A sought-after real estate consultant, scholar, speaker and author, Miller joins DePaul’s finance department faculty as a visiting professor. Miller, the West Shell, Jr., Professor of Real Estate and Finance at the University of Cincinnati, is an expert in home price forecasting, mortgage risk analysis, global real estate investment, environmental building design and intelligent buildings (structures with integrated security, communication, power and data services).

“Norman Miller’s appointment is part of the Real Estate Center’s efforts to recruit nationally respected real estate scholars and practitioners to teach in the business school and share their knowledge and research with area Chicago real estate professionals,” said Finance Professor Susanne Cannon, director of the REC. She noted that the REC faculty already includes such industry luminaries as Douglas Crocker, CEO of Equity Residential, Neil Freeman, president of Aries Capital, Robert Chapman, CFO of Amli Residential, and Alan Schachtman, senior vice president for development, U.S. Equities Realty.

Miller will teach courses in real estate investment and finance and participate in REC-sponsored research and conference programs. He will discuss commercial real estate trends at the upcoming conference “Fundamentals of Commercial Real Estate Development, with Emphasis on Finance and Marketing/Leasing.” Co-sponsored by the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, the conference will be held Sept. 18 and 19 at the DePaul Center, 1 E. Jackson Blvd, 8th floor conference center. On Sept. 23, Miller will moderate a panel on intelligent buildings at the Property and Asset Management conference jointly sponsored by the REC and the Real Estate Communications Group at the DePaul Center REC, Suite 6070.

Miller’s industry experience includes working with institutional investors to develop investment selection research, consulting work for large realty firms and the development of market analysis techniques with national data firms. He also has worked with various agencies on the revitalization of urban areas and frequently serves as an expert witness on valuation disputes and economic impact cases.

Miller, who earned his Ph.D. from Ohio State University, is the co-author of the leading MBA program real estate textbook, “Commercial Real Estate Analysis and Investment,” and is lead author of the forthcoming book, “Real Estate in the New Economy.” His research explores significant issues facing the real estate industry today, such as the impact of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the “tall and trophy” commercial building market and whether a bubble exists in the current housing market.

Miller said he was attracted to DePaul’s business school because of its top-ranked part-time MBA program, strong demand for commercial real estate courses and noted finance faculty. Impressed with the REC’s ability to form an advisory board of real estate heavy hitters and marshal substantial industry support since its official launch in November, Miller said: “Chicago is home to some of the top national and international real estate firms in the world, from Henderson to Trammell Crow, to the largest real estate investment trusts, like Equity Office and Equity Residential. This represents a large base of sophisticated real estate research and talent that provides great resources and also demands new talent, which DePaul will be able to supply as it continues to expand its curriculum and research programs.”

While other business areas have seen a downturn, real estate remains a strong industry full of career opportunity for those with the right education, Miller said. “Real estate has become a much more important investment asset now that the glamour of stock investing has worn thin after a few crashes,” he said. “In fact, real estate investment trusts have generally done better than the stock market over the last 25 years. The industry has become more sophisticated and expects real estate analysts to understand the capital markets, the economy, market analysis – much more than was expected in the days of mom-and-pop real estate developers, owners and managers. The real estate world also has become more institutional, larger in scale and more diversified. Graduates must be well-educated, able to communicate in this economic world and see where they can add value.”

With the most comprehensive array of real estate courses available in Chicago, REC is the premier place for professional real estate education in the Midwest. The center serves as the productive home for Chicago’s real estate community and an active network for students and alumni, public institutions, private real estate firms, scholars and executives-in-residence. The center provides traditional academic programs through DePaul’s finance department and high-profile continuing education and conferences of specific interest to the real estate community.

Sept. 4: Heath Care Real Estate Conference The Real Estate Center at DePaul (REC) and Real Estate Communications Group present a conference focusing on health care facility design and development issues. Keynote speaker: Enrique Unanue, deputy director of health care for the State of Illinois. Registration and continental breakfast 7 to 8 a.m., program 8 a.m.-11:45 a.m., at the DePaul Center, 1 E. Jackson Blvd., Suite 6070. Admission: $99 per person. For more information or to register, contact Misty Lebeter, Real Estate Communications Group: (312) 644-7115.

Sept. 18-19: Fundamentals of Commercial Real Estate Development, with Emphasis on Finance and Marketing/Leasing.: Co-sponsored by the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) and the Real Estate Center at DePaul (REC), this seminar is designed for both the neophyte developer as well as the experienced professional who needs to learn the basics about feasibility analysis, construction management, financing, marketing and leasing, financial cash flow analysis and valuation. Speakers include Norman G. Miller, the West Shell, Jr., Professor of Real Estate and Finance at the University of Cincinnati and REC visiting professor. Registration and continental breakfast 7:30 a.m.-8 a.m.;, program 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on the 18th and 8 a.m.-3:30pm on the 19th at the DePaul Center, 1 E. Jackson Blvd., 8th floor conference center. Admission: $595 for NAIOP members and $695 for non-members. Registration and information is available at www.naiop.org/conferences/ or call NAIOP: (703) 904-7100.

Sept. 23: Property and Asset Management Conference. Hosted by the Real Estate Center at DePaul (REC) and the Real Estate Communications Group, the conference features presentations on such issues as property life cycles, evaluation, budget forecasts, property insurance, “sick buildings,” security, modernization projects, technology, disposition and property management. Registration and continental breakfast 7 to 8 a.m., program 8 a.m.-11:45 a.m. at the DePaul Center, 1 E. Jackson Blvd., Suite 6070. Admission: $99 per person. For information or registration, contact Michael Millar, Real Estate Communications Group, at (312) 644-7211 or visit: www.realestate.depaul.edu