Joe Sosky's (joesosky) Blog

Wednesday, May 26, 2010, CBA will be sponsoring two classes in Vancouver, WA.  The morning class will be the mandatory Washington Transition Course from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon.  (3 CE Credits)  This course explains the changes to the real estate license law that effective as of July 1, 2010.  It c...

As a real estate professional, I am constantly looking for ways to meet other business associates who I can network with and expand my data base.  About a year ago, I received an invitation to attend our area's BNI chapter.  I did not know anything about BNI, yet the invitation seemed to match wh...

As the market shifts, I have been commissioned by many owners, lenders and asset managers to place a value on their commercial property.  I am quick to point out that I am not an appraiser, however, a commercial real estate agent can create a Broker Price Opinion or Broker Opinion of Value.  It i...

The credit crunch continues to have a large impact on commercial sales and dictates who the potential buyers will be in this market. Investors with large amount of equity are winning in today's real estate opportunities.  Cap rates continue to move upward on commercial real estate, driving prices...

If you are a tenant, now is a great time to seriously consider purchasing your own commercial building and pay rent to yourself rather than another landlord. Those of you who have been paying rent for a commercial space may be surprised to see the financial benefits of owning versus leasing. In t...

I spoke with Vi Mallone from the Commercial Broker's Association out of the Seattle area.  She said CBA will indeed provide two commercial classes for us here in SW Washington sometime this spring.  She has a real estate attorney who will be teaching the classes.  One will be offered in the morni...

Stay tuned commercial realtors in SW Washington.  Vi Mallone, Education Coordinator for, just called and left me a message. Vi said CBA wants to sponsor a couple of commercial classes for our area.  This is great news, knowing we can get quality commercial classes for realtors doing commercial de...

CAR (Commercial Association of Realtors of Oregon and SW Washington is providing a seminar on Green Leases at the MAC in Portland today. The event is being hosted by Ball Janik LLP.  The following is taken from the CAR website on the seminar: First, the "green" buildings were the buzz. Now, the b...

I recently completed my 2nd term as a Board Member for CAR; Commercial Association of Realtors of Oregon and Southwest Washington.  I continue to serve on the FORMS Committee where as a committee we develop commercial forms as required and reviews current forms to ensure compliance with real esta...

Fixed residential financing typically is amortized over 30 years, with a fixed interest rate and free of a balloon payment. Conversely, most commercial real estate loans are amortized over 25 or 30 years and the term is usually no longer than 10 years.  Therefore, the commercial loans will need t...