry has seen in a while. Do you have the right mental attitude to take advantage of a turnaround?

This year is starting off with a bang!

As we head into the spring selling season, the passion for the business seems to be on the rise for our industry. The energy level of practitioners and buyers is higher than I’ve seen it in a while, and that’s certainly welcome news for all of us in real estate.

The attitude that you carry will affect your success. It’s easier to maintain a positive perspective early in the year, when you’ve typically just set goals and you’re getting new things going. The challenge comes when you get further into the year or when the transactions and problem clients start to drag down your attitude and energy. That’s when we really need a boost to stay our positive course.

Let me share a few tips on keeping your attitude high throughout 2011.

1. Your attitude is a choice: Attitude is something we choose each day. We can decide to have a positive or negative view of things. It sounds simple, but you can resolve to be one or the other each morning when you wake up. Before you get out of bed, make the decision and stick to it.

2. ... Click below link to read more

Blast Off: Dirk Zeller: Sales & Marketing: REALTOR Magazine

The Power of Local Knowledge

"NAI brokers are local brokers who are all deeply knowledgeable about the markets they serve. That combination of local expertise and global exposure is something we have come to count on."

- Susan Reber, Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.

Intimate, real-time market knowledge. 

Your key to any market, large or small, is your local real estate professional. At NAI, our brokers' intimate knowledge of the market and special relationships with property owners, major tenants and government agencies gives our clients the edge. In multi-site acquisition and disposition, this inside market access is critical to success - so you'll know not only what is possible but also what might become possible in the future. 

No other firm can access this level of local depth.

When you do business with NAI, you connect with the best people in each local marketplace. Our firms are selected because they are established names in their markets, and our professionals grew up in their markets - they are part of their communities and are better connected because of it. With our deep roots in local markets worldwide, we provide you with instant access to knowledge and expertise on the ground in the markets that matter to you.

We focus on the relationship, not simply the "deal."

At, NAI, our model is designed to handle multiple, simultaneous projects across a broad range of geographies around the world. We are also able to manage projects, both large and small, and in major and secondary markets, with equal efficiency. In this way, we not only give our clients a close, intimate view of the local markets where they do business, we give them a long view of their portfolio. Doing "deals," therefore, is not our priority; doing the right "deal" and building lasting relationships is.

NAI Rio Grande Valley is a focused commercial real estate brokerage, consulting, development and syndication firm serving the Rio Grande Valley and based in McAllen, Texas. Our mission is to transform real estate opportunities into profits for owners, users and investors.

NAI Rio Grande Valley advises it's customers and clients on how to maximize the value of their assets and utilize real estate to their long term advantage through comprehensive and strategic planning, execution and management.

Because of our proximity to the Mexico border, close ties to the business community in Mexico and a proven understanding of the unique economics of the U.S. - Mexico border area, NAI Rio Grande Valley is able to provide services to both international and domestic clientele.

Source: NAI Global

New Data Shows Positive Outlook Through 2014

CCIM.com Newscenter

Posted March 22nd 2011

Several positive indicators point to a favorable outlook for commercial real estate through 2014, according to the PwC Real Estate Barometer in the 1Q11 PwC Real Estate Investor Survey. By analyzing historical and forecast stock data, the barometer measures inventory changes within the office, industrial, retail, and multifamily sectors over time in relation to the four stages of the real estate cycle.

“As investors become more confident about the long-awaited recovery of the industry, they are eager to get deals done. This bodes well for the industry as the volume of capital chasing deals is expected to increase in all sectors as investors work to deploy capital before interest rates rise, overall cap rates increase, and the industry shifts more in favor of sellers,” says Mitch Roschelle, partner and U.S. real estate advisory practice leader for PricewaterhouseCoopers.

With constrained supply and decreasing vacancy, the majority of the office sector will be in recovery by year-end, with 86.2 percent of the sector rising from the market’s bottom by year-end 2012, according to the report. Despite the nationwide rebound, hard-hit markets such as Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Tampa, Fla., will remain depressed through 2012.

