Blog
April 9, 2026
It’s spring in San Antonio, and time for bluebonnets, and the rebirth of your shrubbery that died in the January frost. Looking back to what was beautiful before, like your yard last year, to what will become beautiful again is my theme this month. From useful to decay and irrelevance, then reborn to newness of life. […]
March 9, 2022
We all know the saying, “Buy land, they aren’t making any more of it!” It’s the uniqueness of land and the improvements on it that make it valuable and may make it increase in value as it becomes more highly prized, or as inflation takes hold. Well, not so fast. Now we have the Metaverse […]
December 1, 2021
“To lease or to buy, that is the question.” Many businesses in San Antonio have been considering whether it is better to continue to lease their business location or to buy their own building. After all, why “throw away” all of that rent every month when you could be investing it in your own property? […]
May 17, 2021
SAN ANTONIO, TX – Foresite Commercial Real Estate (“Foresite”), a commercial leasing and investment sales firm and one of the largest property management companies in San Antonio, announced today that it has acquired the leasing, sales and management portfolio of Investment Realty Company (“IRC”). Founded in 1975, IRC is one of the longest serving commercial […]
February 10, 2021
Let’s continue our January conversation about the Austin-San Antonio Corridor, a title coined by John Naisbett in his 1982 book, “Megatrends.” Remember the scene in White Christmas that went “Sisters, sisters, there were never such devoted sisters.” Could this possibly apply to San Antonio and Austin, sister cities on the I-35 corridor? Right now, Austin […]
December 17, 2020
Its December, it’s the Holiday Season and Santa is comin’ to town! Next year, that is. And he’s “beginning to look a lot like” Amazon! This ubiquitous giant is buying up land, right here in River City. Now this does NOT come from the professionals involved in these transactions, all of whom have signed ironclad […]
October 15, 2020
Photo by Jan Antonin Kolar on Unsplash I can only imagine that we are all very glad that we have reached the fourth quarter of 2020. In a football analogy, we are all still in the game, but glad this one will be over soon. However, unlike a football game, time will keep marching on. […]
September 8, 2020
Finding the right commercial builder for construction projects in San Antonio Texas isn’t always an easy task. A quick Google search will pull up plenty of options, but can you count on them for completing the job on budget, in time and with a high standard of quality? Having a general contractor on whom that […]
May 1, 2020
We are still in the midst of the Covid-19 healthcare crisis, but it appears the worst of this first phase is over. Here in San Antonio, hospitalizations have dropped from 77 to 54 with only 3 on ventilators as of the end of April. So, San Antonio metro area has not been hit as hard […]
April 3, 2020
Many have been wondering what will happen to our economy with the various difficulties companies are encountering since the outbreak of COVID-19. With people choosing to stay out of public places as much as possible, businesses are forced to close their doors. As a result, many cannot make rent and employees are being laid off. […]
April 1, 2020
I am in the process of throwing out all of the magazines and newspaper articles that I use for research for this newsletter. They are no longer relevant as we are leaving the old world and plunging into a new era, because of the quarantines put in place to combat the COVID-19 virus. No one […]
February 26, 2020
With the start of a new decade, 2020 shows a marked shift in how customers interact in the retail world. Trends in online shopping are on the rise, forcing retailers to change the game. How can retailers attract clientele in this on-the-go, convenience oriented culture? Innovation. In order to survive, companies must determine what type […]
November 27, 2019
The Happy Holiday Season is upon us and it is time for Black Friday retail shopping and the rush to get all of the great and popular gifts for Christmas. So let’s look at retail commercial real estate, because when you read the press, you would think that Black Friday’s meaning is really the death […]
November 5, 2019
Securing commercial real estate by lease or purchase can be a long and difficult process if you don’t have a qualified expert lending you a hand. There are several misconceptions about hiring a commercial broker, the main one being cost of services. Many brokers, including Investment Realty, do not charge hidden fees or upfront charges […]
August 27, 2019
The rumor about the death of retail real estate has been greatly exaggerated. IHL Group, a global research and advisory firm specializing in technology for the retail and hospitality industry, recently came out with a report detailing the growth of the retail real estate industry. In 2019, more than five retail chains are opening their […]
