1Eschliman Commercial Real Estate now has a radio show on Saturdays at NOON on 1400 KLIN AM. The “Grow Lincoln” show covers economic development news in Lincoln, including which businesses are hiring, letting go, opening, and closing, plus tips for the business community and legislative updates. Podcasts are at www.klin.com/pages/7843644.php? Upcoming guests and topics are found at www.facebook.com/growlincoln

Commercial Real Estate Trends: Unemployment in Lincoln is half that of the rest of the nation, and as a result many business publications such as Forbes magazine have been giving Lincoln astonishingly high ratings for being business friendly and having a quality of life. The recession has, nonetheless, presented the usual mix of opportunities and challenges for the community. Interest rates have dropped so much that you can get an SBA loan for under 5% if you are purchasing a building for your business. Office building sales per square foot in Lincoln are down approximately 17% from last year, and in some cases we have seen new buildings selling for fifty cents on the dollar. It has taken longer for rents to drop, but we are beginning to see a little of that as well. Retail on the other hand, is doing well with investment by local entrepreneurs and some great leasing activity at our two malls.

More and more, Eschliman Commercial Real Estate is being asked to perform consulting tasks. We have been asked to evaluate business owner’s current properties to see if the rents are fair, and we have been asked to evaluate buildings they are contemplating purchasing. We receive numerous questions about zoning, building permits, and other City challenges—see our section“Maneuvering Around City Hall”.

Company Founder: Robin Eschliman, CCIM, founded Eschliman Commercial Real Estate in 2007. She spent the first twenty years of her career in property management and sales and leasing of commercial property for NAI FMA Realty. While there, she represented notable clients such as Ameritas, US Cellular, SouthPointe Mall, Westfield, Cornhusker Marriott, and Lincoln Composites. Most recently she has represented Community Alternatives, New York Life, Hy-Vee, and a number of local entrepreneurs. She was elected to an at-large seat on the Lincoln City Council in 2005 and in 2009 chose to return full time to real estate and launch the economic development show “GrowLincoln”

Mission of Eschliman Commercial Real Estate: To accomplish economic development by assisting businesses in providing jobs for employees today and providing real estate investment opportunities for those with retirement goals in the future.

“…When God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift…” (Ecclesiastes 5:19)