As mall and shopping-center owners lose tenants in the souring economy, they are at least gaining something else: more advertising space.

About 2 weeks ago, I asked a partner of mine to go out and solicit investment ideas from a small group of readers, close associates and friends. Starting today, I am going to repost and discuss some specific ideas given to us by this modest population of successful individuals.

Today, we bring you Gary. (not his real name, of course)

Gary is a close friend of mine and knows our staff extremely well. He is a self-made man, investment professional and well-educated. Here are his ideas pertaining to what we should be investing in right now.

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The next shoe? After years of plunging residential property valuations, commercial real estate too is in the danger zone, as office vacancy rises, stores close and hotel bookings fall.

As signs emerge that travelers are feeling squeezed by the global credit crisis, China appears to be a bright spot.

CIM is leading an investor group that paid $48 million to buy a 68,000-acre California ranch with plans to develop it as a wind farm.

Stocks of mall owners slid by 14% as the sharp drop in retail sales stoked fears of higher vacancy rates and declining rental rates for landlords.

GE's difficulty selling its office buildings, shopping centers and other commercial property is dragging down its financial results.

A credit-rating downgrade slammed General Growth Properties stock again, stoking takeover rumors.

There are signs that the braking global financial system is damping real-estate demand even in one of the few healthy markets in North America.

Hotel companies are now facing a new challenge: how to conserve capital.