Today, opportunity zone funds total $20 billion, and by the end of the year, Kevin Nolan, director at Cushman & Wakefield, expects that they will hit $100 billion.

Nolan spoke last week at NAIOP San Diego’s conference on Opportunity Zones, along with Phil Jelsma, partner at CGS3; Sondra Wagner, managing director at CIM; Katherine Crow, promise zone director at City of San Diego and Mark Cafferty, president of San Diego Regional EDC.

Despite the capital flooding into this market, these are not going to be easy deals. While there is a lot of money for opportunity zone deals, these deals will be most attractive for private developers. “World for institutional opportunity zone deals is limited locally, mostly just east of downtown.

There are lots of opportunities for private developers” Nolan said on the panel. Opportunity zone deals are also best for experienced private developers because there is a narrow timeline. “A business that moves into an opportunity zone. “And stays invested for 10 years can sell its interests/shares/etc. with no tax.

This won’t work for most start-ups, because 10 years is unlikely. The business community hasn’t embraced the benefits of opportunity zones the same way the real estate community has. Unknown how much benefit will result from either side.”