North Carolina

Has the Raleigh-Durham Office Market Hit Rock Bottom?

by John Nelson February 23, 2026

The Raleigh/Durham office market is not yet in full recovery mode; however, the latest data suggests something just as important: stabilization. Compared to many U.S. office markets still experiencing significant stress, Raleigh-Durham is holding its ground — and in several respects, outperforming national trends. Currently, the combined Raleigh-Durham office market totals approximately 118.7 million square feet, with Raleigh making up roughly two-thirds of the inventory and Durham the remainder. Together, they form one of the Southeast’s most dynamic and resilient office regions. Vacancy elevated, improving While higher than pre-pandemic norms, vacancy is trending better than many peer markets. Raleigh’s vacancy rate currently sits around 11.1 percent, while Durham’s vacancy rate is approximately 9.8 percent, according to research from CoStar Group. Combined, this market boasts a blended office vacancy rate of roughly 10.7 percent, well below the 14.1 percent national average. Over the past 12 months, Raleigh recorded positive net absorption of approximately 574,000 square feet, while Durham experienced negative absorption of about 480,000 square feet. Combined, the market landed near equilibrium, which sends an encouraging signal that the market is no longer sliding backward, even if growth remains uneven. The area’s post-pandemic growth is shaped by hybrid work models, changing …

February 23, 2026

Leasing Activity North Carolina Office Southeast

Drawbridge Realty Signs Law Firm to 30,905 SF Office Lease at Imperial Tower in Durham

by Abby Cox February 19, 2026

DURHAM, N.C. — Drawbridge Realty has signed its third major tenant at Imperial Tower, a 259,000-square-foot office property in Durham. Regional law firm Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson will consolidate two Raleigh-area locations to the office building and occupy the entire third floor (approximately 30,905 square feet). Greg Sanchez, Ryan Gaylord and Robin Anders of NAI Tri Properties represented Drawbridge in the lease negotiations, while Ben Litke of Cushman & Wakefield represented the tenant. Drawbridge and NAI Tri Properties have signed almost 165,000 square feet in leases at Imperial Tower in the past three months. In December, Aspida Financial Services signed a lease for three floors for its new headquarters, while earlier this month, Victra, the largest authorized Verizon Wireless retailer in the country, signed a lease for one-and-a-half floors. Imperial Tower is also undergoing a $10 million renovation that will include upgrades to the lobby and conference rooms. The renovation also features amenity upgrades, including a café/bakery/coffee shop, golf simulator, fitness center with locker room and shower facilities, tenant lounge and game room, wellness room, waterside patio, athletic fields and a pickleball/sports court.

February 19, 2026

Acquisitions Industrial North Carolina Southeast

Equus Capital Purchases Industrial Complex in Butner, North Carolina for $46.8M

by Abby Cox February 16, 2026

BUTNER, N.C. — Equus Capital Partners has acquired Falls Lake Commerce Center, a 341,867-square-foot industrial complex in Butner, approximately 20 miles south of Durham, for $46.8 million. The transaction was completed on behalf of Sweet Grass II, a programmatic joint venture between an affiliate of Equus and a U.S.-based public pension plan. Falls Lake Commerce Center comprises three modern, tilt-wall logistics facilities developed between 2009 and 2015. The buildings feature 30-foot clear heights, ESFR sprinkler systems, shared truck courts, 53 dock-high doors and six drive-in doors. The property also includes a 1.2-acre industrial outdoor storage (IOS) lot with 65 trailer stalls. Falls Lake was fully leased at the time of sale to three tenants including UPS, Nugget Comfort LLC and RiceWrap Foods.

February 16, 2026

Acquisitions Development Mixed-Use North Carolina Southeast

Jamestown Joins Ownership Group at 76-Acre Camp North End Campus in Charlotte

by Abby Cox February 16, 2026

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jamestown has partnered with existing ownership to recapitalize Camp North End, a 76-acre mixed-use redevelopment project located in Charlotte, just north of the city’s Uptown district. The Atlanta-based developer and operator will serve as general partner and lead asset management, leasing, marketing, architecture and development firm for the new joint venture ownership structure. ATCO Properties & Management will remain a partner in the overall development, while Shorenstein Investment Advisors will continue as a partner with Jamestown and ATCO in a portion of the project. Jared Londry of PointBlank Ventures represented ATCO in the joint venture transaction and led the structuring of the partnership. PointBlank Ventures has also been retained by Jamestown to raise joint-venture equity for the next phases of development at Camp North End. Damon Hemmerdinger of ATCO will serve in an advisory role as non-executive chairman of the joint venture, as ATCO continues to own and operate Kinship, the multifamily development completed at Camp North End in 2025. The site was originally constructed in 1924 as a Ford Model T plant and later repurposed as the Charlotte Area Missile Plant. ATCO acquired the property in 2016, and Shorenstein became a capital partner in 2018. To …

February 16, 2026

Industrial Market Reports North Carolina Southeast Southeast Market Reports

Strong Industrial Fundamentals, Smart Supply Fuel Momentum in the Triangle

by John Nelson February 16, 2026

The Triangle’s industrial market continues to hold strong fundamentals heading into the new year. A disciplined construction pipeline, low vacancy and high absorption fuel the market’s steady success. Disciplined constructionIndustrial developers have been incredibly disciplined when delivering new product to the Raleigh-Durham market, which has kept vacancy below 7 percent — a significantly stronger rate than peer Sun Belt markets as a result of record levels of development in recent years. With absorption rates in the Triangle averaging nearly 3 million square feet per year in the past five years, this healthy rate of delivery and absorption has propped up the region’s industrial market. That being said, the Raleigh-Durham market infill land supply has its limitations. Industrial-zoned land is difficult to find and acquisition costs are pushing $500,000 per acre in some submarkets, and rezoning is a lengthy 12-month or longer process. For these projects to be financially viable, developers have been increasing rents year-over-year to an average of over $12 per square foot across all submarkets, up from roughly $6 just five years ago. Many institutional occupiers have been willing to pay a premium to be in new, Class A space in these infill areas, but other occupiers are …

