Useful Commercial Real Estate Websites

1. Useful Websites
Commercial Organizations
Building Owners and Managers Association
www.boma.org
Shopping Centers
www.icsc.org
National Apartment Association
www.naahq.org
Certified Investment Commercial Member (CCIM)
www.ccim.com
Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR)
www.sior.com
Real Estate Land Institute (RLI)
www.rliland.com
Land Listing Sites
These Internet sites provide information about current listings. Most are
searchable by specific criteria. Many also offer a place to list what type of
property you are looking for so that others can match their property to your
needs.
 Costar
www.costar.com
A robust site for comparable analyis.
Free to list.
 LoopNet
www.loopnet.com
Extensive commercial and land-listing database,
Free to search.
 MLS
www.connectmls.com
Listings within limited geographical boundaries.
 Gensburg Commercial and Industrial Services
www.gensburgltd.com
Free to list

2. Land Values
There are many sites available on the Internet that provide information to help
calculate land values. These include agricultural land surveys, State
Universities and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
 REALTORS® Land Institute (RLI)
www.rliland.com
Many of the properties are rural
Urban Development Information
 The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
www.hud.gov/states.html
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development site that lists
executive summaries of consolidated plans for communities across
America.
 The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development- Community
www.hud.gov/commut.html
HUD connections to community topics, cities, and governments on the
Internet, community maps, local plans, brown fields, and other community
resources.
 Urban Land Institute (ULI)
www.ULI.org
ULI is a community of practice for those engaged in the entrepreneurial
and collaboration process of real estate development and land use policymaking.
Recreational Information
 Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
www.blm.gov/nhp/index.htm
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), an agency within the U.S.
Department of the Interior, administers 262 million acres of America's
public lands, located primarily in 12 Western States. Contact the local
BLM office for additional information about local BLM recreation uses.
 Recreation on Public Lands
www.recreation.gov/
Contains information on recreation sites for all Federal public lands.
Gend l Systems
GIS (Geographic Information Systems)
Geographic Information Systems are computer-based tools for mapping and
geographically analyzing objects and demographic patterns. These tools can
help to determine the best locations for your client’s needs. Some examples
include:
Choosing the best site for restaurants, stores, warehouses, and corporate
offices
Proximity to suitable customers
Location of potential competitors
Crime rates
Transportation infrastructure
Local labor pool characteristics

3. Environmental Risk Factors
Flood plains, toxic sites, etc
There are many sites available on the Internet that provide information about
GIS, links to GIS sites, and links to companies that provide GIS tools.
 Environmental Systems Research Institute
www.esri.com
Web site for ESRI, the makers of Arc View© GIS software. Information on
products, map information, training. Software that help to create maps by
themes such as population, gender, marital status, etc. Very useful to help
your clients find a location with specific demographic information.
GIS WWW Resource List
www.geo.ed.ac.uk/home/giswww.html
A page of resource links for GIS resources around the world. Created and
maintained by University of Edinburgh.
 The GIS Data Depot
www.gisdatadepot.com/
Information about GIS, software and tools. Free data and downloads.
 The GIS Portal
www.gisportal.com
Links to other GIS sites, mapping technology and software.
 Guide to GIS Resources on the Internet
http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/GIS/gisnet.html
Internet guide to GIS Resources.
 National Atlas of the United States
www.-atlas.usgs.gov
Provides searchable, downloadable maps of the U.S. from United States
Geological Survey (USGS).
 U.S. Census
www.census.gov/geo/www/gis_gateway.html
The U.S. Census hosts this page as a gateway to GIS resources.
U.S. Census Frequently asked questions about GIS
www.census.gov/geo/www/faq-index.html
 United States Geological Survey (USGS)
www.usgs.gov
The official site for the United States Geological Survey. Great
information, maps, and links. Free and for sale resources, including maps and GIS data sets.
Mapping Services and Products
These are services and products that will create maps. They are useful to help
with driving directions and times, locating landmarks, and locating specific
addresses.
 Satellite Images
www.earth.google.com
On-line mapping service from Google
 On-line Map Creation
www.aquarius.geomar.de/omc/

4. Create your own maps.
 Street Atlas
www.delorme.com
DeLorme Home Page - Home page for Street Atlas 4.0 and other mapping products.
 MapBlast!
www.maps.live.com
Contains: maps, directions and 3D.
 Maps.com
www.maps.com
Contains driving directions, address finding, on-line Yellow Pages,
weather, center & maps, geography, business traveler reference guide.
 Map Quest
www.mapquest.com
On-line mapping service. Get driving directions, locate specific areas, etc.
The maps are downloadable to Palm OS devices so they can easily travel
with you.
Government and Statistics
The Internet provides you with access to census data, crime rates, economic
data, and comparisons of information from state to state or neighborhood to
neighborhood.
Some of the sites available on the Web that provide statistical information are
listed below:
 Bureau of Labor Statistics
www.stats.bls.gov/blshome.htm
 Fedstats
www.fedstats.gov/regional.html
Statistics by regional area, census data, agricultural information, crime
statistics, energy, and environmental information.
 Stateline.org
www.stateline.org
Information on your state’s happenings, economic and demographic data
for each state, comparison information, etc.
Research Information
In addition to the sites listed below, do not forget your local library and college
or university. Many local libraries now have Web sites that will let you search
their card catalog from your home or office to see what books are available
before your trip there. In addition, many local libraries have many of their
periodicals on-line. You can locate the article you need, and have it faxed or Emailed
to you. If you are unsure how to access your local library, or how to use
their services, contact your librarian for assistance.
Some starting points for research on the Internet are listed below.
 ACNOdyssey
www.ACNOdyssey.com
Detailed profiles of every city, county and metropolitan area in the U.S.
can be found at this economic and community development site.

5.  All Experts
www.allexperts.com
Ask various experts questions about a wide range of topics.
 Refdesk.com
www.refdesk.com
A great starting point for research. Includes links to on-line dictionaries,
encyclopedias, etc.
 National Trust for Historic Preservation
www.nationaltrust.org
National Trust for Historic Preservation’s National Main Street Center
www.mainst.org
Information and resources on downtown revitalization through preservation
and economic development.
 International Economic Development Council
www.iedcon-line.org/
International Economic Development Council Web site that contains links
to resources for economic development of communities.
 MISC.
 Commercial News
www.commercialpropertynews.com
 Commercial Education
www.newcastlecre.com