We got a big response from our drone survey last week, including from right here in DC. Transwestern government leasing guru Pete Marcin (in Nashville recently) has two drones (one’s a backup) that enable him to get views of buildings and properties that were unachievable only a year or two ago. Clients can even have a live tour by putting on first-person view goggles and literally feel what it’s like to fly around a property (they should make that a ride at Disney) and it’s useful to check out upper floor or roof conditions (better than a cherry picker), he says.

Check out this incredible aerial shot from one of his drones. While the FAA has taken the position that the usage of drones for commercial purposes is restricted, a recent court decision by the NTSB calls these restrictions into question, he says (oh yeah, Pete’s also an attorney). The future of drone use in commercial real estate, Marcin says, lies in whether the FAA can develop (and Congress can pass) more concrete rules for commercial drone use. Until then, the area will remain gray. If all goes well, Pete expects them to be widespread in a couple years (you can already pilot via iPad app), but would remind operators you’ll probably crash your first before you become a savvy pilot. (His first is at the bottom of the Patapsco River.)