Inconsistent consumer spending and inflation concerns will keep about 76.6 percent of the retail market in recession through 2012, with a more widespread recovery expected by year-end 2013. A few isolated markets such as Long Island, N.Y., and Nashville, Tenn., may see recovery by 2012, faring better than the national trend.

Availability rates for the industrial sector are expected to peak in 2011 as tenant demand strengthens due to ...

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5 Tips For Buying Your First Piece of Commercial Real Estate

 By Jeremy Cyrier

Be careful to follow these 5 tips when you source, qualify, and acquire your first piece of commercial property so that it's not your last!

1. Research Your Market: Remember, 80% of your commercial property's performance will be market based. This means that you should have growth in jobs, demand for office and industrial space, household population growth, and increased demand for retail services and housing. If your market is trending the other direction, beware because the other 20% of the equation, your financials, may not equate to profits.

2. Identify Your Return Requirements: Pick your return requirement. Does the deal need to provide you with a cash on cash return (i.e., you invest $1,000,000 and want $100,000 back year after year)?

Or perhaps you want an overall internal rate of return that accounts for how long you hold the property and how much you sell it for? Some people target 12-30% for their yield on investment or their internal rate of return. And remember, just because a commercial investment has a good cap rate, doesn't make it a good deal.

Note: Your cap rate only tells you the first 12 months of the investment's potential story!

3. Identify Your Ideal Property Type: Commercial investments come in 4 types: Retail, Office, Industrial, and Multifamily. Which commercial investment type is right for you? Research the differences between them and you'll see that they all offer distinctive advantages and disadvantages when it comes to management, cash flows, hedging against inflation, maintenance, and growth in the real estate cycle.

4. Qualify the Seller and the Property: You think you're in the real estate investing business, but you're really in the people who own real estate business. Remember, too many people focus just on the property and not enough on the people who own the properties. These folks are the ones with the problems you can solve by buying their commercial property and providing them with a solution that offers you the opportunity for upside value and big profits.

You can make changes to the property now you that understand its position in the market and how to unlock its highest and best use (value) from Step #1.

5. Acquire the Property -- Make Sure You Understand Your Loan: Make sure you read your loan documents. They will be different than when you bought your home and traded those residential investments. Banks make commercial loans and know the tricks to maximize their returns while minimizing their risks when lending you money on your first commercial real estate purchase. Most commercial loans have a loan term, which means that the payments may be calculated on a 20 to 30 year amortization period, most banks want you to either pay off the loan via refinance or sale within 5-10 years.

Many first time commercial real estate investors miss this step and unfortunately discover later in their holding people that they haven't planned for a term maturity. They have to scramble to save their equity and their first building!

Jeremy Cyrier, CCIM trains and develops people who invest their own money in commercial real estate and believes that action in commercial real estate without meaning is worthless. Jeremy Cyrier, CCIM is the President of CommercialRealEstateInvestingEducation.com. For more commercial real estate investing tips, visit:  Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeremy_Cyrier NAI Rio Grande Valley is a focused commercial real estate brokerage, consulting, development and syndication firm serving the Rio Grande Valley and based in McAllen, Texas. Our mission is to transform real estate opportunities into profits for owners, users and investors.

Bass Pro Shops holds ground breaking ceremony in Harlingen

Bass Pro Shops holds ground breaking ceremony in Harlingen: "After much speculation, the Rio Grande Valley will finally see Bass Pro Shops in Harlingen. City leaders, Bass Pro Shops representatives and community members gathered Friday to break ground for the 150-thousand square foot outdoorsman's dream store."

Edinburg trucking company's sales increase signals strengthening economy | edinburg, strengthening, economy - TheMonitor.com

Edinburg trucking company's sales increase signals strengthening economy | edinburg, strengthening, economy - TheMonitor.com

Valley's first toll road to open north of Brownsville

by Jonathan Weant

Valleycentral.com

Love them or hate them, toll roads are becoming the new trend across the nation.

Even here in the Rio Grande Valley with a new told road opening up at Paredes Line and FM 511 in Brownsville.

“The idea in using the overpass is to avoid the congestion at the intersection of FM 511 and Paredes line and to avoid the rail road tracks” said Pete Sepulveda with Cameron County's Regional Mobility Authority.

