The commercial real estate market will encounter a slight slowdown...

The commercial real estate market will encounter a slight slowdown this year as a result of the slowing economy and a flat employment outlook that will slow office demand, according to the National Association of Realtors’ latest Commercial Real Estate report. Multifamily housing is expected to remain stable during the year, the report said. Office inventory is expected to grow with new construction, pushing vacancy rates to 10.6%, compared with a projected 9.8% for 2000. The hottest office markets are projected to be Boston; Newark, N.J.; Austin, Texas; New York; and Hartford, Conn.