Spotlight On Southwestern Illinois Real Estate

By ALAN J. ORTBALS    The residential real estate market is strong in Southwestern Illinois, according to Deb Treat Frazier, association executive of the Realtor Association of Southwestern Illinois.    “The economy is doing so well and continuing to improve; consumer confidence is improving; and the already low interest rates dropped even further after the Brexit vote…

By ALAN J. ORTBALS    The commercial real estate sector continues to be strong in Southwestern Illinois, according to Wayne Barber, a principal in the BARBERMurphy Group. The year 2015 was the 10-year-old firm’s best, and 2016 has continued in the same vein, he said.    “There’s interest in the immediate Metro East and the outlying counties…

By ALAN J. ORTBALS    The retail/commercial real estate market in Southwestern Illinois is strong, according to David Wittenauer, principal of NAI DESCO.     “Retail vacancies are minimal; occupancy rates are very high; and rents are trending upwards,” Wittenauer said.    Wittenauer said two of the hottest areas are O’Fallon and Edwardsville.    “We’re working on several projects…