Saturday, November 15, 2025
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Market ReportsMidwestMidwest Market ReportsNebraskaRetail

Omaha Population Growth Fuels Retail Market Interest

by Kristin Harlow

By Sam Rolfe, The Lerner Company It seems Omaha’s retail market shows no signs of slowing down from a position of strength, which received a tangible boost when the metro-area population hit the magic 1 million mark. It’s funny that this population hurdle opens the eyes of retailers so much more than 970,000 would, but there’s no doubt that it does, and the market has reacted accordingly, with year-over-year asking rents up 5.4 percent.  The seemingly rapid growth and development have not vastly affected the city’s historically strong fundamentals and high occupancy rates however, with the vacancy rate in the metro at 4.4 percent. This low vacancy is partially a byproduct of the historically low supply that has plagued the market in recent years.  Over the last decade, we have seen vast westward growth and somewhat stagnant activity in the urban core and central region. Although the westward march continues, it is now coupled with large amounts of urban development, making the city’s retail market strong within eastern submarkets.  The old adage “retail follows rooftops” has held true throughout this growth cycle, as retail developments follow the suburban growth of both homes and apartments. One example of this is at …

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IndustrialMarket ReportsNortheastNortheast Market Reports

New Opportunities Arise for Industrial Investors in the Northeast

by Taylor Williams

By Taylor Williams What do the phrases “owner-occupier,” “small-bay” and “mid-range WALT” have in common?  They could potentially be obscure references to real-life inspirations behind songs on the new Taylor Swift album. But just in case that’s not the case, these terms also represent types of industrial investment plays that have become increasingly favorable among owners and prospective buyers in Northeast markets. The rising popularity of these deals attests to shifts in the broader landscape, i.e. — large-scale e-commerce and logistics facilities have been either overbuilt or priced to perfection in many areas.  But the past 12 months have seen industrial deal volume in major Northeast markets regain traction. Although some — if not most — of that activity is tied to interest rates and geopolitics, the emergence of different deal types is nonetheless a positive indicator because it speaks to the creative approach that the investment community has taken in its return to the market.  Unlike a few years ago, industrial real estate today is not a mindless beneficiary of both institutional and private debt and equity — a bottomless pit of capital flows. Tenants are no longer forced to write quasi-blank checks to owners just to secure crucial …

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Affordable HousingMarket ReportsMultifamilyTexasTexas Market Reports

How New Texas Laws Aim to Tackle Housing Shortage, Affordability Crisis Through Public-Private Partnerships

by Taylor Williams

By Jamee Jolly, president and CEO, The Real Estate Council With record population growth and a $2.7 trillion economy, Texas faces mounting pressure to expand its housing supply and affordability. New legislation from the 89th legislative session gives developers, cities and investors new tools to build sustainable communities through stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors. From established patterns of corporate relocations, job creation and direct foreign investment to fostering emerging industries like renewable energy, semiconductor manufacturing, aerospace and financial services, Texas has a long history of economic strength, industry diversification and innovation. That track record makes it one of the nation’s premier destinations for both businesses and residents. Last year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data, Texas led the nation in population growth for the 14th consecutive year, adding more than 560,000 people to reach over 31 million statewide. In North Texas, the population in Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) alone is expected to grow from 8 million to 12 million residents by 2050. While this growth fuels one of the world’s largest economies, it has also created a shortage of more than 320,000 homes and a rising challenge of housing affordability statewide, particularly at the entry-level price point, where …

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GeorgiaIndustrialMarket ReportsSoutheastSoutheast Market Reports

