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Southeast Feature Archive

FeaturesHeartland Feature ArchiveNortheast Feature ArchiveSoutheast Feature ArchiveTexas & Oklahoma Feature ArchiveWestern Feature Archive

Forecast Survey: What’s Your Take on Commercial Real Estate in 2026?

by John Nelson

The editors of REBusinessOnline.com are conducting a brief online survey to gauge market conditions in 2026, and we welcome your participation. The survey should only take a few minutes to complete. Questions range from property sectors that you are most bullish on heading into 2026 to trends in deal volume to your outlook for interest rates. The results of our 15th annual survey will be compiled and published in the January issues of our regional magazines. Conducting these surveys is part of our mission at France Media to provide readers with indispensable information, and we couldn’t do it without your help. To participate in our broker/agent survey, click here. To participate in our developer/owner/manager survey, click here. To participate in our lender/financial intermediary survey, click here. (Note: Please remember to click on “done” to properly submit the survey.)

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FeaturesHospitalitySoutheastSoutheast Feature ArchiveVirginia

Annual RevPAR for U.S. Hotel Sector Declines for First Time Since 2020, Says CoStar and Tourism Economics

by John Nelson

ARLINGTON, VA. — Revenue per available room (RevPAR) was revised downward in the final performance projections for the U.S. hospitality sector in 2025, according to the latest forecast from CoStar Group and Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company. RevPAR is projected to finish the year at a decline of 0.4 percent (or negative 40 basis points) compared to a year ago. This would result in the first total-year decline since 2020 and only the second since 2009, both of which were years with major macroeconomic disruptions with the COVID-19 pandemic and Great Financial Crisis, respectively. CoStar and Tourism Economics also lowered occupancy projections to end the year at 62.3 percent, a decline from 63.1 percent at year-end 2024, while average daily rate (ADR) was held steady at +0.8 percent for the year. For 2026, occupancy is projected to decline by another 30 basis points, while ADR and RevPAR are projected to trend positive by 90 and 50 basis points, respectively (see chart). “We expect little change in the macroeconomic environment as unemployment and prices continue to rise,” says Amanda Hite, president of STR, a hospitality research firm owned by CoStar. “As a result, our hotel performance outlook for the remainder of …

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FeaturesKentuckyRestaurantRetailSoutheastSoutheast Feature Archive

Quick-Service Restaurants Are Powering the Rise of the 15-Minute City

by John Nelson

By Casey Smallwood of SRS Real Estate Partners The quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry is reshaping retail real estate by capitalizing on the “15-minute city” trend — a movement where people can access essentials within a short walk, bike ride or delivery window from home. This shift, fueled by evolving consumer behavior, urban densification and the rise of digital ordering, is pushing QSRs to prioritize hyper-local presence over traditional highway or regional ‘hubs. The result is a transformation in both real estate development and the metrics that define success in the foodservice sector. Embedding into daily life Hyper-localization is about placing restaurants within the flow of everyday life — close to where people live, work and socialize. Rather than clustering around big-box retail or commuter corridors, many brands now target neighborhood locations near apartment clusters, schools and small mixed-use developments. 7 Brew Coffee, a drive-thru-only brand, exemplifies this model. Its small footprint and fast service make it ideal for small lots and secondary intersection spots once overlooked by national tenants. These locations are now thriving due to residential growth and proximity to commuter paths. With minimal barriers to entry and an emphasis on quick-service, 7 Brew is establishing a strong local …

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AcquisitionsFeaturesMultifamilySoutheastSoutheast Feature ArchiveVirginia

