Real estate survey turns positive

Here's more confirmation of what real estate executives already know: The outlook for occupancies and rents for all real estate property types increased in the fourth quarter, according to a recent industry survey by the University of Florida Bergstrom Center for Real Estate Studies.

The survey of more than 200 real estate executives in Florida revealed that the commercial real estate market has found its footing after years of decline. Among the highlights:

•Capitalization rates continue to stabilize and will likely be stable for the rest of the year;

•Yields increased slightly across all property types and will be stable in 2012;

•The outlook for capital availability improved and respondents said they expect capital to become more readily available.
But while respondents are more sanguine about the outlook, the survey revealed they worry about the impact of high oil prices, the presidential election and the European debt crisis.