So I was reading through my morning news and spotted this CMBS deals are slowly sneaking back in ? 

"The commercial mortgage bond securitization window that has been closed for nearly two years during this recession has reopened for business in the last few weeks and investors have lined up encouragingly to take advantage of a new round of CMBS offerings."

 Are things getting better ? 2010 off to a good start ? I would like to hope so. 

This looks interesting ...

Prudential Mortgage Capital’s Melissa Farrell says that the life company side of her firm is lending—to the tune of $5B so far this year. “And we'd like to lend more,” she told attendees of National Realty Club’s bi-weekly luncheon at the Williams Club yesterday, which got them to look up from their Oktoberfest meal.

Indicators of the Bottom of the Commercial Real Estate Market

As a commercial real estate broker and investor, I am often asked about the arrival of the low-point of the stressed, distressed, value-add and opportunity property market. "When will we be at the bottom? Are we there yet? Is it this year? Will it be next year? Will the pending CMBS mess push property values lower? When should I get in?" are just a few examples of questions I am fielding. Funny thing is, I don't think we ever actually see the bottom before it passes us by.

I was wondering through the interwebs early this AM over coffee and somehow came across Mr. John B. Levy an investment banker from Virginia. He does a podcast series on commercial real estate and the economy. I think he is worth listening to, your thoughts ?

So once Arizona sells off these properties at bottom of the barrel prices to private ownership, they will then rent them back in the hopes that they will be able to repurchase them at obviously higher prices when the market is better? I could understand a potential upside to sell off unused state-owned properties, but the State Capitol?

"Call it a sign of desperate times: Legislators are considering selling the House and Senate buildings where they’ve conducted state business for more than 50 years.

Dozens of other state properties also may be sold as the state government faces its worst financial crisis in a generation, if not ever. The plan isn’t to liquidate state assets, though.