Global capital inflows into American apartments dropped precipitously in the first half of the year.

As economic turbulence around the COVID crisis weighed on the market, global capital invested in American apartments fell 49.2% year-over-year to $3.1 billion in the first half of the year, according to CBRE. 

A nearly 80% decline in foreign investment in Q2 accounted for most of the drop off, which CBRE attributed to limits on “international travel, difficulty in conducting due diligence and declines in occupancy and rent levels.”

New York, which suffered tremendously from the COVID crisis this year, was the only market with year-over-year foreign investment growth, posting $10.6 billion in sales. Yet, its 641% increase was primarily attributable to two megadeals, according to CBRE. 

Behind The Big Apple, Sun Belt markets Tampa (-28%), Phoenix (-39%), Los Angeles (-55%) and Austin (-69%) were the strongest performers.

When global investors were buying, they had

Traditional retail formats are evolving to meet modern consumer demands. So said a session last week at the CREW Network Convention, a Virtual Event. In a breakout session, panelists talked about how to embrace omnichannel marketing, pros and cons of smaller and more targeted store formats, testing brand collaborations, pop-up stores and more.  

According to Smita Butala, SVP of global real estate and associated general counsel at Ralph Lauren Corp., New York City’s The Polo Bar restaurant, did delivery for the first time during this time. “Many retailers have to rethink how to give the customer the same experience.”

Clinenteling became a really big thing, she said. “Figuring out how to sell but fulfill those sales through the in-store inventory and bringing that journey virtually is about creative thinking,” she said. “Bringing the experience to your front door and still give you that one on one connection.”

The consumer, she

There is nothing like an airborne virus to put a focus on indoor air quality. 

Since COVID-19, landlords and property managers are looking at everything from HVAC systems to particle monitoring technology as they try to improve indoor air quality to attract and retain tenants, according to JLL. 

For sustainability advocates, this push is nothing new. They have been arguing for these changes long before COVID.

“Whether your building is giving you better air or not matters to your health,” Dr. Aaron Bernstein, USGBC board chair and also the co-director of Harvard’s Center for Climate, Health and the Global Environment (Harvard C-CHANGE) told GlobeSt.com earlier this year. “Ventilation is critical, and indoor air quality is critical. Many of the volatile organic compounds that come out of building materials are bad.” 

In many buildings, the air moves from one room to another, which can increase the risk of transferring airborne