In his notes accompanying CB Richard Ellis' second-quarter updates, Tom Frye says the Middle Tennessee market is tracking his team's projections — which is "no particular cause for celebration." Stepping up growth will be all about jobs, he adds, but that doesn't look too promising even if Nashville is outpacing other cities.

This is not the 2006 good old days, but we have made great progress digging out of the 2009 cellar. We see cranes in the air above and new hotels downtown. The new convention center is on track for a Spring 2013 opening, and recent news is very positive about the Medical Mart on the old convention center site.