Southeast Market Reports Archives - REBusinessOnline

Redevelopment, Reinvestment Shape Memphis Retail Sector’s Next Chapter

John Nelson — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 11:57:00 +0000

For years, much of Memphis’ retail growth has been concentrated in the suburbs. More recently, however, redevelopment activity in East Memphis, Midtown and Downtown has created a new source of investment and retail demand. While suburban growth remains steady, some of the market’s most notable projects are occurring in established areas where older properties are being redeveloped and repositioned for new uses. As a result, some of the market’s most significant activity is occurring within existing commercial corridors rather than through large-scale retail expansion. Memphis remains a healthy retail market, although growth has become more measured than it was a few years ago. Retail vacancy is forecast to reach 5 percent in 2026, while average asking rents are projected to climb to $14.20 per square foot. New supply also remains relatively limited. After more than 400,000 square feet of retail space was delivered annually in both 2023 and 2024, just 250,000 square feet is forecast to come on line in 2026. Limited new supply has helped support rent growth across existing shopping centers. Some of the strongest examples of this trend can be found in Midtown, Downtown and East Memphis, where older sites are being transformed into new mixed-use developments.…

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Charlotte Multifamily: The Demand Story Is Finally Being Reflected in Rent Growth

John Nelson — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:57:00 +0000

If you’ve been watching the Charlotte multifamily market for the past 24 months, you’ve probably felt a little whiplash. We delivered a historic wave of new supply, somewhere north of 32,500 units across 2024 and 2025 combined, and a lot of the headlines focused on the same thing: concessions, occupancy pressure and softening rents. Fair. That was the reality on the ground for most operators. But if you look closely at what’s happening right now, a different story is starting to take shape, and it’s one we think may not be getting enough attention. The trend our team is watching most closely heading deeper into 2026: absorption is holding up remarkably well against an elevated supply picture. In fact, we’re starting to see positive rent growth re-emerge on select deals, particularly in well-located submarkets where the construction pipeline has tapered. While this isn’t a market-wide victory lap yet, the green shoots are real, and they’re showing up exactly where you’d expect them to. The data is telling us that Charlotte multifamily rents rose modestly in the first quarter of 2026 as construction starts slowed, with completion totals in 2026 expected to trail levels recorded in 2025 by 26 percent. That’s…

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Charlotte’s Industrial Market Enters a New Era of Disciplined Growth

John Nelson — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 11:45:00 +0000

After several years of unprecedented industrial expansion, the Charlotte market is entering a more disciplined phase of growth, and that may ultimately prove healthier for the region long term. While headlines continue to focus on elevated vacancy rates, the underlying fundamentals of the market remain sound, particularly for modern, Class A product and strategically located logistics corridors. Charlotte absorbed nearly 60 million square feet of industrial deliveries since 2020, fundamentally reshaping the region’s supply chain infrastructure and elevating the market into one of the Southeast’s premier logistics hubs. Today, the conversation is no longer centered around whether Charlotte can attract industrial users, it is about how the market recalibrates after an aggressive development cycle. That recalibration is already underway. Construction starts have slowed considerably, with the development pipeline contracting to approximately 4.8 million square feet in first-quarter 2026, down significantly from the previous 10-quarter average of 8.7 million square feet. At the same time, leasing activity has remained healthy, totaling approximately 2.2 million square feet during the first quarter. Vacancy appears to be flattening as leasing volume continues to outpace new deliveries. One of the clearest trends shaping the market is the continued “flight to quality” among occupiers. Large users…

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The Institutionalization of Charlotte’s Retail Sector

John Nelson — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 11:45:00 +0000

Years of nation-leading population growth, a robust job market and rising household incomes have propelled Charlotte retail onto the national stage as a major target for institutional and private investors alike. The market is now operating at a premium, with average asking rents surpassing the national average for the first time on record in late 2025 after rising more than 30 percent over the past five years, according to data from CoStar Group Inc. That milestone says a lot about how far the market has come, but it also points to where it is headed.The next phase of Charlotte retail will not be defined by growth alone. It will be defined by having the right tenant in the right format serving the right trade area. The strongest corridors continue to command attention from retailers and investors alike, while rising occupancy costs are forcing every deal to stand on stronger fundamentals. For owners, tenants and capital sources, that dynamic makes Charlotte one of the Southeast’s most compelling retail markets, but also one of its most nuanced. The new retail map Charlotte gained 20,731 residents between 2024 and 2025, ranking among the fastest-growing major cities in the country, according to the U.S.…

