America's Richest Cities, 1978 and Now

In many ways, the contemporary history of America's economy is really a story about cities. Metro areas rise and fall with each generation, buoyed or sunk by the industries and trends that support them.

The chart below, from the McKinsey Global Institute, does a beautiful job telling that story. On the left, we have the top 30 U.S. metro areas ranked by real GDP as of 1978. On the right, the top 30 for 2010. That cross-hatch of red and blue lines shows just how much churn there has been in the economy. But I think there are three main trends to take away from this.

View the full article here.

Read More

Americans Want More City Planning

What's most important to economic development in your community? Better transit, thriving local businesses, more affordable housing?

Community plans are a key component in bringing those ideas to life. According to a new pollfrom the American Planning Association, Americans agree. Two-thirds of the 1,300 Americans surveyed said that their community needs both planning and market forces to improve its economic situation.

To read the full story online, click here.

Read More

L.A. Housing Market Still Suffering

Richard Green of the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate recently sat down with KTLA and provided insight into why California is having such a hard time climbing out of the mortgage mess.


View the entire interview here.

Read More

U.S. homeownership rate at 15-year low

By Tiffany Hsu and Alejandro Lazo, Los Angeles Times

May 1, 2012

High foreclosure rates and a strong rental market pushed the homeownership rate in the U.S. to a 15-year low, even as projections for the housing market grew brighter.

The 65.4% rate in the first quarter is down from the 66% rate in the fourth quarter and 66.4% in the first quarter of last year, according to the Census Bureau. Before the housing bubble burst, homeownership reached a high of 69.2% in 2004.

The current rate is low compared with the last decade partly because earlier homeownership rates were inflated by people who hadn't made down payments and were really "renters with an option to buy," said Richard K. Green, director of USC's Lusk Center for Real Estate.

In the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, the homeownership rate stayed roughly in the mid-60% range, Green said.

"We were getting numbers up toward 70% that just didn't make any sense," he said. "If the number goes below 64%, it'll be something to be alarmed about. But above that — we're just going back to where we should be."

View the full article here.

Read More

THO Wins Three 2012 Hermes Awards

The Hoyt Organization was awarded three Hermes Creative Awards for 2012. View the full list of winners on the official website.


Hermes Creative Awards, Gold Winner
Pro Bono
Los Angeles Headquarters Association 

Hermes Creative Awards, Gold Winner
Television Placement
Westside Estate Agency

Hermes Creative Awards, Honorable Mention
Audio/Podcast
Gumbiner Savett

Read More

Shopping Centers Panel Talks Growth

RETAIL: Shopping centers panel talks growth

BY TIFFANY RAY

Every two hours, a new 7-Eleven is born. That’s the rate at which the convenience stores are opening in new locations worldwide, according to Don Tucker, a real estate manager for the company.

Tucker was among a panel of retail and real estate experts assembled earlier this week for the International Council of Shopping Centers Inland Empire Breakfast Program.

The Ontario event also featured panelists from Rite Aid, Big Lots, Smart & Final and Supervalu, the Minnesota-based company that owns Albertsons and other grocery store chains. The discussion was moderated by Bill Worsley, vice president of Lewis Retail Centers.

View the entire article here.

Read More

The Hoyt Organization Ranked in Top 25 PR Firms in LA

THO has been recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the top 25 largest independent PR agencies in Los Angeles county.


View the full list here.

Read More