In the January 26 issue of Real Estate Weekly, Massey Knakal reported that total sales volume in 2010 was $14.5 billion “up 131% from 2009, when volume ended up at $6.3 billion.” In Eastern Consolidated’s January newsletter, they report that “the cumulative sales volume for the year ($15.8 billion) surpassed the total volume for all of 2009 ($5.9 billion) by 168%..” So, Massey Knakal reports $14.5 billion in 2010 sales and Easter Consolidated reports $15.8 billion…my question is, what accounts for the $1.3 billion difference, or nearly a 10% spread?

Both brokerages are relatively consistent in their estimates of 2009 sales volume ($6.3 billion reported by Massey Knakal versus $5.9 billion reported by Eastern Consolidated, a 7% difference), and both firms have similar estimates of sales during the peak year 2007 ($62 billion and $63 billion, respectively, a 2% difference).

With 111 Eighth selling for $1.8 billion I suppose that all it takes is one transaction to account for such a difference. Any thoughts?