Costa Rica has not been immune to the world’s financial challenges in recent years, but with few properties having mortgages at all and the national economy becoming increasingly diversified, it has grown steadily through this period. In the past year, the growth rate averaged 3.5%, and domestic Costa Rican property investors and vacationers are now [...]

                      
I have been using BEST Instruments as a way to help individuals understand how they communicate and what they can do to be more versatile and effective in their jobs. The tests are simple but very telling. It’s amazing how a 15 minute “quiz” can be so revealing. It is a way to understand yourself and those [...]

                                  
The MOVEABLE application offers a window into the heart and soul of DOWNTOWN magazine by using the latest in mobile technology. Bringing the “Downtown On…” section of issues to digital reality is MOVEABLE, our top pick from the NY Tech Meetup (which we covered earlier this month, here). In the most simple terms, this [...]

Build-to-suit or Settling for Low Cost Alternatives
Real estate professionals, architects, engineers, builders and owners can find themselves faced with a dilemma in an environment of economic uncertainly. It has always been true that buying exclusively based on lowest price is a dangerous way to do business. Catering to such clients can be hazardous as well. [...]

                       
We have all cringed when we see a home coated in those oh-so-seventies ceramic tiles that create an intricate, yet, undesirable design.  Almost instinctively our minds wonder, “Why would anyone use that tile? It must go.”  But graphic tiles are, like many other design trends, on an upswing with new delightful designs.
Credit and gratitude is [...]

First, I have to say, thanks to all of the CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) Institute staff and other committee members for all of their hard work in putting this together! It was a monumental task, and we did it!
After 2 long grueling days of business meetings, we started the conference off Wednesday night. I had the [...]

As the economy slowly starts to correct, many of my candidates are realizing and unhappy truth.  Architect salaries are 10% to 20% less than they were a year ago.  This trend was highlighted in the Architect Magazine 2010 salary survey.  Firms of all sizes have been in survival mode, doing whatever they could to stay [...]

                        
Are you interested in knowing more about and being a more informed negotiator of equity joint venture partnerships? REFM is excited to announce a unique industry-wide opportunity to shine light on this area of real estate that has not had much transparency associated with it to date.
This fall, we will launch the REFM Real Deals Non-Institutional [...]

The Design-Build project delivery method is gaining popularity, and it looks as though continued growth can be expected. The process, by definition, is so collaborative it is likely that more segments of the A/E/C marketplace will embrace it. This method provides the following:

Mission Control - Design Build will grow in popularity as will trends toward [...]

Julio Diaz
Senior Business Consultant
Merchant Solutions IQ www.msiq.com
(800) 536-1498