By Ryan McCullough, partner, managing director, Partners Real Estate Over the last decade, medical office buildings (MOBs) have become one of the most in-demand asset classes in commercial real estate. This shift did not happen by chance. Two major changes in the broader real estate market reshaped investors’ priorities and positioned medical office as a durable, long-term investment vehicle. The first was the rise of e-commerce. As consumers moved toward online shopping and same-day delivery, traditional retail properties faced elevated pressure. Investors began searching for asset types with consistent demand and limited exposure to technological disruption. As a result, MOBs, anchored by in-person healthcare delivery, benefited directly from this shift. The second was the COVID-19 pandemic. While retail and hospitality experienced sharp declines, MOBs proved far more resilient. Healthcare services remained essential, patient volumes recovered quickly and medical tenants continued operating. This period reinforced the reputation of MOBs as a defensive investment with stable demand through economic cycles. That surge in investor interest, however, has also led to confusion and, in some cases, unnecessary risk. Understanding the Diversity of Healthcare Assets As a commercial investment, healthcare is not a single, uniform product type. Properties vary widely in use, cost, complexity …
