As a relationship-driven, people-facing industry, real estate is facing the turbulent effects of COVID-19.

After seeing the success of its carriage-style homes in Lower Macungie Township and its other residential properties in New Jersey, a real estate firm plans to add more.

As companies look to the Lehigh Valley to move or expand headquarters and manufacturing operations, a key part of their decision-making is the question of workforce. If the workforce exists, that’s where they will go, and it’s a top reason many major companies recently announced plans to build in the region.

That’s according to a local economic expert who shared details of his economic forecast for the Lehigh Valley Business Real Estate & Development Symposium on Thursday at DeSales University.

Construction of market-rate apartments is surging across the nation in both urban and suburban areas, while construction of units for low to moderate-income renters has declined dramatically.

A special committee appointed by Easton Mayor Sal Panto has urged city council to approve a plan to add nearly 200 apartment units, artist studios and 32,000 square feet of combined retail, office, and entertainment space to downtown Easton on the former Days Inn property.

A local firm has begun offering a $1 billion private real estate investment fund that combines debt funding with equity investments.

City Center Investment Corp. of Allentown and Lafayette’s Dyer Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship said they launched The Real Estate Lab, a program to teach downtown Allentown residents about real estate investing, with the goal of helping them become successful.

A December housing market report from the Greater Lehigh Valley Realtors showed the Lehigh Valley hitting a record low for month’s supply of inventory.

The land for Ridge Farm, a proposed major mixed-use project in South Whitehall Township, recently sold for $15.67 million.