Early Edition:Real Estate Check-up

Real estate and media magnate Sam Zell,Chairman of Equity Group Investments,says that basically we're moving to a position where single family home prices stop going down.It's the key to everything.That's where consumption comes from.Once housing stabilizes,it will stabilize the rest of the consumer sector.They must have confidence in their biggest asset.There will be a slow improvement in residential real estate this fall,Mr.Zell predicted.
Sam Zell described the commercial real estate sector as being underwater.He doesn't think we'll see any foreclosures of institutional assets until 2-3 years from now,when they can no longer cover.Every day you don't sell,you buy,Mr.Zell observed.Companies are,to a large extent,in pretty good shape.
Mr.Zell,a diminutive man with a goatee,also owns Tribune Company,parent of The Chicago Tribune and The Los Angeles Times,as well as Newsday and 23 T.V. stations.I don't have emotional attachment to assets,Mr.Zell stated-just to my family.

Zell Assesses Tribune Bankruptcy

The Tribune Company recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.It holds The Los Angeles Times,The Chicago Tribune,The Baltimore Sun,several T.V. stations and the Chicago Cubs baseball team.The team wasn't included in the filing.The firm has suffered a 20% reduction in gross revenue,owner Sam Zell revealed.In the end,my responsibility is to preserve the value of the company and ensure it goes on into the future,Mr.Zell said.The company has significant positive cash flow as long as it's not making debt payments.Going forward,we now have the time to focus on consolidation,Mr.Zell asserted.