William O'Brien, SIOR, is a president and dir. of retail & office leasing at M.C. O'Brien Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y. What are your predictions for commercial real estate in the new decade? Having seen a run up in highly speculative real estate values over the preceding five years or so, the last year and a half to two years have not been a huge surprise. I expect to see the real estate market muddle along for at least another two years or so, as there is still a good amount to be absorbed.