he strengthening economic outlook, fueled by a surge in consumer confidence and an increase in business expenditures, is mirrored in the commercial real estate market. The bottom line? The future looks bright for commercial real estate.
      The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) reported in May 2004 at the NAR Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo that the "overall commercial real estate market should experience positive net absorption of space this year, which includes leasing of new space coming on the market as well as existing space."

Raymond C. Walker (left), President of The Walker Companies and John Warden, Executive Vice President of The Walker Companies

      At the May NAR Midyear Meeting, David Lereah, NAR's chief economist, was quoted as saying, "Durable good orders have been trending up, manufacturers are hiring again, and payroll data is on the rise. Business spending will continue to grow and that will directly feed into a rising demand for commercial real estate space."
      As demand rises and markets open up, certain factors never change. Controlling costs remains of the utmost importance among CFOs, according to a recent report prepared by Boston-based CFO Research Services. According to the survey, 88 percent of the senior financial executives said that reducing operating and occupancy costs is the major goal for corporate real estate. And what's the best way to control costs? Outsource, so you can remain focused on your core competencies. The report noted that 75 percent of companies that outsource (and use technology to maximize performance) report significant cost savings. Here's a look at some of today's top leaders in the industrial real estate market -- the pros you should call to get the job done.