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Charlotte’s Office Market Picks Up in 2026 as Activity Accelerates

John Nelson — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 11:45:00 +0000

The story in Charlotte’s office market today is a continuation of what began to take shape last year — only now, the activity behind it is real and measurable. The tenants that were cautiously exploring the market in 2024 have re-engaged, and many are now making decisions with greater clarity around their long-term space needs. Leasing volume reflects that shift. Activity reached roughly 1.4 million square feet in the first quarter of 2026, a significant increase year-over-year, with the majority of deals driven by new leases and expansions. That’s been the biggest change over the past 12 months: groups that were once on the sidelines are now moving forward, and deal velocity is picking up across multiple industries. At the same time, demand remains highly focused on quality. Class A buildings continue to capture most of the leasing activity, accounting for nearly 70 percent of total volume and leading overall absorption, which approached 400,000 square feet in first-quarter 2026. The best-performing assets in Uptown, Midtown and South Park are seeing steady occupancy gains, with rents at the top of the market pushing into the high-$50s per square foot. That said, the conversation around quality is becoming more nuanced. While top-tier…

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Western North Carolina Is Changed, But Not Broken, Following Hurricane Helene

John Nelson — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 11:57:00 +0000

Hurricane Helene was not a modest disruption. It was a disaster of historic scale. The North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management estimated total damage and recovery needs at $59.6 billion as of Dec. 2024, including damage to more than 73,000 homes, more than 100 confirmed deaths in North Carolina and a federal disaster declaration covering 39 counties. As a broker in Western North Carolina (WNC), I am often asked why the commercial real estate market has remained as strong as it has. The answer is not that the market avoided pain. It did not. The answer is that a tightly supplied market behaves very differently from a soft market after a disaster. In WNC, Hurricane Helene did not expose oversupply. It exposed scarcity. Before Helene, the Asheville-area commercial market already had very little slack. In NAI Beverly-Hanks’ second-quarter 2024 Asheville MSA commercial market report, CoStar Group-derived vacancy stood at 5.3 percent for industrial, 2.8 percent for office and 1.6 percent for retail. Earlier 2024 reporting from the same source showed similarly constrained conditions, reinforcing the same point: this was already a tight market before the storm arrived. A familiar recovery pattern That pre-storm scarcity shaped the recovery pattern.…

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Southwest Florida’s Industrial Market Is Primed for a Surge

John Nelson — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 11:46:00 +0000

When it comes to the Florida commercial real estate market, the conversation typically gravitates toward the larger metro areas. However, for those of us on the ground, it’s clear that Southwest Florida is becoming a key player in the state, particularly for industrial users. By nearly every measurable standard — population growth, job creation and infrastructure investment — Southwest Florida continues to outperform much of the United States. Industrial users and investors have taken notice, and so far in 2026, leasing activity has already outpaced all quarters in 2025. According to the latest Colliers market report, the market has absorbed 115,777 square feet of flex and industrial space in the first quarter alone, compared to fourth-quarter 2025 which saw (-189,303 square feet) of negative absorption. This is due to pent-up demand from users taking a cautious “wait-and-see” approach last year. And while the factors preventing them from making decisions in 2025 still exist, the sheer necessity of a physical presence in the area has finally outweighed the perceived risks. ‘Supply reset’ On paper, the data might give pause. Overall vacancy in Southwest Florida rose to 9.7 percent in first-quarter 2026, a sharp departure from the 7.2 percent we saw just…

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Miami’s Office Market Has Moved Beyond the Migration Narrative

John Nelson — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 11:45:00 +0000

Miami’s office market is no longer defined by migration alone. What is driving performance today is expansion, constrained supply and long-term corporate commitments that continue to support growth, even as many U.S. office markets navigate ongoing uncertainty. At its core, this cycle is defined by the imbalance between rising demand for space and the limited availability of high-quality office product. Companies are not only maintaining a presence in Miami, but they are scaling, and that expansion is increasingly shaping the direction of the market. That dynamic has been evident over the past five years and continued in the first quarter. Leasing activity has settled in above pre-2020 levels and the Miami-Dade County office market continues to record positive absorption. With 89,000 square feet of positive absorption this quarter, the Miami-Dade office market has absorbed approximately 3.4 million square feet since the start of 2021. That strong demand has pushed asking rents to $66.30 per square foot, up 10.6 percent year-over-year, and 53 percent since first-quarter 2021. The market also continued to attract institutional attention, underscored by Palantir’s decision to establish its headquarters in Miami. Underlying these numbers is a structural advantage that continues to set Miami apart: utilization. The city…

