Archive for category: General Information

By Donald Swartz, President

Noelle Giacomino and I recently attended our fourth Rail Equipment Finance Conference, held annually at the La Quinta Resort in La Quinta, CA. This has been an excellent conference to attend over the years as it provides us the opportunity to meet many of our clients and receive updates relating to railcars.

While the setting is conducive to a laid back and casual conference, it is not exactly what I would consider to be “laid back” or “casual”.  The conference begins bright and early on Monday morning at 7:30 am and sessions run continuously through 5 pm. Even lunch is its own learning session. Following the conclusion of the daily sessions, there is an outdoor reception that is usually very well attended before breaking off for respective dinners.

Connecting with Clients

Each year the goal is to spend a few minutes with our clients in attendance; meet prospective clients and follow the latest trends and updates in the industry. However, there is an art to making the most out of a conference and I’m certainly still learning.

It appears contacts already have breakfasts, lunches and dinners set up well before the conference begins. Whether companies are taking their employees to meet their vendors or they have scheduled planning meetings, etc. it can be tricky to line up face-to-face time on the fly.

I’ve always thought we should sit through every educational session to pick up anecdotes which may help us in our reviews of railcar property tax valuations and support for appeals we may consider. After attending several conferences, I do not necessarily believe that to be the case. I constantly see side conversations in the halls or in various areas for a coffee or beverage. Nothing formal, just 15-20 minute connections during the day to connect or to discuss a specific issue. Once finished, they may go back into the current session or have their next informal meeting.

Picking and Choosing Sessions

We need to pick and choose our sessions more carefully, and once we receive the annual attendance listing, reach out to those who will be attending. Rather than schedule long lunches or dinners, it may be more beneficial to try to set up quick, informal meetings throughout the conference. For seasoned conference attendees, this may be obvious. But even for someone like me who has attended conferences of some sort for almost 40 years, there are tricks to the trade that can always be honed.

Conferences are usually held in fantastic locations for a reason, I just need to make sure I take care to enjoy all the aspects the conference has to offer and not just the learning sessions. 😊

Swartz + Associates, Inc. (SAI) is a full service property tax firm specializing in the review, analysis and appeals of real and business personal property tax valuations. If you need help with your property taxes, give us a call!

By Eric Owens, Director at Swartz and Associates

The 2026 UMKC Real Estate Symposium, which took place at Arrowhead Stadium, once again proved why it is still an important gathering for commercial real estate participants in the Kansas City MSA. Hosted by the Lewis White Real Estate Center, this year’s event brought together practitioners, investors, developers, and advisors to examine the market conditions that are reshaping our industry — and what they mean for the decisions we make every day.

Key Takeaways

1. Market Conditions Are Fragmented — Asset‑Level Strategy Wins

Industrial is still strong, office is redefining itself, retail is stabilizing, and capital markets remain tight. For decision‑makers, the takeaway is simple: Broad narratives don’t matter — your specific asset, submarket, and income story do.

2. Workplace Shifts Are Now a Financial Strategy Issue

Office hybrid work models are not a trend; it’s a structural shift. Owners and CFOs are now modeling:

• Office utilization,
• Tenant Improvement risk,
• Long‑term occupancy patterns,
• and the Cost of Flexibility.

Workplace strategy is a balance‑sheet issue.

3. Fiscal Sustainability Is Reshaping Development & Valuation

Cities are prioritizing long‑term revenue stability. That means:

• more scrutiny on incentives,
• tighter underwriting assumptions,
• and increased attention on property tax impacts.

For owners, this is a direct signal: Your valuation strategy matters more than ever.

4. AI, Data Centers & Energy Infrastructure Are Creating New Winners

Demand for power, connectivity, and compute is reshaping land use and development economics. Developers who understand these drivers — and can navigate zoning, incentives, and valuation — will lead the next wave of growth.

5. Tax & Legal Updates Are Becoming Competitive Advantages

From evolving Opportunity Zone rules to investor‑focused tax strategies, the regulatory environment is shifting fast. CFOs and owners who stay ahead of these changes will protect more value and reduce avoidable risk.

6. Affordable Housing & Community Development Remain Central

The capital stack is more complex, but the opportunity is real. Public‑private partnerships, layered financing, and long‑term community ROI were major themes.

