In the past year, a booming global economy, buoyant business conditions, stacks of cash and a new breed of investors and vehicles have added to the fun, propelling many real estate markets to record highs. For some, it was the ride of their life. Of course, not everyone joined in the good times. Developers along the east coast of Australia have had little to celebrate, although there are improvements on the horizon. Their carnival came a little earlier than most. The economic slowdown in the United States has also been a dampener on celebrations.

Once again in this report, we offer insights into a number of dominant themes and trends.