Atlanta Industrial Is Cooling and Consolidating, But Is Still Strategically Strong

by John Nelson

After several years of breakneck growth, Atlanta’s industrial sector has clearly shifted into a mid-cycle recalibration. Vacancy has climbed to 8.4 percent, well above the 10-year average of 5.8 percent, as a record wave of big-box deliveries collides with softer demand.  Twelve-month net absorption turned negative for the first time since 2011, dropping 453,000 square feet despite 14.9 million square feet of new deliveries over the past year. Developers and tenants alike are adjusting, but the region’s logistics advantages and diverse economy keep long-term fundamentals intact. Supply and demand The pandemic-era surge of speculative construction has decisively slowed. Construction starts have fallen roughly 70 percent from the five-year average, leaving 16.3 million square feet under construction, with just 25 percent available — down from 60 percent a year ago. Most large projects are now data centers, such as a 1.5 million-square-foot QTS facility in Fayette/Coweta County and a 1.2 million-square-foot Microsoft data center near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Vacancy is rising fastest in submarkets that saw heavy new supply. Kennesaw/Acworth, for example, has added over 9 million square feet since 2023 and now posts about 13 percent availability for buildings sized 200,000 square feet and larger. Sublease availability has grown …

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IllinoisIndustrialMarket ReportsMidwestMidwest Market Reports

Fiscal Challenges Weigh on Near-Term Outlook of Chicago Industrial Market

by Kristin Harlow

By Marc Hale, DarwinPW Realty/CORFAC International The Chicagoland industrial market continues to stand out as one of the most important in the country. Its location at the center of the U.S. transportation network gives companies the ability to reach nearly one-third of the nation’s population within a single day’s drive.  Six Class I railroads, an abundance of intermodal facilities and seven major interstate highways all converge here, making it one of the most efficient distribution platforms in North America. Chicago O’Hare International Airport also ranks among the top cargo airports in the world, adding critical global connectivity.  These advantages are reinforced by a large and diverse labor pool, which has long supported the region’s position as a major hub for manufacturers, distributors and logistics providers. The area’s role as a manufacturing hub is further reinforced by its proximity to major steel mills and primary metal production facilities, the depth of its skilled workforce and plentiful access to water from Lake Michigan, which has long supported heavy industry and advanced manufacturing across the region. The market’s vacancy rate has been trending higher, moving from 5.2 percent in the third quarter of 2024 to 5.9 percent in the third quarter of 2025. …

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DevelopmentIndustrialMarket ReportsTexasTexas Market Reports

Industrial Design Requirements Shift Following Supply Boom in Major Texas Markets

by Taylor Williams

Once upon a time, not so long ago, an industrial developer in Texas could pick an appropriately zoned spot on the map, throw up four walls and a roof, slap a few utilities in place and reasonably expect multiple tenants to quickly reach out and express a willingness to pay healthy rent for that space.  That’s a colorful and simplified view of the pinnacle of the post-COVID Texas industrial market, but it’s not a farcical take. Between roughly early 2021 and mid-2023, phrases like “record-breaking,” “gangbusters” and “never seen anything like it,” were routinely used by brokers and owners alike to describe the state of industrial tenant demand.  Combined with cheap debt and available equity, the ferocious need for warehouse, distribution and manufacturing space sparked absorption of older buildings and fresh capitalizations of new projects across all major markets. Tenants needed space yesterday, and supply chain disruptions — for developers and tenants — were simply a cost of doing business. And business was very, very good. Business is still good today. But the development landscape has undoubtedly shifted while the capital markets that govern said landscape have invariably cooled. New development, particularly in terms of equity, is significantly harder to …

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GeorgiaMarket ReportsOfficeSoutheastSoutheast Market Reports

Pause or Prime Time? Atlanta’s Office Sector Is in Transition

by John Nelson

Atlanta’s commercial office market is at a pivotal moment, caught between signs of stabilization and the lingering effects of a post-pandemic reset. Vacancy remains elevated, absorption is improving and tenant preferences continue to evolve — but fundamentals are beginning to shift as the market adjusts to the new workplace. Signs of a bottom? Hybrid work models, space optimization strategies and cautious expansions have elevated metro Atlanta’s office vacancy rates. Direct vacancy rates surpassed 24 percent for the first time and are hovering near all-time highs.  Meanwhile, sublease availabilities have declined over 25 percent from their peak in 2023, and quality space remains difficult to find. The slowing pace of vacancy increases suggests the market may be nearing a turning point after recording negative annual absorption in four of the past five years. Net absorption, a key indicator for overall office sector health, totals negative 438,000 square feet, according to Colliers’ second-quarter 2025 report. While still in the red, this marks a significant improvement over previous years. Recent leasing activity suggests even more positive movement in the second half of the year, indicating that tenant departures are tapering and space givebacks are moderating. Leasing: quality vs. quantity Despite economic headwinds, leasing …