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Atlanta Multifamily: Liquidity Is Back, And the Supply Squeeze Is Next

John Nelson — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 11:42:00 +0000

Twenty-two apartment properties traded in metro Atlanta during the first quarter of 2026 for just over $1 billion, nearly double the $528 million that traded across 15 deals in first-quarter 2025. Our team’s current offerings are seeing tour volume of 30 to 40 prospects, which is up 20 percent from a couple years ago. We are also seeing 20 or more offers per property, and the quality of buyer has greatly improved — capital has stopped waiting for clarity and started competing for product. Liquidity rebounded in the Atlanta apartment market in 2025, and the supply-demand setup heading into 2027 is the reason institutional and private capital is moving now rather than later. Let’s start with the rebound. Across 2025, transaction count rose 31 percent, total dollar volume increased 18 percent and average cap rates tightened roughly 16 basis points. Buyers paid up for better-located, higher-quality assets and stayed disciplined on legacy unit-count metrics. The bid-ask gap that froze 2023 and most of 2024 finally closed, but on terms that rewarded specificity rather than just appetite. Sellers, for their part, have moved into a more pragmatic posture. A meaningful share of 2026 activity reflects fund-life timing decisions — sponsors that…

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Atlanta Office Market’s Rebound Yields Positive Outlook

John Nelson — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 11:45:00 +0000

Atlanta’s office market has begun a new phase of stabilization, recovery and momentum. Following years of workplace adjustments brought on by the pandemic, real-time market data now points to a steady and sustained comeback. Companies are expanding their office footprints and establishing return-to-office (RTO) policies that are bringing employees back together. Whether you are a local resident noticing busier morning commutes or a business owner curious about the local economy, current real estate trends offer a fascinating look at where Atlanta is heading. Statewide momentum Georgia continues to prove its status as a top destination for business recruitment and organic growth. Atlanta acts as the central engine, supported by a highly skilled workforce and a welcoming business climate, which supports the health of the local office market. Recent high-profile corporate announcements highlight this momentum. For example, healthcare technology company Glytec recently announced plans to relocate its global headquarters to the Northwest Atlanta submarket. This major move will bring 500 new jobs to the metro area. Other significant commitments include UCB’s massive investment to establish its first United States manufacturing facility and Yamaha Motor Co.’s decision to relocate its national headquarters to Atlanta, not to mention Rivian’s ongoing growth in the…

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Columbia’s Industrial Market Is Establishing Itself as a Major Player in the Southeast

John Nelson — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 11:45:00 +0000

Columbia’s industrial market is evolving into a competitive contender in the Southeast, with only a low 4.7 percent vacancy rate. The Scout Motors manufacturing project is a huge win for Richland County and the Midlands and will bring back the iconic Scout SUV (and pick-up truck). The 4,000 jobs on 1,600 acres is greatly anticipated. South Carolina was the fastest growing state in 2024, according to U-Haul, and near the top in 2025, with no signs of slowing. Columbia is in the middle of this steady growth with its central location as an excellent logistics hub with I-20, I-77 and I-26 and less than two hours from the Port of Charleston. Growing inventory The Columbia industrial market now contains approximately 81 million square feet of inventory, reflecting steady expansion over recent years. Despite being smaller than major logistics markets, Columbia stands out due to its active construction pipeline, with nearly 4 million square feet under development as of late 2025. This represents one of the highest development ratios among comparable secondary markets, signaling strong investor confidence and long-term growth expectations. Much of this new supply is concentrated in: • Build-to-suit logistics facilities • Large-scale speculative distribution centers • Advanced manufacturing…

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With Suburban and Infill Projects, Columbia Takes the Next Step in its Retail Evolution

John Nelson — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 11:45:00 +0000

As we wrap up April, Columbia’s retail market is growing in two distinct directions. Out in Lexington County and the northeast Richland County, new retail-anchored mixed-use projects are stepping up to meet the demands of a booming housing market. At the same time, downtown is getting a major facelift as new infill developments reshape the city center. Historically, Columbia has always had a reputation as a steady, reliable market — thanks to our major hospital systems, state government, universities and Fort Jackson. But that steady market is officially evolving. Between tightening vacancy rates and the massive wave of economic confidence brought on by the Scout Motors plant, Columbia has moved beyond just being a “safe bet” and is quickly emerging as a highly competitive powerhouse in the Southeast. Suburban powerhouse Platt Springs Crossing (South Lexington/Red Bank): A centerpiece of this growth is Platt Springs Crossing, a $65 million, 57-acre mixed-use development at the intersection of Platt Springs and Old Orangeburg roads, has seen overwhelming interest from national brands. • Anchor success: Lowes Foods opened its 51,000-square-foot store in late 2025, serving as a massive traffic driver. • Tenant velocity: Confirmed regional and national tenants include Chipotle Mexican Grill, Panda Express,…

