Denver, CO – Several hundred of Colorado’s most notable business and civic leaders braved inclement weather conditions to attend the 2013 Colorado Real Estate and Economic Forum held Wednesday, February 20th at the Hyatt Denver Tech Center. Presented by Kentwood Real Estate, the economic outlook event showcased a stellar lineup of keynote speakers who provided insight into the economic future of the country, for Colorado, and for the metropolitan Denver area.
Hosted by Peter Niederman, Chief Executive Officer of Kentwood Real Estate, this year’s forum included comprehensive, informative presentations by David Ikenberry, Dean of the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado at Boulder; Richard Wobbekind, Senior Associate Dean for the Leeds School of Business; Tom Thibodeau, Professor of Global Real Estate Markets and Academic Director for the CU Real Estate Center; Sherman R. Miller, Executive Director for the CU Real Estate Center; and Patty Silverstein, President and Chief Economist for Development Research Partners.
Silverstein presented the 2013 economic forecast for metro Denver, citing such worldwide factors as the global economic slowdown, tension in the Middle East, and the U.S. drought that will impact economic growth locally. Positives include low inflation, a labor surplus, and excellent real estate opportunities.
According to Silverstein, nearly 25 percent of metro Denver employers are planning on adding workers in 2013, with much of the area’s growth sparked by aerospace and aviation, bioscience, broadcasting and telecommunications, energy, financial services, healthcare, and IT/software. Opportunities in real estate will be fueled by low interest and inflation rates, stronger consumer spending, active home sales with low inventory, and the improving commercial segment of the real estate business.
Ikenberry and Wobbekind from the Leeds School of Business reviewed the highly regarded school’s key initiatives, including a revised core curriculum and an honors program. Factors expected to help the economic recovery in 2013 include increased jobs as the year progresses, the housing market recovery, and solid balance sheets for businesses, households, and banks. DIA continues to act as a catalyst for growth locally, and agriculture is among Colorado’s best performing industries.
Miller and Thibodeau of the CU Real Estate Center cited advantages for economic growth in metro Denver, including a young population, retail sales growth, and new retailers looking at the metro Denver market. The informative presentation included predictions for the industrial, investment, and housing markets.
Peter Niederman, Kentwood’s CEO, reviewed the company’s performance in 2012, which shattered previous sales records with $1.7 billion in total volume for the year. Kentwood Real Estate is also an affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate, the foremost marketing company for distinctive properties worldwide. Niederman also noted that Kentwood and its top-performing real estate professionals support more than 230 local charities and non-profit organizations each year.
To review the presentations from this year’s Real Estate and Economic Forum, visit DenverRealEstate.com/EconomicForum2013.
This year’s sponsors included Cherry Creek Mortgage Company, American Home Shield, Johnson Storage & Moving, Amazon Moves Moving & Storage, Land Title Guarantee Company, DenverRental.com, Denver Image Photography, Christie’s International Real Estate, and Denver.com.
Kentwood Real Estate is dedicated to its legacy of being “Colorado’s Premier Real Estate Company” through the highest producing, most knowledgeable, caring and experienced sales team in the country, offering the highest quality customer service experience. Kentwood Real Estate is an innovator known for unparalleled marketing strategies and superior Internet technology that places its clients in the best possible position.
Kentwood Real Estate is comprised of The Kentwood Company in the Denver Tech Center, The Kentwood Company at Cherry Creek, and Kentwood City Properties in downtown Denver. For more information, visit Kentwood Real Estate online at www.DenverRealEstate.com.