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IllinoisMarket ReportsMidwestMidwest Market ReportsOffice

Chicago Market Adapts as Return-to-Office Momentum Builds

by Kristin Harlow

By Nicole McAleese, Urban Innovations As autumn arrives, Chicago’s commercial real estate market continues to evolve in response to changing workplace strategies and a growing return-to-office (RTO) movement. With major employers tightening in-office attendance policies, both landlords and tenants are adapting to new demands around space, flexibility and location. Shift in tenant behavior Over the past year, Chicago has seen a noticeable shift in how companies are approaching their office needs. Where many tenants once sought short-term lease extensions or downsized footprints during the height of hybrid experimentation, 2025 has brought renewed interest in long-term planning and, in some cases, expansion. Several high-profile lease transactions underscore this trend. Stripe recently doubled its Chicago office space to 89,000 square feet, while law firm Arnold & Porter relocated from the Loop to a new 40,000-square-foot lease, according to Crain’s Chicago Business. While some firms continue to downsize or consolidate, there’s a clear cohort of companies reinvesting in physical office environments that support collaboration, talent attraction and cultural cohesion. These trends mirror national patterns. According to CRE Daily, a growing number of U.S. employers are enforcing stricter in-office attendance, accelerating the shift away from a purely remote or hybrid-first mindset. The Archie RTO …

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Conference CoverageMarket ReportsRetailTexasTexas Market Reports

InterFace Panel: Rent Growth Opportunities Should Bolster Future Investment Sales in DFW Retail Market

by Taylor Williams

By Taylor Williams DALLAS — As a metroplex, Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) has the physical sprawl, population density, pace of job growth and volume of housing development to fairly be labeled as one of the biggest consumer markets in the country, on par with New York City and Los Angeles. It’s the extent to which affordability has matured in New York City and Los Angeles that marks the key difference between DFW and the coastal behemoths. Aside from rental housing, no asset class within commercial real estate captures a given market’s affordability better than retail. Retail rents in the most sought-after corridors and districts of New York City and Los Angeles seemingly have no ceiling, and that is reflected in the prices of the products and services that are dispensed from those spaces. Editor’s note: InterFace Conference Group, a division of France Media Inc., produces networking and educational conferences for commercial real estate executives. To sign up for email announcements about specific events, visit www.interfaceconferencegroup.com/subscribe. It’s fair to assume that for most households that have relocated from the coasts to DFW, housing and jobs have been the most decisive factors. Yet retail spending does account for a good chunk of the average family’s disposable …

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FloridaMarket ReportsOfficeSoutheastSoutheast Market Reports

Orlando’s Suburbs Show Strength With Big Office Deals, Activity

by John Nelson

In the fourth quarter of 2024, the Orlando office market had the first quarter of positive absorption in four years, according to a recent Colliers market report. The market, like many across the nation, has navigated a period of recalibration in the wake of the pandemic and evolving work trends. Yet, a shift in tenant activity has signaled renewed leasing demand across the office landscape. In the fourth quarter, net absorption in the Orlando office market reached a positive 95,843 square feet. This is a significant improvement compared to the same period in 2023, which had a negative absorption of 297,714 square feet. Interestingly, it is the submarkets outside of Orlando’s central business district (CBD) that are shining. This is evident in two recent deals that are having a profound impact on the market. In December, we represented the seller when Charles Schwab purchased the Maitland Summit Office Park for $122 million. This was the largest office deal in Central Florida since 2021 and removed 500,000 square feet of Class A office space from the Maitland submarket, which is about 10 miles north of downtown Orlando.  Around the same time, Mitsubishi signed a lease for 109,000 square feet in Lake …

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