Gearing up for MIPIM 2012

The anticipation has reached its pinnacle, and the Class of 2013 has begun to pack our bags for Cannes, France to attend MIPIM 2012 next week. We’re looking forward to attending a variety of conference sessions and networking events with industry experts from around the globe. The event, which will consist of 4,200+ real estate investors and 19,000+ participants coming together at the Palais des Festivals, will surely be a memorable and invaluable experience for our group of aspiring real estate professionals.

Dean François Ortalo-Magné, who has been a prominent MIPIM speaker and attendee for several years, has already been contributing to the MIPIM buzz with his features on the mipim worldblog. Earlier this month, he was put in the spotlight as a “property influencer” and shared his insight on the market in China, touching on topics such as sector trends, aging population, and sustainable development. Watch his interview here.

Just recently, he was featured in “MIPIM past, present and future…Four questions for Dr. François Ortalo-Magné”. Here, eager readers are able to get his input on what has changed in the global real estate market over the course of 2011, and what is to be expected at MIPIM 2012. “The demand for emerging market investments has yet to find a place to settle. Emerging countries have legal pains in setting up the right institutional environment to welcome foreign investments. The battle is still on for the next serious contender”. Read the full blog post here.

During the conference, students will be actively sharing our experiences and reflections each day, so be sure to stayed tuned for continuing coverage on this year’s MIPIM trip. We'll also be contributing to the official MIPIM blog and reporting on Twitter at @UW_GraaskampCtr.


Andrew Toby is a first-year MBA student in the James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate. A CPA from California, Andrew hopes to utilize both his accounting background and the knowledge gained in the MBA program to pursue a career in private equity investments in real estate.

MIPIM 2010: French pessimism

Wisconsin Real Estate MBAs report from MIPIM 2010:

Panel: Will There Be Any Investment Opportunities in France in 2010?

A recent survey suggests 1% growth in French GDP in 2010. What’s preventing an upturn? Mismatched expectations between buyers and sellers, scarcity of new product, and uncertainty about the future. Are there signs out there of a renewed cycle of growth in France? Pessimism persists but given a lack of real estate product in the pipeline and the amount of investment dollars waiting on the sidelines, a turnaround could be seen before late 2011. The real estate crash in ’91-’92 was the result of over-supply, which isn't the case today. Demand may soon drive the market to become active soon. In particular, new green building laws in France should incent development of new buildings. But this outlook is tempered by fears that this new legislation may lead to faster building obsolescence.

For more coverage of MIPIM 2010, visit our partner CREOpoint.com.