Neighboring Markets Diverge on Trends

TYSONS CORNER, VA-Traditionally growth and development in the Northern Virginia and Washington, DC markets have moved in tandem. In many ways, of course, this has not changed, especially for Virginia counties nearest the District. Investment sales activity for instance, shows little sign of slowing in either market. That said, it is also clear that with other issues–transportation, for instance, and government real estate investment patterns–the two markets diverge in focus.

Last year, the RealShare Conference Series introduced its first conference tailored to the Northern Virginia market in addition to its traditional DC gathering. “Not only is the Northern Virginia market large enough in its own right to warrant its own conference, but some issues tend to be more important to Northern Virginia investors,” Rich Kelley, director of the series, tells GlobeSt.com. Real Estate Media, which publishes GlobeSt.com and Real Estate Forum magazine, produces the RealShare Conference Series.

This year’s conference, to be held on Dec. 5 at the Hilton McLean in Tysons Corner, will focus on issues specific to this market as well as larger topics relevant to both DC and Northern Virginia, he says. Kelley says that between 200 and 300 people are expected to attend.

The half-day conference will kick off with a panel discussion moderated by Bradley Flickinger, managing director of CB Richard Ellis, exploring the likelihood that boom times will continue for Northern Virginia next year. It will be followed by concurrent panel discussions looking at demographics that are driving leasing and development in Northern Virginia and getting deals done in the current low-cap, highly competitive debt and equity markets.

After a networking break, two other concurrent panel sessions will be held: one will look at active players in the investment sales market. Another panel will examine larger trends supporting–or not–the development boom.