1. CB Commercial Arms Professionals with Laptops. ..... In an extraordinary commitment to the value of technology, CB Commercial recently announced that it will "provide each employee--including brokerage professionals--with a company-owned computer." Desktops will be provided free. Laptops will require a $500 payment. All software will be standardized, including ARES for contact management, and supported by a 1-800 Support Center. A source outside the company told me that CB might order over 2,000 laptops from Dell Computers.

Will CB provide Internet access for all their professionals in the office? Will CB require less office space because its brokers can work more easily from home? Will CB’s long distance expenses go down as more brokers use e-mail? Will CB be able to reduce its paper communications? Will CB’s competitors be forced to equip their professionals with computers? Stay tuned. We live in interesting times.

2. Web Success. .... RREEF, one of the nation’s largest investment advisors, has selected RealBid as the Internet platform for marketing three substantial investment properties: Hayward Business Park, Hayward, CA; Vineyard Shopping Center, Concord, CA; and Brookvale Shopping Center, Fremont, CA. ….. Each property is listed separately by a brokerage firm, respectively, BT Commercial, Colliers International, and Grubb & Ellis. You’ll find property information at the RealBid site, including financial details, maps, links to due diligence sources, and an Offering Package order form. In addition to posting on the net, RealBid contacts buyers (e-mail, phone, fax) in its database that match the appropriate acquisition criteria. ….. RealBid reports that brokers appreciate this supportive role.

http://www.pikenet.com/cgi-bin/pikenet/?F=success/success05

3. New and Notable. ..... R&B Commercial Real Estate Services provides management and leasing services for commercial and residential properties nationwide. ….. AXIOMetrics, Inc., based in Dallas, offers fundamental research of the apartment REIT sector nationwide. ….. The LseMod product line of Excel templates can be used by corporate real estate professionals for project and lease analysis. ….. SENTRE Partners offers real estate, investment, and property management services from its San Diego, CA, office. ….. The Kansas City Commercial Brokers Association has launched an on-line commercial property search system for Midwestern properties. ….. Coldwell Banker Commercial Hocker-Sullivan & Associates provides sales, leasing and tenant representation services in Oklahoma City, OK.

4. PikeNet Ratings. .... I frequently am asked how I evaluate and rate sites. My quick answer is that I rate sites highly which provide real value to a visitor, not just a brochure online. For an explanation of my five-point criteria, go to "About PikeNet" on the home page and then "FAQs" (Frequently Asked Questions). Tip: If the web is all about communications, make it easy for a visitor to call you on the telephone! Put your name, address and phone number somewhere on your home page.

http://www.pikenet.com/about/faqs.html

5. Knowledge Base: Market Research at NREI (National Real Estate Investor). ..... NREI recently launched its newly designed web design which can serve as an excellent example of how to move print content into a web environment. One of the nice features is the City/Area Reviews section, which provides access to research on dozens of U.S. markets. You may find information on just the market you need. ….. For complete instructions, visit:

http://www.pikenet.com/pike?func=showPublicPage&page= questions/question_property

6. Subscribing. .... If you would like to be subscribe to this free Dispatch, please send e-mail with the word "subscribe" in the title to Peter Pike .