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Southwest Florida Industrial Market Is Primed for a Surge

John Nelson — Mon, 25 May 2026 11:45:00 +0000

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Retail Leasing, Development Activity ‘Slow and Steady’ in Baltimore Market

John Nelson — Mon, 18 May 2026 11:52:00 +0000

Mirroring conditions nationally due to elevated interest rates, associated higher construction costs and general economic and geopolitical uncertainties, the volume of retail leasing and new development activity remains “slow and steady” in the greater Baltimore metropolitan region. The collective business and real estate communities remain optimistic for a rebound later this year, given the robust fundamentals that remain constant locally and the lessons learned during a tepid first-quarter 2025, which was followed by an over-performing remainder of the year. We expect the same to occur in 2026, with robust third and fourth quarters on the horizon later this year. Interest rate complexities Although interest rates have declined somewhat over the past year, the continued elevated climate has made all phases of the retail industry more expensive and forced developers and retailers to take a brief pause or to dig deeper for projected returns. More specifically, this has placed a halt on the future development of several new shopping centers in the Baltimore area due to higher financing costs, and multiple local retailers are also rethinking expansion plans because of steeper Small Business Administration and local banking loans. Separate retail centers in Harford and Howard counties — after being designed and…

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Baltimore Industrial Recalibration: Driven by New Supply and Selective Leasing

John Nelson — Mon, 11 May 2026 11:47:00 +0000

Baltimore’s industrial market entered the first quarter of 2026 in what some are describing as a correctional rather than a contractional phase, with CoStar Group recently characterizing the market as undergoing a “sharp correction” driven by rising vacancy, elevated supply and slower leasing activity. Vacancy reports vary but the rate is hovering at approximately 9.7 percent as leasing teams worked to absorb approximately 3.2 million square feet of new deliveries over the past 12 months. Trailing absorption is negative at approximately 2.4 million square feet, reflecting a slowdown rather than a disappearance of demand, according to CoStar. New development pipelines remain active at 2.1 million square feet and new starts are moderating, signaling that developers are adjusting to conditions. In recent years, a series of events in Baltimore City made headlines and positioned the region in the worst possible way, and “Charm City” remains misunderstood in the minds of outsiders through the lens of these news articles. But, earlier this year, a substantial influx of institutional capital turned heads when making a decisive bet on the greater metropolitan area. A joint venture between Camber Real Estate Partners and PGIM Real Estate acquired a seven-building infill industrial portfolio at a 5.75…

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Birmingham’s Office Market: Stabilizing, Adapting and Gaining Momentum

John Nelson — Mon, 04 May 2026 11:42:00 +0000

We hear this question a lot: “How is commercial real estate doing in Birmingham?” Many people assume our market is experiencing the same volatility seen in national headlines over the past few years. The reality is a bit different. Birmingham is actually a stable market. While we certainly feel broader economic shifts, our office sector has avoided many of the dramatic swings seen in larger metro areas and is gradually positioning itself for future growth. To set the stage, Birmingham’s office market consists of approximately 18.8 million square feet of multi-tenant inventory across five submarkets, four of which include Class A properties. Overall absorption for fourth-quarter 2025 totaled negative 35,336 square feet following a positive third quarter. However, the market still finished the year with 56,786 square feet of positive net absorption. Occupancy remained largely stable throughout the year, with the overall vacancy rate holding at 19.8 percent. Direct vacancy improved slightly to 16.6 percent by year-end. Leasing activity also remained steady across the market. In total, 640,255 square feet of office space was leased in 2025, representing an approximately 14 percent increase compared to the amount of office space leased in 2024. Class A transactions accounted for more than…

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Selective Growth, Strategic Redevelopment Shape Birmingham’s Retail Market

John Nelson — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 11:42:00 +0000