Delaware Statutory Trusts Unleash the Potential for Section 1031 Exchanges

by John Nelson

By Louis Rogers of Capital Square Navigating the complex tax rules of a Section 1031 exchange can be a complicated experience. For many, investing in a Delaware Statutory Trust, or DST replacement property, simplifies and streamlines the process so that more investors can enjoy the benefits of Section 1031. Introduction to Section 1031 Exchanges Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code, commonly referred to as a “tax-deferred exchange,” provides for the complete deferral of federal and state taxes on the sale of investment real estate. The seller must reinvest the net sale proceeds into a qualifying replacement property, which can be any type of real property. The gain that would have been recognized in a taxable sale is deferred until the replacement property is sold in a taxable transaction. Section 1031 has been in the tax code since 1921. Historically, most exchangers have acquired a “whole” property, meaning they acquired an entire replacement property. However, starting in 2002, many exchangers have acquired a fractionalized interest in their replacement property, first using the Tenant in Common (TIC) structure and, more recently, the DST structure. Instead of acquiring a whole property, they acquire a fractionalized interest or a percentage of a replacement …

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FeaturesNorth CarolinaSoutheastSoutheast Feature Archive

North Carolina Allows Look-Back Property Tax Exemption for Religious Uses

by John Nelson

By Gib Laite, Esq. of Williams Mullen North Carolina has little sympathy for taxpayers that miss filing deadlines, but a new law eases the potential repercussions for property owners otherwise qualifying for religion-based tax exemptions. Under the new measure, taxpayers can apply for the religious exemption from property taxes going back five years from the law’s adoption date earlier this year. It will be interesting to see whether the General Assembly extends a similar grace period to other exemptions over time. Regardless, the new measure provides welcome relief to a segment of taxpayers and offers a possible model for lawmakers to adjust the regulation of other exemptions down the road, if they choose to do so. And for all taxpayers, the recent change provides a good opportunity to review how North Carolina grants and regulates property tax exemptions. Machinery of Taxation As a rule, North Carolina subjects all real and personal property to property tax unless the General Assembly or the state constitution exempts the property, or it falls into a special class of exempted property. Most exemptions are set out in the Machinery Act, a framework of tax rules within the North Carolina General Statutes. The Machinery Act allows …

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FeaturesGeorgiaMultifamilySeniors HousingSoutheastSoutheast Feature Archive

InterFace Panel: Seniors Housing Developers Can Cut Costs by Eliminating ‘Wasted Space’

by Kristin Harlow

ATLANTA — In today’s high-cost environment where obtaining development financing remains tricky, seniors housing builders are focused on cutting expenses — whether it be shrinking spaces or eliminating underutilized amenities altogether. That was the major takeaway from the development panel at the 12th annual InterFace Seniors Housing Southeast conference, which took place at the InterContinental Hotel in Atlanta on Wednesday, Aug. 27. The panel, which was titled “When Will Development Rebound? Outlook & Strategies for 2026,” included Richard Ackerman, managing partner of Big Rock Partners; Joe Jasmon, CEO of American Healthcare Management Group; Tod Petty, chief investment officer of Mainstay Senior Living; Leland Rice, president of QSL Management; Bear Mahon, president and CEO of Oaks Senior Living; and Alan Moise, chief investment officer of Thrive Senior Living. 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. Moise, the panel’s moderator, kicked off the discussion by asking participants for their definition of “rebound.” For Rice, the answer was a return to a mature market with stabilized assets selling at full price. “For a long time, we had seen …

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Conference CoverageFeaturesGeorgiaSeniors HousingSoutheastSoutheast Feature Archive

InterFace Panelists Expect Imminent Spike in Demand for Seniors Housing

by John Nelson

ATLANTA — The seniors housing sector stands at a “curious” crossroads in terms of the current real estate cycle, according to Chris Guay, CEO of Vitality Living. The Brentwood, Tenn.-based company is a seniors housing owner-operator with communities located across the Southeast and Texas. Guay asserts that on one hand, seniors housing owners and operators are still healing from the supply-and-demand shocks stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other, the sector is standing on the precipice of the prophesied “silver tsunami,” a phenomenon wherein the baby boomer generation is aging into needing senior living care. 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. The oldest baby boomers are now turning 80, and Guay says that even if developers met the output of the highest point of the previous cycle annually, it still wouldn’t be enough to satisfy the wave of demand coming. “The silver tsunami is actually here,” says Guay. “Right now is probably the most interesting time in the industry that I can remember.” Guay’s comments came during the “power panel” at InterFace Seniors …

