Gary Benson To Speak at The International Builders’ Show, Las Vegas, 2010

January 15, 2010

I’ll be in Las Vegas next week to coach a session entitled: How to Get Started in Developing Apartments and Condos, Pt. 4: Managing & Marketing, at the International Builders’ Show.

To read the details, click here.

Date: Thursday, January 21
Time: 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Location: North 259

The bottom line is that “getting started,” involves knowledge of marketing and management. (My forte.) That is, without these skill sets at the outset of your journey, you won’t get anywhere. So I’ll be discussing some of the basics.

WHY someone would want to get started in real estate development right now is another story. Whoever is teaching that course has their hands full.

In any case, what happens in Vegas will NOT stay in Vegas, it will be reported right here so check back. I’ll let you know what I learned at the show and share highlights on the blog.

Garry


Garry Benson Quoted In Crain’s Chicago Business Article About Cabrini-Green redevelopment bailout.

January 12, 2010

It’s been said that Crain’s Chicago Business is “where the who’s who view what’s what.” So it’s with great pleasure that I’m once again quoted in a Crain’s article.

…in order to overcome the market-rate anxiety of participating in the social experiment,” says Garry Benson, president of Chicago-based residential marketing firm Garrison Partners, which has worked on two other mixed-income projects near Cabrini-Green. “If you start off having to offer below-market value, when the market drops, you can’t drop your prices below your costs.

Last time I was in Crain’s, readers posted some rather spirited comments in reply. Here’s an example:

Garry Benson, are you insane?

I love questions like that. Which is why I responded with a blog post on December 7th. You can scroll down one entry, it’s my mini-manifesto on why things might, MIGHT, be turning around.

To read full Crain’s article on Cabrini Green bailout (if you’re in Chicago real estate, you probably should) click here.

Garry