Walter Bialas
JLL
Director of Research
Bialas is a seasoned real estate professional with more than 25 years of creative problem-solving experience in the consulting, banking, and development industries. By virtue of a long-standing career in evaluating real estate across the United States, he has comprehensive knowledge of all the major markets and property types, as well as a particular strength in quickly assessing market dynamics and their implications on project feasibility.
He currently oversees the real estate research effort for JLL in Dallas, Texas. In that capacity Walt works with JLL professionals as well as external clients to keep abreast of market trends, industry research, areas of growth, and future market trends and implications for all the major property types. A key component of his work is to work with the JLL team to find knowledge-based solutions to a client’s real estate problems and needs, as well as promote JLL’s position in the research industry.
Prior to JLL, he served as senior market adviser at PPR/CoStar. His role was to enhance the research capabilities of both companies and expand the potential services available to clients in the Washington, D.C., region. Prior to this, Bialas oversaw Madison Marquette’s research function as part of its investment and acquisitions team for retail properties across the United States. Before his work at Madison, Bialas established an internal real estate consulting group at PNC Bank, where he provided custom market due diligence in support of the bank’s commercial underwriting process, evaluating unique location dynamics, market issues, and the reasonableness of pro forma assumptions. Projects evaluated at PNC ranged across the United States and covered all the major property types, with special expertise in mixed use, retail, and affordable housing. He also spent ten years with the national consulting practice of GA/Partners–Arthur Andersen in Washington, D.C.
Bialas received his bachelor’s degree in urban studies from Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania, and his master’s degree in city and regional planning from Catholic University in Washington, D.C.
Bialas is an active Urban Land Institute member. In addition to taking part in eight national advisory panels, Walt served on the Pittsburgh District Council’s executive committee. He is a long-standing member of the International Council of Shopping Centers and has served as the chair of its North American Research Task Force.
