Commercial real estate avoided the fate many economists predicted in the wake of the Great Recession. With bond payments coming due for shopping malls and other major commercial properties — along with tighter lending regulations —owners of commercial properties were expected to file for foreclosure in massive numbers. So went the hypothesis. While it’s true […]
In the midst of dire predictions for large-scale commercial construction projects, the Grand Valley has been home to several landmark efforts. Some were recently completed. Others are scheduled for completion within the next 12 months. Beyond that, though, few are willing to predict how much activity will occur. “We are a long way from much […]
As large commercial construction projects wind down in the Grand Valley, people working on the front lines nervously join real estate agents, bankers and mortgage brokers in hoping that more large projects come on line beyond the middle of next year. Employment remains a concern across all industries, but the construction sector has been hit […]
Debbie Kovalik increasingly hears what she considers encouraging words about retail development in the Grand Valley. As the department director over economic, convention and visitor services for the City of Grand Junction, Kovalik serves as a point of contact for businesses interested in expanding or opening retail ventures in the area. She said she’s talking […]
If the marketplace hates the uncertainty of an up-and-down stock market, the marketplace might love an announcement from the Federal Reserve that short-term interest rates will remain low for at least another two years. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke announced earlier in August the Federal Open Market Committee expects to keep the benchmark federal funds rate […]
While one measure of real estate activity in Mesa County movers higher, another measure continues to decline. According to figures compiled by Annette Miller, senior vice president of Heritage Title Co. in Grand Junction, 235 real estate transactions worth a combined $48.32 million were reported in Mesa County during July. The number of transactions was […]
A Western Colorado agency has received a $2.4 million grant extension to continue offering free weatherization services to low-income residents in a seven-county region. Housing Resources also was selected to participate in a national case study on the effectiveness of such programs. “We were picked because we performed the best in Colorado,” said Mike Hansen, […]
A leading indicator of construction activity in the United States continues to rise, but the overall outlook remains less promising. Associated Builders and Contractors reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator (CBI) increased 10 percent in the second quarter to an average of 8.1 months. That’s up from 7.3 months the previous quarter. The CBI is […]
As the sun shines intensely through a clear summer sky, Derek Elder walks behind a long row of photovoltaic solar panels to a check a digital readout monitoring how well the panels convert all that sunshine into electricity. Over the course of the next year, Elder expects the 88 panels to generate a total of […]
A monthly index tracking conditions for small businesses in Colorado continues to decline as weakening global and national economies affect the state. “It’s unfortunate that the inherent strength of the Colorado economy, like many of its neighbors, is held back by external political and economic developments,” said Jeff Thredgold, a corporate economist who calculates the […]