June 12, 2019
Landlords are noticing the benefits of having healthcare providers as tenants. Seeking high quality tenants for a retail location can always be a daunting task. Furthermore, finding tenants that increase property value and provide consistent revenue can be a challenge. With the switch from traditional office space to retail locations, healthcare providers can now give […]
May 31, 2019
Ten-X Commercial, a California based real estate search engine, reported San Antonio as a top market for retail investment. In the report, Ten-X Commercial predicted that retail rents in the Alamo City could rise 4.1% by 2022. Much of the report’s data is attributed to the retail market’s growing strength in San Antonio. According to […]
January 14, 2019
Leasing commercial properties can be a lucrative deal if completed properly, ensuring both you as the tenant and the landlord benefit from the deal. It’s handy to keep in mind certain tips for leasing commercial property. Negotiating the commercial lease is the lengthiest and most important process of leasing commercial properties, and it’s vital to […]
December 28, 2018
As the new year approaches, commercial real estate industry execs, researchers and influencers expect several trends to dominate in the coming year. From online retailers breaking into brick-and-mortar to the rise of opportunity zones, here are the top trends IRC expects for 2019: 1. Opportunity Zone Programs Will Continue to Rise On December 12, President […]
October 17, 2018
New technology, especially when used in the right context for shoppers or clients, can be incredibly useful; however, implementing new technology just for the sake of showing off isn’t always in the consumer’s best interest. It may even be confusing to the client when they are ready to make a buying decision. JDA, a software […]
October 3, 2018
Tenant Representation is exactly how it sounds, a type of commercial real estate brokerage service where an agent focuses on the needs of the tenant, rather than the needs of the landlord. Your tenant representative has only one person in mind, you. Your benefit, needs, and interests are their top priority. Using a tenant representative […]
May 29, 2018
Asking rents ended the first quarter of 2018 at $22.01- an all-time high. With a population growth of 2.0% last year, San Antonio’s economy continues to grow. Most recently, job growth increased at a 2.9% annualized rate over the three months through February, with the greatest job growth seen in manufacturing, mining and construction. Total […]
March 7, 2018
IKEA, the store that doesn’t leave your imagination to do all the work when it comes to designing your own room, has announced its new store in Live Oak will break ground March 21. The 289,000 square foot store will open for business spring 2019 and is expected to bring 250 new jobs to the […]
February 23, 2018
The constant threat of declining foot traffic has pharmacy retail chains rethinking their strategy now that Amazon has penetrated the health product market. Many retail pharmacies see their biggest profits from consumers coming into the store to pick up medication and cosmetic products. However, if consumers start purchasing their health products online through Amazon, brick […]
January 23, 2018
The need for massive hospitals with huge footprints is slowly coming to an end. With the rise in technology comes new innovations that seek to make your hospital visit as convenient as going to the store. Better Services, Smaller Footprint Advancements in robotic technology and fewer paperwork is set to drastically cut down the size […]
December 19, 2017
Unmanned stores across China are attracting the convenience-seeking shopper. With such a massive population to appeal to, it’s no secret that convenience and easy access would be a top priority for China’s retail market. Cutting-edge technology such as artificial intelligence, computer vision and biometric recognition that tracks a shopper’s movements are all new technologies currently […]
December 5, 2017
Same day prescription delivery service is on the rise. CVS Health will provide same-day delivery for select metro markets starting in 2018. Other features such as curbside pickup and Instacart, have made their way to CVS stores in order to keep customers engaged with the large drug store. Instacart, a personal shopping and delivery service, […]
November 27, 2017
The launch of the iPhone X and online competition is expected to make it even harder on brick-and-mortar stores this holiday season. Holiday apparel sales are expected to drop for the first time since 2008. Specialty retail, department stores and footwear retailers are all expected to take a .4% dip in sales. According to Morgan […]
November 17, 2017
Amazon Treasure Trucks offer large discounted prices when you order the item online through the Amazon app. The Treasure Truck offers consumers the chance to take advantage of huge discounted prices on items that are advertised that day. The consumer will order the item and pick a time and place for pick up. However, a […]
