Newton, MA During September, Rob Nahigian, FRICS, SIOR, CRE, MCR of Auburndale Realty Co., was invited and spoke at a number of regional commercial real estate events throughout the U.S. and Canada as an industry subject matter expert and commercial industry thought-leader. 

The MA Realtors Commercial Alliance engaged Nahigian to deliver the new NAR Commercial program “Discovering Commercial Real Estate” on September 7 in Waltham. The program was geared to newer real estate brokers interested in understanding the nuances and skills for commercial real estate practitioners. Topics included: operating a commercial firm, commercial resources, office and industrial real estate building characteristics, investment formulas, appraisal approaches, leasing methods, etc. Real estate brokers with previous experience on Wall Street, corporate real estate and lending backgrounds were highly engaged in the class. The program was held at the Massachusetts Association of Realtors offices.

On September 13, Nahigian delivered the SIOR national designation program “Art of Negotiating Commercial Real Estate” in Charlotte, N.C. at the Omni Hotel. The course revealed new models in negotiating skills that have elevated the success of professional negotiators. As an SIOR national faculty member since 1986, Nahigian incorporated his professional experience as a “for hire” negotiator that dissected two negotiating traits that can tip the playing field.

On September 18, the SIOR E. Canada Chapter invited Nahigian as its annual keynote speaker on the topic of “Highest and Best Use Methodology.” The program was held at the Oxford Conference Center, Montreal and was promoted at Education Day for the area’s premier commercial real estate brokers. Nahigian’s program was sold out with over 120 attendees. The premier firms also sponsored the event including CBRE, NAI, Cushman & Wakefield, JLL, Avison Young and the SIOR Foundation. The 4 hour program broke down the 4 components of highest and best use and how to reach a valuation or use conclusion for clients. Nahigian served over 10 years as a highest and best use expert on the MADOT eminent domain appraisal board and serves many companies regionally as a real estate counselor on highest and best use. He has also been engaged over the years by the Mass. attorney district’s office on eminent domain issues. 

Nahigian taught his Boston University on-line class with 22 attendees internationally on commercial real estate leases and transactions. The online course is an eight week program that includes brokers, developers and lenders from India to California. The course dives into commercial lease clauses and investment issues from the perspective of the landlord, tenant and lender as well as the leasing process and financing/investment implications. 

Nahigian then was invited to deliver “Build-to-Suit Development” and “Commercial Lease Analysis: When to Hold and When to Fold” on September 22, for the New Orleans Metropolitan Association of Realtors (NOMAR) Commercial division. The program was held at the board’s conference center in Metairie, LA. Over 60 attended the day. 

Finally on September 28, the Certified Commercial Investment designation (CCIM) South Carolina Chapter asked Nahigian to speak at its annual regional convention on “Evaluating Leasing Risk with a Corporate Tenant’s Financial Statement”. Rob discussed the new accounting changes with GAAP and IFRS and the components of the financial statement. Red flag issues were discussed with a case study. Over 30 CCIM members attended the program held at the Hyatt Regency on King St. in Charleston, S.C.