Louisiana State University Takes 3rd Place In Global ARGUS Software University Challenge
Propels national spotlight on growing educational real estate programs
Stirling Properties commercial real estate company is pleased to announce students from Louisiana State University (LSU) E.J. Ourso Business School have placed 3rd in the global 2016 ARGUS Software University Challenge.
For the past several years, ARGUS Software has hosted the competitive challenge for university students from around the world aspiring to be real estate professionals. Through this challenge, students create real-world investment strategies through informed decisions using ARGUS solutions. A panel of judges from the academic community and industry participated in reviewing the case studies and nominating the winners.
More than 40 top real estate programs from national universities participated in the competition. The team from LSU—Jason Wyman, Eddie Saa, Jacob Kerr, Alysha Meadors and Robin Day—was coached by Stirling Properties Asset/Finance Manager, Justin Landry. Landry serves as an adjunct professor teaching Finance 7720 (Commercial Real Estate Investing). This is the 5th year an LSU team has competed in the ARGUS Software Challenge, and marks the 1st time placing under Landry’s leadership.
“Our team is thrilled to have placed among the top three teams in the country, especially among such prestigious schools and highly respected real estate programs,” said Robin Day, 2016 ARGUS Software University participant from LSU. “We were given the invaluable opportunity to learn from real-world scenarios. The challenge was a direct correlation to the types of trials real estate industry professionals encounter on a daily basis. Working as a team from various backgrounds allowed us the chance to share ideas and learn from one another. We created a more robust solution by combining our diverse knowledge bases than any of us could have accomplished individually.”
LSU’s team secured $2,000 for their university through ARGUS Software. In addition, the students were bestowed the 2016 ICSC Maurin Ogden Foundation LSU Scholarship Award, funded by Jimmy Maurin and Roger Ogden, founders of Stirling Properties. Through the scholarship, students will receive all-expense-paid attendance to the ICSC RECon Convention in Las Vegas. Each year Stirling Properties chaperones five LSU Award Recipients to the convention, offering the students valuable exposure to industry leaders and potential employers.
“This scholarship has been tremendously successful, and we’ve had a handful of students who received jobs as a result of attending the conference. But none of this would be possible without the generosity of Stirling’s founders, Jimmy Maurin and Roger Ogden. There are no two people more committed to LSU, real estate and education,” said Landry. “We couldn’t be more proud of this team of students. They have worked so hard for all that they have accomplished this semester.”
Coming on the heels of other recent LSU E.J. Ourso Business School advancements, this is another significant win that students and supporters hope will propel a national spotlight on the growing finance and real estate programs at the university.
For more information about Finance 7720 (Commercial Real Estate Investing) and its objectives contact Justin Landry at jclandry@stirlingprop.com.
Stirling Properties is located at United Plaza, 8550 United Plaza Boulevard, Suite 303 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. For more information regarding our services, please visit us at www.stirlingproperties.com.
Stirling Properties Announces Latest Investment Sale in Mobile, Alabama
Stirling Properties’ agents Justin Toomey and Andrew Dickman recently completed the sale of a 100,000 square-foot United States Postal Service facility in Mobile, Alabama. The industrial distribution warehouse, located at 4538 Shipyard Road, was sold for $3.1 Million on Friday, July 31, 2015. Justin and Andrew represented the seller, Alabama Gulfstar, LLC and a local Mobile based investor group with the acquisition.
For more information regarding investment sales, leasing opportunities or any of your real estate needs contact Stirling Properties at 251-375-2495 or visit www.stirlingproperties.com.
Gulf South Investment Sales
Investment Sales remain a hot segment of the Commercial Real Estate Market in the Gulf South and opportunities continue to present themselves. A strong 2014 has bled over and the pattern is expected to continue.
Historically, local investors were hot on Louisiana, Mississippi and South Alabama earning slightly higher returns than most of the country. National and international investors viewed these markets as “risky” and, while considering properties in Texas and Florida, the Gulf South was too often overlooked, shrinking the buying pool.
In the past several years, that has all changed. Perception is reality, and here in the Gulf South is no exception. Low interest rates coupled with economic indicators stronger than national averages during the economic downturn grabbed the attention of investors from around the country. This led to increased activity from national investors who began seeing the opportunity that exists in these markets.
Six months ago some were asking “will lower oil prices impact the economic fundamentals in this market” and “will that impact pricing” in the Gulf South? The answers are yes and no. Yes, the energy sector does play a part in the economy. No, it has not affected pricing any more than in any other part of the country. Twenty years ago, these answers would not have been the same. Today, the economy of the Gulf South is more diverse than ever with rises in manufacturing, healthcare, technology and tourism making it more stable and attractive to investors. Gone are the days when the Gulf South economy relied so heavily on the energy sector.
Today, instead of overlooking the Gulf South, national investors are seeking out opportunities and considering properties within these markets as comparable to those of other similar markets around the country. While this may not seem to be an accomplishment, it is the first time in decades that these markets have competed on a national stage.
The continued low interest rate environment has caused many Gulf South owners to reconsider selling properties that they may not have in the past. While the so-called “bargains” of a few years ago are not as prevalent and several 2014 sales were done at all-time low cap rates, interest in acquisitions in the Gulf South remains very strong.
In 2014, Stirling Properties closed over $120 million in Investment Sales and is projecting similar numbers in 2015. Our knowledge of the Gulf South, comprehensive in-house brokerage services and proven track record of buying and selling investment properties positions us as the regional industry leaders for investment sales.
