Journalism has been described in dozens of ways: from “essential to make democracy work” (broadcaster Walter Cronkite) to “a heroic pursuit” (producer Morgan Neville).
Those who specialize in commercial real estate news have taken on an especially challenging subject due to the constant evolution of the industry and the often-secretive outlook of those brokering the largest transactions.
Whether you’re an active investor in commercial real estate, a broker, a commercial real estate agent, or another CRE professional, you’ve probably read articles by one or more of these leading CRE journalists.
Each presents their own personal, unique spin on the latest happenings in a fast-moving yet complex business.
Top 10 Commercial Real Estate Journalists
Although every journalist brings something different to the table; each one is highly respected in their chosen specializations and fields. Many have been awarded for their skills.
#1 – David Levitt
David Levitt, aka @dmlevitt, describes himself as a freelance journalist from New York whose “pronouns are dese, dem, and dose.”
Levitt’s work is published by Bloomberg, Yahoo Finance, and several international publications, with a recent Commercial Observer article discussing the future of co-working spaces with IWG CEO Mark Dixon.
#2 – Kara Wetzel
Bloomberg’s bureau chief and senior editor Kara Wetzel, aka @KaraWetzel, is based in California. Her readers depend on her ability and skills in sniffing out the latest CRE trends in one of the nation’s largest markets. These often include the latest political and national trends affecting RE professionals and consumers.
One of Kara’s summer articles discussed Chevron Corporation’s plans to sell its 92-acre campus in the San Francisco Bay area, part of Chevron’s downsizing its presence in California. Around 200 staff will move to Chevron’s new offices in Houston, Texas, bringing the total of Houston staff to over 6,000.
#3 – Joe Lovinger
Winner of the National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE) Best Young Journalist – Real Estate prize for 2022, Lovinger isn’t afraid of a challenge when penning an expose for leading CRE journal The Real Deal.
His prize was earned by his profile of Simon and David Reuben, investor siblings who recently went on a spending spree in New York. The brothers bought up billions in NYC properties, including the prestigious Surrey Hotel, for $150 million.
Joe is also a regular contributor to The Real Deal’s Daily Dirt newsletter. A recent example: “Sales of new condominiums in July evoked the Tom Petty classic ‘Free Falling’ – and its developers who are home with broken hearts.”
#4 – Mark Nieto
With over 1,100 published articles to his credit, Mark Nieto is Content Director of California and the Pacific Northwest for Connect CRE. A recent article presented details of the new 42-acre industrial development Moses Lake Commerce Center in Washington, which will feature a temperature-controlled, food-grade processing facility.
Mark’s ability to network with local brokerages is evident in his articles since many focus on larger CRE transactions. For example, a recent article presented details of a $4.2 million sale of Summit Self Storage, a 22,000 sq. ft facility in Bend, Oregon. The deal was brokered by the real estate firm Marcus & Millichap to an undisclosed buyer.
#5 – Erik Engquist
With over 20 years of experience in journalism and editing, Erik is currently Senior Managing Editor at The Real Deal, a “must read” for CRE brokers, property owners, and investors.
Erik researches and reports on a variety of office, multi-property, and real estate topics for Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey. In addition to his editorial work, Erik curates opinion pieces and describes himself as a “grammarian and writing coach.”
#6 – Daniel Geiger
Business Insider correspondent Daniel recently took home a NAREE Gold Prize for Best Commercial Real Estate Story. His article investigated Amazon’s huge warehouse expansions during 2020 and 2021 and discovered that only one brokerage was negotiating the deals for Bezos and Co: KBC Advisors.
Another series of reports, co-authored by Geiger and senior reporter Alex Nicoll, investigated rumors of serious morale challenges encountered by remote staff at commercial real estate data firm CoStar. IT staff described management’s distrust of remote employees, instructing them to make surprise video calls to staff and even note their clothing choices.
#7 – Konrad Putzier
A CRE reporter at the Wall Street Journal, Konrad’s article topics include New York commercial property markets, construction, and real estate technology.
A recent article exposed two of the world’s largest REIT investment firms, Blackstone Inc. and Starwood Capital Group, limiting the number of money investors could withdraw from their billion-dollar real estate funds. The Blackstone and Starwood funds are the two largest real-estate investment trusts (REITs), a popular pick for high-rolling investors.
Konrad began his career as a reporter at the Real Deal and Real Estate Weekly before joining the Wall Street Journal.
#8 – Katherine Feser
Business reporter for the Houston Chronicle, Katherine recently took home a NAREE Gold award for her Prime Property newsletter.
Judges praised her organizational skills with both commercial and residential real estate happenings in Houston and its numerous suburbs. A recent article described the growing numbers of West Coast companies relocating to Houston, especially those seeking commercial space for industrial and retail applications.
#9 – Dan Moynihan
Dan is currently the editor of Commercial Real Estate Direct, an online weekly publication founded in 1999. Its claim to fame: to be the only dedicated source of intel regarding the real estate capital markets industry.
A 16-year veteran in the CRE field, Dan researches and publishes a wealth of content, specializing in the sales and renovation of multifamily properties. Based in Pennsylvania, Dan holds a BA in Journalism from Temple University.
#10 – Roger Vincent
Few journalists have dedicated as much of their career to commercial real estate as Los Angeles Times columnist Roger Vincent. His experience continues to win awards, such as his 2021 NAREE award for his article The $1-Billion Bet That People Will Return to L.A. After the Pandemic.
Born in Sacramento, he began his career at the Los Angeles Business Journal as their first real estate columnist. He describes his time there with nostalgia: “I started on a manual typewriter, and I miss the sound of the thundering typewriters.” Before joining the Los Angeles Times in 1996, Roger was the founding editor of the California Real Estate Journal.
