The Real Estate Challenge is an annual contest matching teams from multiple real estate programs from regional universities in a competition that focuses on a development/redevelopment project in the Puget Sound area. Teams are tasked with forming a proposed investment strategy based on the site sponsor’s needs. Site selection begins in early August and the contest itself runs from January through mid-March.

Each participating university fields a team of 10-20 graduate and/or undergraduate students under the leadership of seasoned real estate professionals and professors. Utilizing their expertise, youth and enthusiasm, each team is tasked with assessing the relevant market information, regulatory environment and financing options to arrive at an investment strategy that meets or exceeds the goals of the site sponsor. The competition culminates in a judging event which brings together the assessment abilities of 5-10 assumption reviewers and 2-4 seasoned developer judges. The competition winner is announced in front of the NAIOP membership at the March Breakfast meeting, following a presentation of the challenge and the proposals.

Finalists and Hall of Fame Honoree Announced for 2015 NAIOP Washington State Night of the Stars, Honoring Local Real Estate Projects and Companies

Want to save up to $300* on your NAIOP membership? Join during the Fall Promotion! Effective October 1 through December 31, 2015, all new members who sign up will receive membership through December 31, 2016--up to three months, free. All new members are eligible to take advantage of this opportunity including South Sound, Developing Leaders (35 & under), Public Officials, Corporate Accounts (4 or more members from the same company) and returning members.**

Under 35? Aspiring members of the real estate industry looking to make connections, learn more about CRE and help grow NAIOP and the community are encouraged to apply for our Developing Leaders Committee! The Developing Leaders (“DLs”) of the Washington State chapter of NAIOP are students and real estate professionals 35 years old and under who are dedicated to the growth and sustainability of commercial real estate in Washington State. Through planned social, civic and educational events, the DLs share ideas, make connections, and create business opportunities.

The Committee supports the NAIOP mission by providing a relaxed, fun and social forum for engaging young real estate professionals. Committee members are encouraged to network, begin building relationships by interacting with each other as well as industry veterans, promote the NAIOP mission and four cornerstones of networking, influence, community and education (N.I.C.E.), and appreciate the benefits of a long-term career of NAIOP involvement.

Each year, YMCA Camp Terry welcomes hundreds of kids and young adults to participate in educational and experiential outdoor activities at their facility along the Raging River in Preston. The camp has been in need of upgrades to their facilities and has been in the planning stages for several years.

Based on their mission, the population they serve, the size of the facility, and the variety of improvements they have been planning, Camp Terry has been a prime candidate to be a NAIOP Community Enhancement (CE) project site for the past couple of years. Each time the Community Enhancement Committee (CEC) had visited the camp in the past, we saw how we could easily partner with the YMCA for a successful project, but each year the camp was not quite ready.

Summer days are filled with social events, but NAIOP’s Summer Social & Golf Tournament is the one that must not be missed. On Monday, August 10, NAIOP put on the annual Summer Social & Golf Tournament at the Golf Club at Newcastle. With 288 golfers and 84 sponsors, this year’s tournament was our most successful yet!

What a view! Golfers head out at our #summersocial @newcastlegolf #naiopwaevent pic.twitter.com/eLMsAUGMHh

Hello and welcome to the new blog for NAIOP Washington State. Our goal is to post short updates as needed for NAIOP members. We welcome your comments and story ideas—send them to [email protected]. Stay tuned for our first post!