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FeaturesGeorgiaLoansSoutheastSoutheast Feature Archive

Borrowers Win When Their Banks Partner With C-PACE Lenders

by John Nelson

Interview by John Nelson Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing is a lending option that is gaining traction in the commercial real estate lending world. This type of financing is beneficial for owners who are looking to finance their new construction or redevelopments with long-term debt. Rafi Golberstein, founder and CEO of PACE Loan Group (PLG), a C-PACE lender with offices in New York City, San Diego, Chicago and Minneapolis, says that what many borrowers are now finding out is how adaptable this loan structure is, especially when paired with traditional bank financing. “C-PACE as a product type is not just living and breathing — it’s expanding,” says Golberstein. Originated in Berkeley, Calif., in 2008, C-PACE financing is now available in 40 states and Washington, D.C. It serves as an alternative funding source for commercial projects that qualify on the basis that they will result in reduced energy and water usage and greater building efficiency. C-PACE is not a federal program as it is overseen at the state or local level, with some states allowing local governments to administer the program. “States are making their legislation more broad, which allows us to get more projects done and larger checks …

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Affordable HousingDistrict of ColumbiaFeaturesHeartland Feature ArchiveMultifamilyMultifamily & Affordable Housing Feature ArchiveNortheast Feature ArchiveSoutheastSoutheast Feature ArchiveTexas & Oklahoma Feature ArchiveWestern Feature Archive

Why Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Believe the Wind Is at Their Back

by John Nelson

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are adopting a more pro-business approach when it comes to closing multifamily loans in 2025 than in recent years, when sources say they were more selective. The two government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) combined to produce 33 percent more multifamily loans in first-quarter 2025 compared with first-quarter 2024. “There is definitely a ‘volume on’ mindset at both shops,” says Landon Litty, director of agency sales at BWE. “This is a real positive for borrowers.” For Fannie Mae, the volume of multifamily loans totaled $11.8 billion in the first quarter of 2025, compared with $10.1 billion in the first quarter of 2024. Meanwhile, Freddie Mac produced approximately $15 billion in multifamily loans in the first quarter, financing around 144,000 rental units, well above the approximately $10 billion produced in first-quarter 2024.  “The first quarter of 2025 has been dynamic, with real-time adjustments to meet market needs while maintaining a focus on soundness,” says a spokesperson at Freddie Mac Multifamily.  Other sources attest that the GSEs are focusing on their sponsors more so than in previous years. T.J. Edwards, chief production officer for the multifamily finance division at Walker & Dunlop, says the agencies are proactively vetting first-time borrowers …

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Affordable HousingConference CoverageFeaturesMultifamilyNorth CarolinaSoutheastSoutheast Feature Archive

Lenders Are Back in Action for Multifamily Development Deals, Says InterFace Panel

by John Nelson

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In its first-quarter report, property management research firm RealPage stated that the “supply wave for multifamily was cresting” as the U.S. apartment sector set a record in terms of units absorbed (138,302), outpacing deliveries (116,092). A year prior, RealPage reported that deliveries (135,652) outstripped absorption (103,826) in first-quarter 2024. Will Block, partner and co-founder of Olympus Development Co., said that the flip in the U.S. apartment market’s supply-demand dynamic the past 12 months has made all the difference in terms of lenders’ perception. 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 couldn’t be more different what it looked like a year ago trying to capitalize deals in tertiary markets,” said Block. “Last year we would call 50 lenders with the hope of one to get to do it at terms that we didn’t like with ridiculous deposit requirements. I probably get four or five cold calls a week from bankers now.” Block’s comments came during the development panel at InterFace Carolinas Multifamily, an annual networking and information conference held on May 21 …

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