The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ new 2009 Technical Due Diligence Guidance Notes provides a best practice approach to reporting risk and quality issues for investors, developers, purchasers, vendors and managers of commercial and industrial facilities.

RICS Americas, a division of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the world’s leading membership organization for professionals in property, land, construction and related environmental issues, announced that David Neale FRICS, co-owner of Cane Associates Ltd., and Part Time Lecturer in hydrography and coastal zone metrics at St. Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies, has been named Chairman of RICS Caribbean.

RICS and more than 500 other global corporate leaders today handed a joint Communiqué to Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, at a public event in New York. The Communiqué urges governments to agree on an ambitious, credible and equitable global deal to address climate change at the Copenhagen Climate Summit in December.

With the launch of its White Book RICS has broken new ground in setting standards in facilities management, a field that has the potential to lead the way in creating more sustainable, efficient and cost effective workplaces.

RICS is issuing an Information Paper on Sustainability and Commercial Property Valuation. Effective from Tuesday, September 15, 2009 the paper aims to heighten awareness and therefore valuers’ working knowledge of sustainability in order to further advance awareness of its potential to impact on the valuation process.

The members of RICS Americas, particularly those in the Houston, Texas, and whole South Central region of the United States, were saddened to learn of the passing of Ken Busby FRICS, Monday, August 31, 2009.

RICS New Member film August 27, 2009 Founded in 1868 by Royal Charter, RICS is an independent professional body committed to setting and upholding the highest standards of excellence and integrity. Currently RICS has members operating out of 146 countries supported by an extensive network of offices around the world.

"Take my experience as an example: for those who want to work overseas, the RICS designation does open doors. It provides an opportunity to travel and we should get that message out to people."

"As (HVS) grew and expanded beyond the North American continent, it was important for my credibility and that of the company to have the world-renowned RICS designation."

More than seventy-five percent of countries have seen a rise in distressed sales* in the commercial property market, according to research published today by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Sustainability remains high on the agenda for property professionals despite the worsening economic climate, according to the global property sustainability survey for the second quarter of 2009, released by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors today.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors-Americas (RICS Americas) and the American Society of Professional Estimators (ASPE) have announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will lead to greater cooperation and improved benefits and opportunities for members of both organizations.

RICS Chief Economist Simon Rubinsohn discusses the results of the latest RICS Global Commerical Property Survey on CNBC's Worldwide Exchange, July 27, 2009.

NEW YORK – July 27, 2009 – Despite some improvement in the economic data and a moderation in the pace of decline in capital values in all world regions, rental expectations deteriorated further, according to the latest RICS Global Commercial Property Survey, released today.

Dr. Larry E. Wofford, a long-time property professional, award-winning business owner and leader of the Route 66 Association travelled from his home in Tulsa, Okla., to RICS world headquarters at Great George Street in London June 5 to receive his Fellowship diploma from RICS president Peter Goodacre FRICS. Dr. Wofford was recognized as an Eminent Professional by RICS and was accepted into the organization.

“The MRICS designation is instantly recognizable on my business card, and opens doors worldwide. Even if I haven’t had a chance to make an immediate impression on someone, I have learned to wait a second or two until it sinks in…shortly, their eyebrows go up and they start asking good questions.”

RICS Americas today announced a 40 percent discount off the corporate rate for Real Estate Econometrics’ EPRU (Economics, Policy, Regulation, and Underwriting) Surveillance Services for all RICS members. The Surveillance Services include both of Real Estate Econometrics’ weekly reports: the Monday Core Report, which addresses current economic developments impacting commercial real estate market conditions; and the Wednesday Policy and Regulation Report, which summarizes current developments...

RICS, the global professional real estate organization, compiles a quarterly survey of trends in commercial property in cities around the world.

In April, new home sales were virtually unchanged while existing home sales edged up by 3%, undoing the previous month’s decline. More generally, both series seem to have stabilised at low levels.

"I like to believe that my qualifications, experience and enthusiasm are the reason for my career progression, but coupled with the RICS designation, my resume definitely stands out and I have certainly been presented with more opportunities as a result of the RICS."

Existing and new U.S. home sales have held steady in recent months and pending home sales jumped 6.7% in April.

Mark-To-Market requires corporate assets to be valued based upon market evidence. This transparency was meant to aid the investor in understanding the underlying corporate assets of the stocks they are investing in. The Financial Accounting Standards Board wrote rule 157 as guidance to accountants, auditors and corporate leaders on how to apply valuation techniques when required by accounting standards. Unfortunately, these valuation techniques were rarely applied by people trained in...

Though it may be a challenge in the property market at the moment, Cathy McLean, director of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Wales, will be tackling an uphill battle with a difference this June.

"Marc Louargand, co-founder of Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers and its Chief Investment Strategist was essential in the design of the organization and guidance to its success and growth for 15 years...Our efforts grew the business from $800 million in assets under management to $10 billion in AUM while adding REIT investment and global strategies to our competencies.”

RICS Chief Economist Simon Rubinsohn speaks with Commercial Property News' Editor in Chief Suzann Silverman about the latest Global Commercial Property Survey and Sustainability Survey results.