November 13, 2017
Top online retailers are moving their way into physical retail. Award winning retail architect, Kenne Shepherd shared his thoughts on the top online retail stores that are pushing into brick-and-mortar. Amazon No other online retailer on this list has the same potential of impacting the San Antonio commercial real estate sector as Amazon. The top […]
June 9, 2017
Online stores are evolving, but they won’t be taking over the classic brick and mortar system anytime soon. Online only retailers are trying to use every advantage they have to compete with the classic form of retail; however, overcoming years of logistic and merchandising experience is no easy feat. Online shopping does not relieve the […]
June 5, 2017
Third- party non-core real estate providers are offering temporary meeting space and rentable conference rooms. The goal is to offer space on a need-by-need basis and give office occupiers flexibility to pursue saving initiatives. “This new segment of conference and meeting events being outsourced is a whole new facet within flexible workspace that’s about to […]
December 21, 2016
In response to the shifting retail landscape in regards to online shopping and the record breaking holiday sales numbers that have continually risen year after year, Amazon has picked up the pace to complete their supply-chain network to reach optimum delivery time. Amazon has added 26 new distribution warehouses to its global network in the […]
December 9, 2016
Most folks, understandably, do not walk down a mixed-use space and think about the careful balance it took to make the complex use of retail, multifamily, and office, a successful mixed-use space. Not all real estate properties are the same, a retail space where customer service is key, will commonly be accompanied by a percent […]
October 12, 2016
A combination of investors getting out priced in other markets, and shifting their attention from the increasingly aggressive, and costly multifamily market have driven San Antonio retail investment activity up significantly in recent months. These factors in addition to the industrial markets limited supply, retail property possessing sustainable rents, and value add opportunities also have […]
August 25, 2016
Parking in downtown San Antonio can be a struggle. Two people are trying to change this view. GrayStreet Partners and AREA Real Estate are coming up with various strategies to help with this need. GrayStreet Partners is renovating Travis Park Plaza parking garage by emphasizing different modes of transportation. They are looking at investing in […]
August 18, 2016
Going beyond apparel, JCPenny is expanding their home-goods selection. Customers are spending more money on home beautification and JCPenny is looking to improve in this sector. During the third quarter JCPenny will add dishwashers and other major appliances to 1,000 stores. With 1,200 major appliances online, customers will be able to smoothly order online and […]
August 3, 2016
Ever feel like big brother is watching over you? According to the “Rich Relevance ‘Creepy or Cool?’ Survey”, Seventy- Five Percent did not like the idea of being greeted by name after a store identified the consumer though facial recognition technology. Most consumers do enjoy using fingerprint technology, scanning products, receiving pop up offers, digital […]
July 29, 2016
So many mistakes can happen when handling money manually. The slightest difference, in the amount, or a number out of place can have huge effect on the overall spreadsheet. At DDR Corp. Tenants can make their payments online and track reports though SnapPay RE. According to Kevin Moss, DDR’s Chief Information Officer, there is a […]
July 21, 2016
While Bed Bath & Beyond same-store sales declined by 50 basis points versus the same quarter a year ago, adding omni-channel trappings to Bed Bath & Beyond stores are helping boost sales. CEO Steven Tamares, has been evolving Bed Bath & Beyond stores by integrating physical and digital capabilities to create an experiential shopping culture, […]
December 16, 2014
Consumers have more options than ever when it comes to where they spend their money. Online retailers and brick and mortar stores are constantly looking for ways to stand out from their competitors. Which website offers free shipping? Who ships the fastest? Who opens earliest on Black Friday? What store has the best entertainment? Which […]
May 25, 2011
Developers Diversified Realty Corp., based in Beachwood, announced plans last week to knock down unprofitable shopping centers in San Antonio, Texas, and Denver and remake the sites around new Target stores. The publicly traded company, which owns and manages approximately 520 retail properties globally, views redevelopment as a growth strategy in a recession-scarred industry where […]
Recent Posts