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Industry experts have opinions across the board on where the industry is and where is it going. The facts are that the commercial real estate market is hot and companies are scrambling to get a piece of it. The market is conducive to development, value-add, and really creating communities through their investments. Companies are capitalizing on this revitalization through diversification and smart asset management.

From a recruiter’s perspective, talent is getting swooped up left and right as companies continue to grow. Right now is a very exciting time to be involved in the industry.

Check out some future predictions from former NFL star turned real estate investor, Emmitt Smith. https://lnkd.in/by8F8Rn

Originally published in GlobeSt.com by John Salustri on October 15, 2015

Here are the Top 10 Coolest Offices in the World according to Inc.

1. Airbnb, San Francisco. Each conference room at the company’s newly expanded, 107,000-square-foot San Francisco office is decorated to resemble an actual Airbnb listing. The company’s new space in the 96-year-old former warehouse building also provides employees with more opportunities for small meetings and better acoustics within an open office setting.
2. Bluecore, New York. Workers at this email marketing startup can enjoy the view from a tiny “eagle’s nest” overlooking a high-ceilinged lobby and meeting area. The office is set in a three-story Lower Manhattan building that was used as a liquor storeroom during Prohibition.
3. Ekimetrics, Paris. The marketing and consulting firm occupies 10,000 square feet in a classic office building on the Champs Elysees. Three freestanding wooden structures crafted of unfinished timber serve as a boardroom, a two-person office and a gallery — and provide a dramatic contrast to the “chandelier-adorned and gilded open office block.”
4. Kickstarter, New York. The crowdfunding company’s headquarters, located in a former pencil factory in Brooklyn’s Greenpoint neighborhood, has a sustainable focus, with plenty of natural light and recycled or reused materials. The 29,000-square-foot office’s three floors are centered around an open-air courtyard, a second-floor garden and a rooftop deck.
5. iHeartMedia, New York. Formerly known as Clear Channel Communications, this company moved its headquarters from San Antonio to what was once a satellite office. The 75,000-square-foot futuristic, mostly grey-and-white open plan space features colorful freestanding pods that serve as conference rooms and a kitchen.
6. SoundCloud, Berlin. The audio platform company’s approximately 200 employees enjoy 16 mini conference rooms named after neighborhoods in San Francisco, London and Berlin, as well as an indoor garden, a cafe and small “nap pods.” The 17,000-square-foot office overlooks the Berlin Wall Memorial and has a minimalist, industrial feel.
7. Harry’s, New York. The men’s razor startup retailer partnered with furniture designer Herman Miller to create a collaborative, flexible work environment in its 26,000-square-foot space, with sit-stand desks, movable walls and conference rooms named after the colors of the company’s razor handles.
8. Salt Co-working, Yekaterinburg, Russia. When small teams began dominating the common spaces in this coworking center, Salt added mini offices by installing sliding doors off a main corridor. The space also includes a recreation zone, a kitchen, a coat room and showers.
9. Warner Music UK, London. Dubbed HQ Music House, the 67,000-square-foot headquarters, which consolidated six offices, has a huge central atrium that gives every floor a view of the office’s cafe area. Edison light bulbs hung together with old-school microphones, black window frames and black-stained timber floors create a “subtle rocker vibe.”
10. Atlas Holdings, Greenwich, Connecticut. The hedge fund office, designed by the same firm that created Google’s New York offices, features a “floating” conference room that hangs above a communal kitchen and cafe area, as well as smaller, private spaces.

Originally published by Christine Lagorio-Chafkin in Inc.

View the top 30 offices here: http://www.inc.com/worlds-coolest-offices-2015.html

This article is timely as a lot of the conversations that I have had with job seekers lately stem from frustration around the gap between San Diego’s cost of living and salaries that companies are offering. Even more interesting is the salary gap between the San Diego market and our Orange County neighbors to the north. Depending on the position, salaries in Orange County can range up to 30-40% more than what employers are willing to pay in San Diego where the cost of living is arguably on the same level. It seems as though local companies are stuck in 2009 target salary ranges even though there are signs that our economy is heading the right direction. Just look around at the amount of development, redevelopment, and real estate transactions taking place in our own San Diego backyard.

The high scores that San Diego received regarding taxes and electric bills were slightly surprising, but with the cost of living so high, it makes sense that San Diegans are great budgeters.

Not much else on this list of what makes San Diego a desirable city to live in should shock you. The culture, amenities, access to healthy food and outdoor activities, not to mention the beach, all make for a city that has seen a massive influx of people in the recent years. The abundance of young people perpetuate the city’s energy, and there is never a shortage of new restaurants or breweries to explore.

Check out the article here: Secrets to San Diego’s Urban Appeal

Originally published by Carrie Rosenfeld in Globe St. on August 12, 2015

Check out National Geographic’s documentary on San Diego here:

World’s Smart City – San Diego