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Ten years ago, in a small office in downtown New Orleans, a start-up that had thrust itself into bringing some high-tech tools into the low-tech world of multi-family housing was about to have its world turned upside down. News reports were pouring in that Hurricane Katrina was headed for the Gulf Coast, and New Orleans was dead in its sight. Forecasters were predicting that it was going to be the worst storm in centuries, but most native New Orleanians remained unfazed— as hurricanes are part of living on the Gulf Coast.

Award-winning national architecture and planning firm KTGY Group, Inc., answering the strong demand for innovative design solutions in Chicago, announced today that it has opened a new office in downtown Chicago, IL to expand its services in the mid-western United States. The new studio will be headed by veteran designers Craig R. Pryde, AIA, LEED AP and David M. Kennedy, AIA, LEED AP, former principals of PPK Architects, as principals of the new studio.

Franklin Street has taken another major step toward their tactical growth plan of being a national, full-service commercial real estate firm. The company will now offer real estate valuation and advisory services to its growing client list through the acquisition of Tropical Realty Appraisal Services based in Tampa. Tropical Realty Appraisal Services has been in business since 1988 and provides real estate valuation services throughout the United States with offices in Tampa, Miami, Atlanta and Key West.

Fried Frank has been recognized across various categories in Vault’s 2016 “Best Law Firms” rankings. The Firm remained #1 in the Best Law Firms for Real Estate Law ranking and was newly ranked in the Best Law Firms for Compensation ranking at #7. Additionally, Fried Frank is newly ranked in the following categories

TIAA-CREF, a leading financial services provider, and the Swedish National Pension Funds AP1 and AP2 have agreed to combine forces in a new joint venture to create a leading, pan-European office investment platform. TIAA-CREF’s affiliate, TH Real Estate, brought the parties together and will manage the vehicle on the investors’ behalf, providing investment and asset management services.

New Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) research provides insight into the question of which renters are likely to buy a home? The research shows that people renting single-family properties (renting a house/townhouse or condo) may be more likely to buy than those in apartments. In the U.S. about 15 million households rent a single-family house and 25 million rent an apartment, according to U.S. Census Data.

The Boulder Group, a net leased investment brokerage firm, has completed the sale of a single tenant Seasons Inpatient Hospice property located at 2195 West Diehl Road in Naperville, IL for $5,342,857. The recently constructed 10,342 square foot Seasons Inpatient Hospice facility is strategically located along Diehl Road in the affluent suburb of Naperville.

Mayor Bill de Blasio joined Queens officials, the Arker Companies today to break ground at the Beach Channel Senior Apartments in Far Rockaway, Queens. When completed in 2017, the seven-story, mixed-use development will be 100 percent affordable, providing apartments for 154 low-income seniors, including 46 for formerly homeless seniors.

Home prices are appreciating in San Diego at a rate that has real estate professionals giddy with anticipation. Buy a property today, and you could see it appreciate in value within months. This is due to the desirability of the location, and an upswing in job creation and wage growth. For investors, San Diego is a prime destination that’s sure to deliver big returns.

Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) today released the results of itsPrimary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing average fixed mortgage rates largely unchanged from the previous week amid little movement in financial markets. The 30-year fixed rate mortgage has averaged below four percent for the fifth consecutive week.

Randy Blankstein, President of national net lease advisory firm The Boulder Group, will be a featured speaker on ICSC’s N3 Triple Net Lease Panel in Chicago on October 7th, 2015. The panel will be held during the ICSC Chicago Deal Marking

Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) recently priced its second K-P Series offering of Structured Pass-Through Certificates (K Certificates) which are multifamily mortgage-backed securities. The company expects to issue approximately $1.2 billion in K Certificates (K-P02 Certificates), which are expected to settle on or about August 27, 2015. The K-P02 Certificates are guaranteed by Freddie Mac and are backed by 70 seasoned multifamily mortgages from the company's retained portfolio. This is the company's seventeenth K Certificates offering this year.

Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) today announced that it will guarantee its second series of SB Certificates, which are backed by multifamily small balance loans underwritten by Freddie Mac and issued by a third-party trust. The company expects to guarantee approximately $109 million in SB Certificates (SB2 Certificates), which are anticipated to price the week of August 24, 2015, and settle on or about August 28, 2015.

Hanley Investment Group Real Estate Advisors, a nationally-recognized real estate brokerage and advisory firm specializing in retail property sales, is pleased to announce that Executive Vice President Eric Wohl represented the seller in the sale of the Shops at Barnes Crossing, a 75,000-square-foot neighborhood shopping center anchored by Bed Bath & Beyond, Dollar Tree, and David' s Bridal in Tupelo, Mississippi. The purchase price was $8,725,000, representing one of the lowest cap rates in the state of Mississippi for this type of retail property. The cap rate was 8.20%

RealtyTrac® (www.realtytrac.com), the nation’s leading source for comprehensive housing data, today released its Q2 2015 U.S. Residential Loan Origination Report, which shows that 1,950,267 loans were originated on single family homes and condos in the second quarter, up 22 percent from the previous quarter and up 23 percent from a year ago to the highest level since the third quarter of 2013.

Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) today released the results of itsPrimary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing average fixed mortgage rates reversing course and nudging higher for the first time in four weeks.

Carnegie Hall, the nearly 125-year old iconic New York City music venue, today announced its award of a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, making it one of the oldest and most notable buildings to achieve such distinction. This milestone was achieved in part through a close collaboration with Siemens, which was enlisted as one of Carnegie Hall's technology partners to modernize almost 165,000 square feet of non-performance space.

The Boulder Group, a net leased investment brokerage firm, has completed the sale of a single tenant OfficeMax property located at 200 Riverside Drive in East Peoria, IL for $2,800,000. The 1.86 acre OfficeMax property is centrally located within Peoria’s primary retail area that is anchored by Bass Pro Shops, Walmart Supercenter, Lowe’s, Costco, Target, Kohl’s and Gordmans

A Muskegon County native who has served in a variety of West Michigan public sector leadership roles has joined Consumers Energy as its new lakeshore public affairs area manager.

Cushman & Wakefield today released its June 2015 transaction report documenting nearly 400,000 square feet of commercial real estate transactions. The details of these transactions can be found below.