TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Dr. Douglas Duncan, senior vice president and chief economist for the Mortgage Bankers Association of America, will be the keynote speaker at the fourth annual Alabama Real Estate Conference at The University of Alabama on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2004.

Duncan will present national economic and real estate market forecasts for 2004.

The half day conference will be held at the Bryant Conference Center on the UA campus.

The conference brings nationally recognized experts to campus to speak on a variety of real estate related topics of interest to real estate practitioners, lenders, state and local government planners, real estate investors, and property owners.

"Last year's conference was very well attended and we expect this year's to be equally popular," said Dr. Leonard Zumpano, executive director of the Alabama Real Estate Research and Education Center (AREREC), which hosts and organizes the conference. “This conference is the only one in the state that focuses on commercial real estate and brings industry leaders together to discuss market trends taking place across the state and region."

Other speakers include Mike Pickens, insurance commissioner for the state of Arkansas, who will speak about why insurance premiums and policy exclusions are increasing and what can be done about the current crisis in property insurance, and Chris McDougall, national director for research and client services of Grubb & Ellis, who will present a current overview of the commercial real estate market in the Southeast region including forecasts of where these markets may be heading in the future.

Douglas Neil, president of Redmont Consulting Group, will do a presentation on improving community economic development efforts. Meade Whitaker Jr., partner at Bradley Arant Rose and White, will present an update on statutory and case law changes that could have a significant impact on the real estate sector in Alabama.

Those interested in attending the conference may get a registration form by calling the Alabama Real Estate Research and Education Center at 205/348-4117. Registration forms can also be downloaded from the Center's web site at www.arerec.cba.ua.edu. Cost for the half-day conference, which includes a continental breakfast and lunch is $75 per person.

The Alabama Real Estate Research and Education Center is part of The University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration. The UA business school, founded in 1919, has been recognized repeatedly for offering a high-quality, cost-effective education.