Surprise Move in Britain
GE Capital Real Estate is leading a financial group that intends to purchase and take private one of Britain's largest commercial land companies. [September/October, 2000]

Ups and Downs for Preferred Stock
At the same time, Siegel believes that while the upside benefits to REITs of preferred stock issuance are considerable, the risks are also real. Issuing preferred stock can increase an issuer's credit risk from both a balance sheet and cash-flow perspective because this instrument ultimately possesses more debt-like than equity-like features, says Moody's Investors Service in the report. [September/October, 2000]

On Firm Foundations
The lodging industry is conservatively leveraged due to stringent loan underwriting standards initiated in the early 1990s, strong earnings growth, and the advent of low-leverage hotel real estate investment trusts, according to a new study conducted by the American Hotel & Motel Association (AH&MA) and PriceWaterhouseCoopers. [September/October, 2000]

Commercial Properties Prosper
Investment in commercial real estate in the first quarter of 2000 rose 32.3 percent in the United States when compared to the same period one year earlier, according to a national transaction data report released in July. The report was compiled by the Commercial Investment Real Estate Institute and Landauer Realty. [September/October, 2000]

Real Estate Industry Increasing Hiring
The employment outlook for the real estate industry for executive, professional, and sales personnel is strong and, a recent hiring survey says, it will remain brisk throughout 2000. [September/October, 2000]