In a nutshell, our clients want us to put ourselves in their shoes for the day and truly understand their job. That job may be as an underwriter, an originator, a risk manager, an owner/operator, or an asset manager. Given that perspective, what are the opportunities for environmental and engineering professionals used of performing due diligence in today's market?

Our industry has typically focused on acquisition and financing of commercial real estate assets. With the dearth of deals today, we need to find out what other "hats" our clients wear and how we can position ourselves to assist them in a more turnkey manner. It is my assertion that those consultants who truly undertstand their clients DAILY (sometimes hourly) needs, will be the ones that weather this economic storm the best.

It will be my intent to provide web resources, social networking links, marketing ideas, and market sector niche suggestions for our community to comment upon as being viable opportunities in these new economic times. This blog will focus on the real estate life cycle from acquisition and development to financing, to refinancing, to asset management and repositioning, to disposition. Each entry will address a point in the commercial real estate life cycle where an opportunity may exist for firms and individuals on commonground with some recommended resources to pursue these opportunities provided by myself and our community.

As with all of our community blogs, your input is what makes them successful, so please suggest topics and references whenever you have an "AHAH!" moment. I will not profess to be an expert on commercial real estate on this blog, but to provide insight into questions clients have asked me over the years that have helped me to understand "the deal".