The end of the first quarter of 2025 saw market uncertainty in the face of new U.S. trade and tariff policies combined with an unclear geopolitical outlook, according to Lee & Associates’ 2025 Q1 North America Market Report. The effect of these concerns within the commercial real estate world are most evident in the industrial sector, which is also contending with oversupply and softening rent growth. Development is slow across property types. Retail, despite high-profile store closures in early 2025, remains historically tight on space as years of underbuilding keep availabilities near record lows. Office demand has stabilized in several major metros following years of contraction, though vacancy remains elevated. The pipeline of new construction is both drying up and favoring new types of tenants beyond traditional office spaces. Multifamily is seeing strong tenant demand in certain markets despite a flood of new deliveries. Lee & Associates has made their full market report available here (click through for detailed breakdowns and city-by-city information). The information below for the industrial, office, retail and multifamily sectors offers clarity on market-wide demand, rent growth trends and challenges likely to shape trajectories throughout 2025. Industrial Overview: Soft Markets Face Tariff Disruptions North America’s industrial markets …
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ROMEOVILLE, ILL. — Simoniz USA, a manufacturer of cleaning and maintenance products, has renewed its 18,013-square-foot industrial lease at 1109 Windham Parkway in the Chicago suburb of Romeoville. Jeff Galante of Lee & Associates of Illinois represented the tenant. Prologis, which was self-represented, owns the building.
Lee & Associates Brokers $20.8M Sale of Arrow Grand Business Park in Covina, California
by Amy Works
COVINA, CALIF. — Lee & Associates has negotiated the sale of Arrow Grand Business Park, an industrial property at 753-759 Arrow Grand Circle in Covina. CTT Tools Inc. sold the asset to 2Trees LLC for $20.8 million, or $290.52 per square foot. The 71,762-square-foot property offers 10,000 square feet of office space. Nathan Lara and Jack Nersesian of Daum listed the property, while Justin Chiang and Kevin Ching of Lee & Associates served as procuring agents for the transaction.
CAROL STREAM, ILL. — Lee & Associates of Illinois has negotiated a 188,142-square-foot industrial lease at 815 Kimberly Drive in the Chicago suburb of Carol Stream. The 406,000-square-foot property is now fully leased. Kenneth Franzese, John Cassidy and Jay Farnam of Lee & Associates represented the landlord, Prologis. NAI Hiffman represented the tenant, Bulldog Cartage, which is undergoing an expansion from its primary location in Addison, Ill.
BENSENVILLE, ILL. — Lee & Associates has negotiated a 25,631-square-foot industrial lease at 1071 Thorndale Ave. in the Chicago suburb of Bensenville. The lease brings the property to full occupancy. Chris Nelson of Lee & Associates represented the landlord, Prologis. Jeff Fischer of KBC Advisors represented the tenant, McDonald Associates Inc., an Elk Grove-based electrical manufacturer’s representative company focused on providing sales and warehousing solutions for clients.
HOUSTON — Lee & Associates has negotiated the sale of a 7.6-acre IOS (industrial outdoor storage) facility in North Houston. The property at 15550 Export Plaza Drive, which was fully leased at the time of sale, functions as a cross-dock truck terminal. Trey Erwin, Josh Carl and Jason Dannatt of Lee & Associates represented the undisclosed seller in the transaction. The buyer was a fund backed by New York City-based Clarion Partners.
LAREDO, TEXAS — Lee & Associates has negotiated a 103,780-square-foot industrial lease within Pinnacle Industry Center in the Rio Grande Valley city of Laredo. The tenant, freight and logistics provider Buckland Global Trade Services, will occupy the entirety of the building at 21208 Kraus Loop, which sits on a 7.4-acre site and features 32-foot clear heights. Enrique Volkmer of Lee & Associates represented the tenant in the lease negotiations. Huffman Development & Construction Services owns the building.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS — Precision Pulley & Idler has signed a 38,734-square-foot industrial lease in Arlington. The manufacturer of conveyor systems and components is taking space at the building at 2025 Meridian St., which according to LoopNet Inc. was constructed in 1980 and totals 71,973 square feet. Harrison Putt and Nick Fulton of Mercer Co. represented the tenant in the lease negotiations. Mark Graybill and Reed Parker of Lee & Associates represented the landlord, Chicago-based ML Realty Partners.
CALEDONIA, WIS. — Lee & Associates has negotiated the $24.5 million sale of 223 acres of land in Caledonia within Southeast Wisconsin. The site was formerly known as South Hills Country Club. The transaction marks the largest land acquisition in Southeast Wisconsin since Microsoft acquired 467 acres in late 2023, according to Lee & Associates. Thomas Boyle of Lee & Associates represented the buyer, New York-based Ashley Capital, which plans to build a 4 million-square-foot industrial park on the site. Named South Hills Commerce Center, the project will feature 10 buildings ranging in size from 218,400 to 554,000 square feet. Hintz Real Estate Development Co. LLC was the seller.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS — Lee & Associates has negotiated a 20,000-square-foot industrial lease renewal in Fort Worth. The building at 391-399 N. Beach St. is located northeast of the downtown area. Phillip Rosenfeld of Lee & Associates represented the landlord, Tarrant County Properties, in the lease negotiations. Todd Hubbard of NAI Robert Lynn represented the tenant, National Bolt & Industrial Supply.