The toll for State Highway 550 will be all electronic.

Cameras just above the overpass will acted as a toll booth, taking pictures of who’s on the road.

Drivers will then get a bill in the mail.

Transportation authorities say this is only phase one of a much larger project.

They are hoping to have more toll roads up and running by summer of 2012.

“When it’s all complete, the idea is to take you from Highway 48 to 77 without having to stop at any traffic lights or major intersection” said Supulveda.

The public will still have the use ...

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McAllen MSA Continues to Outperform at the National Level

McAllen – Unemployment in the McAllen MSA area rose slightly to 12.8 percent in January, up from 12.2 percent in December; still above the Texas unemployment rate of 8.5 percent and U.S. unemployment rate of 9.8 percent, both of which also marked an increase from December. The McAllen MSA area also posted an increase of 1,100 in the Civilian Labor Force in January, increasing by 5,900 since January 2010.

According to a recent study by the Brookings Institute; which profiled 100 of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas – home to three-fourths of the U.S. economy, the McAllen MSA is one of only four metropolitan areas that were among the top 20 metropolitan areas during both the recession and the recovery period.

“The local labor market has consistently showed positive signs. In spite of the current local unemployment rate, the Rio Grande Valley continues to grow and create jobs. I am encouraged job seekers will find good paying jobs and employers will continue to find qualified employees,” said Yvonne ‘Bonnie’ Gonzalez, Chief Executive Officer of Workforce Solutions. “Staff at the Office for Business Partnerships, and six Career Centers in the tri-county region, remain committed to assisting employers and job seekers.”

Workforce Solutions / Lower RGV is one of 28 local workforce development boards located throughout the state. This Board serves Starr, Hidalgo and Willacy counties through a network of partners in the tri-county region. The primary goal of Workforce Solutions / Lower RGV is to respond to the needs of employers, workers and job seekers, and provide the resources needed to succeed in an ever-changing world. All eligible employers, workers and job seekers are encouraged to take advantage of these services.

For more information Contact:
Victor M. de Leon, Public Information Officer – Workforce Solutions
victor@wfsolutions.org

Mike Blum, of NAI Rio Grande Valley named to NAI Global's 2011 Executive Committee!

Mike, the only representative from Texas, will represent the Valley with a strong voice for promoting growth and business for the area. He will provide additional leadership to this experienced and distinguished group.

The NAI Members' Leadership Board is comprised of representatives of NAI member firms and interacts with NAI Global to provide input and develop key strategic initiatives.

For more information about Mike and NAI Rio Grande Valley visit our website at www.NAIRGV.com You can also follow our Tweets http://twitter.com/NAIRGV and Posts on Facebook www.facebook.com/NAIRGV

U.S./Mexico Cargo Truck Agreement Expected To Create Jobs

Posted Thu Mar 03, 2011 | Office of US Congressman Henry Cuellar | Latest News  | Bookmark & Share

From the office of US Congressman Henry Cuellar:

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) released the following statement after President Barack Obama and President Felipe Calderon announced an agreement has been reached between the United States and Mexico on cargo trucks:
“This agreement is great news for Texas producers and an important step to more open, transparent and efficient trade between the two countries. Lower tariffs mean more jobs in the 28th district and around the country.
“This agreement is one more way to create jobs and drive the U.S economy. Everyday, more than $1 billion in goods move across the U.S.-Mexico border. This historic and important agreement has far-reaching implications that will benefit both countries for years to come.”
Background:
The agreement reached today by President Barack Obama and President Felipe Calderon calls for the immediate lift of 50 percent of the tariffs to allow U.S. cargo trucks to travel into Mexico. The agreement also establishes a reciprocal, phased-in pilot program that allows Mexican trucks to operate inside the U.S. provided they comply with a series of safety and driver skills and language tests monitored by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The remaining 50 percent of tariffs would be lifted when the first Mexican carrier receives authorization under the new program. The Office of U.S. Trade Representative, Ron Kirk, will ensure the tariffs are lifted as agreed.