Even in one of the worst business environments in decades, commercial real estate industry members are lining up to do a flashy fundraiser for a longtime local executive.

As homeowners and homebuyers in Southern California, including those in the local markets, continue to cope with struggling residential sales, Acorn managing editor John Loesing begins a multipart questionandanswer series with local real estate leaders about the future of the market and possible signs that the worst might be behind us.

Dear Mr. Berko: Several months ago you wrote that the commercial and industrial real estate market was in the process of a shakeout.