Birmingham’s retail market continues to show steady momentum as it moves into a new phase, defined by limited supply, strong tenant demand in key corridors and a growing focus on open-air, lifestyle environments. While higher interest rates and construction costs slowed new development activity over the past couple of years, Birmingham’s most established retail corridors have remained active. Well-located centers continue to lease space quickly, and redevelopment opportunities are beginning to reshape several of the MSA’s outdated retail properties. One of the defining characteristics of Birmingham’s retail landscape today is the limited availability of high-quality space in prime locations. Much of the vacancy that emerged during the pandemic has been absorbed, particularly in grocery-anchored centers and lifestyle-oriented districts. As a result, retailers looking for space in established corridors often face a fairly competitive leasing environment. Demand remains strong among quick-service restaurants (QSRs), boutique fitness operators, medical and service retailers and fast-casual and high-end dining concepts. Birmingham’s suburban growth corridors and mixed-use environments offer many of these advantages, allowing landlords in the most desirable centers to maintain strong occupancy while gradually pushing rents higher. Lifestyle centers Open-air lifestyle environments continue to set the standard for Birmingham’s retail landscape. The best example…

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Downtown Supply Meets Suburban Stability in Birmingham’s Apartment Market

John Nelson — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:46:00 +0000

Conditions in Birmingham’s apartment market vary by submarket heading into 2026. Several recently completed developments downtown are still stabilizing, creating short-term leasing pressure, while suburban areas across the metro continue to see steady renter demand. Much of the new multifamily development in Birmingham over the past several years has been concentrated in the downtown core. As a result, many of these properties are still working through lease-ups. Marcus & Millichap research projects roughly 670 apartments will be delivered across the metro this year, with vacancy expected to hover around 6.1 percent and average effective rents near $1,302 per month. That level of supply has created temporary softness in parts of the downtown market. Some newly delivered communities are offering concessions during lease-up periods as owners compete for tenants. In certain cases, owners are choosing to refinance rather than bring assets to market while occupancy stabilizes. These conditions are typical when several projects deliver within the same submarket over a short period of time. Outside the city center, Birmingham’s suburban apartment submarkets continue to perform well. Cities including Homewood, Vestavia Hills and Hoover remain among the metro’s most stable suburbs. Shelby County cities, including Pelham and Alabaster, are also seeing consistent…

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Birmingham Industrial: Softness in Distribution, Resurgence in Manufacturing

John Nelson — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 11:17:00 +0000

The Birmingham industrial real estate market has remained relatively resilient compared to many U.S. markets, but recent trends show a shift in demand patterns with recent softness in the distribution sector compared to growing activity from manufacturing users. Overall market fundamentals remain stable. Birmingham continues to benefit from disciplined development and historically tight vacancies. Multi-tenant leased vacancy has generally remained well below national averages, hovering around the 5 percent range in the first half of 2025. Rent growth remains positive at about 3.5 percent annually. Renewing or vacant second-generation rents strategically lag new construction rents by about 15 to 20 percent. The second-generation base rent range is $6 to $7.50 per square foot depending on size, location and quality. Distribution and logistics demand has softened in recent months. Following the surge of warehouse construction and demand during the pandemic, leasing activity slowed by 2025. Approximately 1.3 million square feet of speculative space was delivered locally in 2022 and 2023, with asking rents at about $8 per square foot. The early deliveries benefited while the last projects to deliver were slower to lease as the economy stalled in the post-pandemic Biden era. Presently, 109,000 square feet of first-generation space delivered in…

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Upstate South Carolina Industrial Market Is Reaching an Inflection Point

John Nelson — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 11:43:00 +0000

The Upstate South Carolina industrial market is at an inflection point — an expected condition in a maturing and evolving market. Similar transitions have occurred in prior cycles and have consistently required lease rates to adjust more rapidly than traditional annual market escalations. These adjustments are driven by a combination of factors, including supply and demand dynamics, construction costs, capital markets and broader economic conditions. Currently, construction costs are the primary constraint impacting new deliveries. The post-COVID development surge resulted in over 30 million square feet of speculative industrial construction, a portion of which has yet to be fully absorbed. Today, we are approaching pre-COVID metrics with roughly 6.4 million square feet of speculative inventory (delivered or under construction) and an overall vacancy rate of approximately 7.3 percent. At this level, certain submarkets are at the point where additional speculative inventory will be required to meet tenant demand. The challenge lies in pricing. Much of the existing vacant space was delivered under a materially different construction cost structure, resulting in lease comps that do not reflect today’s construction and land costs. While incremental rent growth has occurred, it has not fully bridged the gap between legacy pricing and the economics…

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