Where we are headed…

The UMKC Symposium reinforced what many of us already feel: CRE is entering a cycle where discipline, data, and strategic clarity separate leaders from everyone else. If you’re an owner, CFO, or developer, this is the moment to sharpen your valuation strategy, reassess risk, and position your assets for the next phase of the market.

Swartz + Associates, Inc. (SAI) is a full service property tax firm specializing in the review, analysis and appeals of real and business personal property tax valuations. If you need help with your property taxes, give us a call!

 

By Donald Swartz, President

Kansas City recently announced three countries will call our metro area “home” during the FIFA World Cup this summer. These three countries, Argentina, England and the Netherlands, will bring thousands of fans to our city during the month of June as well as thousands more to experience the World Cup activities across North America. Additionally, it is quite possible we will have a fourth country, Algeria, that may create a base camp only 40 minutes away in Lawrence, KS.

Economic Impact

There have been estimates and various predictions of the economic impact affecting the area. Imagine a metropolitan area of 2.2 million people increasing to over 2.8 million for a 30-day period.

Charles Young and I recently attended the Hotel & Lodging Association of Greater Kansas City annual meeting. While there was excitement and emphasis placed upon the increase in potential revenue, there were also several speakers brought in to address issues most of us have not considered.

For example, the Kansas City Police Department is recruiting officers from a 200-mile radius to assist in the policing of the area during the World Cup. The goal (no pun intended) is to double the number of active-duty officers over the month of June from 2,000+ to 4,000+ officers. Additionally, training is being offered to help understand the differences between passion, exhilaration and national pride with rowdiness, loitering and troublemaking. What is the economic “cost” of providing these services?

From our perspective, what will the high occupancy rates and inflated room rates do to property tax values? It is anticipated room revenues for 2026 will be higher than any year since well before the Pandemic. Average Daily Rates and occupancy levels may hit all time highs over the summer months with revenues (and profits) soaring.

Does this increase the value of the real estate for property tax purposes? Can we isolate these revenues as “one-offs”? Will the visibility the metro area receives during the World Cup translate to increased tourism in future years (also resulting in a boost to the hospitality industry)? All factors that owners and managers need to consider when reviewing their annual property tax statements.

I am excited to see how the greater Kansas City area responds as it hosts its largest event in history, but I’m also anxious to see how the area county assessors will respond to try to “level” the playing field – Pun Intended!

Learn more about the impact that the FIFA World Cup will have on Kansas City here:
KC2026 Hits Its Stride: Smallest Host City Sets High Standard for FIFA World Cup™ Readiness

Swartz + Associates, Inc. (SAI) is a full service property tax firm specializing in the review, analysis and appeals of real and business personal property tax valuations. If you need help with your property taxes, give us a call!

By Keith Sherman, Business Development at Swartz and Associates

Don Swartz, the president of Swartz + Associates, joined me here in DFW (Dallas-Fort Worth) recently for several days of meetings with current clients and prospects.

Our objectives were threefold:

• Share a significant success story we recently achieved for a new client in this market
• Reconnect with several of our longtime clients
• Gain insights on the market to strengthen our ability to make a difference with new partners and clients in DFW

For those who may not know our company, Swartz + Associates is a full‑service commercial property tax firm specializing in the review, analysis, and appeal of real and business personal property tax valuations. We recently achieved a 40% valuation reduction for a multi‑family property in Tarrant County, an outcome that will save our client hundreds of thousands of dollars in property taxes.

The DFW market is highly competitive in the services we provide.

While we are not new to the region, our business development efforts continue to grow with each handshake, connection, and conversation. Everyone we met was generous with their insights and recommendations on events and activities that can help us enhance our presence. Even better, many offered to refer us to companies and other influencers in the commercial real estate ecosystem in DFW.

Who knows where a handshake may lead? In our business, it can save companies money on their second or third largest expense. At the end of the day, when businesses help one another succeed, the entire market becomes stronger.

Swartz + Associates, Inc. (SAI) is a full service property tax firm specializing in the review, analysis and appeals of real and business personal property tax valuations. If you need help with your property taxes, give us a call!