February 16, 2026

Loans North Carolina Office Southeast

CBRE Arranges $178M Refinancing for 110 East Office Tower in Charlotte’s South End

by Abby Cox February 13, 2026

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — CBRE has arranged nearly $178 million in refinancing for 110 East, a 23-story office tower located in Charlotte’s South End district. J.P. Cordeiro, Mike Ryan, Richard Henry and Blake Cohen of CBRE arranged the loan through AllianceBernstein on behalf of the ownership group, Shorenstein and Stiles. Delivered in 2024, the 389,954-square-foot office property has direct access to the LYNX Blue Line’s East/West light rail station and features an 11th floor sky lobby, outdoor terrace and a fitness center. 110 East is currently 92.6 percent leased to various tenants such as Coinbase and First Horizon Corp.

February 13, 2026

Development Industrial Mixed-Use North Carolina Southeast

Beacon Partners Buys 119 Acres for Phase I of Durham Gateway Development

by John Nelson February 12, 2026

DURHAM, N.C. — Beacon Partners has purchased 119 acres of industrial-zoned land at the intersection of U.S. Highway 70 and Leesville Road in south Durham. Situated two miles south of Raleigh-Durham International Airport and near Research Triangle Park, the site will support the development of approximately 1.3 million square feet of Class A distribution, manufacturing and life sciences space. The project represents Phase I of Durham Gateway, a 308-acre master-planned campus that will also include 1,750 residential units, offices, shops and restaurants. The City of Durham granted Beacon entitlements for the full 308 acres in September. Durham Gateway is a joint venture between Beacon, HM Partners and SFRE Holdings. The project team includes Advanced Civil Design (civil engineer) and Merriman Schmitt (architect). Ann-Stewart Patterson, Austin Nagy and John Hogan of CBRE will lead leasing and marketing efforts for the industrial space at Durham Gateway.

February 12, 2026

Development Healthcare North Carolina Southeast

Swinerton Breaks Ground on $5.5M Medical Office Building in Pineville, North Carolina

by John Nelson February 11, 2026

PINEVILLE, N.C. — Swinerton Builders’ Carolinas division has broken ground on a $5.5 million medical office building located at 10425 Good Sell Court in Pineville, about 14 miles south of Charlotte. Locally based Metrolina Dermatology will occupy the 8,000-square-foot property upon completion, which is expected in early spring. Situated on 1.2 acres, the medical office building will feature 11 exam rooms, two aesthetic rooms, four Mohs exam rooms, one Mohs lab, a sterilization room, four offices and up to five medical assistant/nursing stations, as well as a welcoming lobby/waiting area and an employee breakroom. (Mohs is a specialized technique used to remove skin cancers.) Outside, the property will feature an asphalt parking lot for 40 to 50 cars. The design-build team includes Nelson Worldwide Architects, Cornerstone Architecture, LJB Engineering and Kimley-Horn.

February 11, 2026

Acquisitions North Carolina Office Southeast

Cousins Acquires 300 South Tryon Office Building in Uptown Charlotte for $317.5M

by John Nelson February 10, 2026

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Cousins Properties has purchased 300 South Tryon, a 638,000-square-foot office building in Uptown Charlotte, for $317.5 million. Barings, a global asset management firm and subsidiary of MassMutual, sold the 25-story tower to the Atlanta-based REIT. The Spectrum Cos. developed the office building in 2017 as the global headquarters for Barings. Cousins is funding the acquisition with proceeds from non-core asset sales, debt financing and the settlement of common shares. 300 South Tryon was fully leased at the time of sale with a weighted average lease term (WALT) of six years.

February 10, 2026

Acquisitions Build-to-Rent North Carolina Southeast

Northmarq Negotiates $41M Sale of Build-to-Rent Community in Monroe, North Carolina

by Abby Cox February 9, 2026

MONROE, N.C. — Northmarq has negotiated the sale of Yardly Monroe, a 151-unit build-to-rent (BTR) community located in Monroe, roughly 30 miles outside Charlotte. Trevor Koskovich, John Currin, Jesse Hudson and Austin Jackson of Northmarq represented the seller, a joint venture between developer Taylor Morrison and equity partner Värde Partners. Faron Thompson and Grant Harris, also with Northmarq, originated $24.8 million in Freddie Mac acquisition financing on behalf of the buyer, FCP. The five-year, interest-only loan features a 35-year amortization schedule. Yardly Monroe, which has been rebranded as the Cottages of Monroe, is situated on nearly 25 acres and features one- and two-bedroom homes ranging in size from 717 to 1,030 square feet, according to Apartments.com. Each home features a private backyard with a pet door, full-sized washer/dryer, stainless steel appliances, high-speed internet, smart thermostat, doorbell camera, 10-foot ceilings, pantry, walk-in closet, vinyl plank flooring and a kitchen island. Community amenities include a swimming pool, dog park and a fitness center.

February 9, 2026

Newer Posts

Older Posts