The National Association of Realtors® and its affiliate, The CCIM Institute, are teaming up for the first time to host a live event: the C5 + CCIM Global Summit in Atlanta from September 28-30. In anticipation of NAR’s annual commercial real estate conference in 2023, Connect CRE spoke with David Schnitzer, partner at Ascend Commercial Real Estate and president of The CCIM Institute. He shared his insights on market conditions and why face-to-face interactions are crucial in today’s environment.
Q: As someone who is both a partner at Ascend and the president of CCIM Institute, what is your perspective on current market conditions?
A: Market conditions vary depending on location and sector. Office space has seen a decline due to challenges with returning to work as expected by company owners and landlords. However, other sectors such as industrial (especially last-mile logistics) have remained strong while retail has been thriving except for some urban areas. Overall though, we have not overbuilt retail spaces which has helped us weather this downturn better than previous ones.
Q: Given these circumstances, do you believe that exchanging ideas and best practices among industry professionals is especially important?
A: Absolutely! Deals are made through personal relationships built through face-to-face interactions rather than online or phone communication alone. This is what sets organizations like ours apart – our emphasis on building relationships.
Q: For the first time ever,NARandCCIMInstitute will be partnering for an event -theC5GlobalSummit.What ledtothispartnershipandwhyisthistheperfecttimeforit?
A:The partnership between NARandCCIMITnstituteisnot newasweareanaffiliateofNAR.However,theC5GlobalSummitwillbea game-changingeventforbothorganizations.Itwillfeaturetop-notch speakers,powerfulpanels,andinsightfulkeynoteswhichattendeescanapplyintheirlocalmarkets.Theopportunitytoconnectwithindustryprofessionalsfromdifferentregionsisalsoinvaluable.
Q: Lastly,what are some of the benefits of attending the Summit for CCIM Designees and industry professionals in general?
A: The Summit will offer property tours which provide a great opportunity to learn from other markets. Additionally, CCIM is offering two educational courses before the conference begins, providing attendees with valuable knowledge and resources to apply in their own business. Overall, this event will be a fantastic opportunity for networking and gaining insights into current market trends.