On the heels of launching our third annual Building CRE 2025 report, we dive into the overall landscape of today’s CRE marketing (get a copy here!). That was an overview hot take in that report to what we have supplied here, a more thorough blog post for you to dig deeper on.
The landscape we're navigating here in late 2025, leading us into 2026 is about as straightforward as a plate of spaghetti. But here's the thing about complexity: it creates massive opportunities for those equipped to cut through it.
Remember that recovery everyone was banking on for 2025? Yeah, it got a rain check. Macroeconomic volatility and policy uncertainty basically hit the pause button, leaving us in this weird state of cautious optimism, like we're all at a party waiting for the good music to start. Interest rates are still elevated, down from their peak, sure, but high enough to make every deal feel like a high-wire act. Inflation continues to run hotter than historical norms, throwing another wrench into underwriting and valuations.
Yet here's the kicker: despite these headwinds, more than three-quarters of global CRE leaders are planning to increase their investment levels over the next 12-18 months. That's not blind optimism or wishful thinking it’s strategic positioning. The smart money knows that uncertainty isn't just a challenge, it's fertile ground for those with the right tools and expertise.
Transaction volumes are finally showing a pulse after a brutal 2024. Global investment volume declines have been shrinking for six consecutive quarters, not exactly popping champagne territory, but definitely movement in the right direction. That pricing reset everyone was holding their breath for? It's largely happened. The early-mover advantage is fading as investment activity picks up steam, which means we're shifting from opportunistic plays to execution excellence.
Here's where it gets juicy: alternative capital sources, private credit and debt funds, have muscled their way into the spotlight as traditional lenders play it safe. Institutional investors are getting pickier than ever, zeroing in on quality assets with rock-solid fundamentals. The spray-and-pray investment approach is dead and buried. Today's market rewards surgical precision.
Remember when "proptech" was just a buzzword that made you sound smart at conferences? Ancient history. Technology integration has rocketed from "maybe we should look into that" to "implement or die." Consider this: Most Brokers are actively looking to increase their investments in technology over the coming years. That's not a trend—that's a seismic shift.
AI has graduated from cool party trick to business essential. Firms that are embracing AI now are building what industry experts call an "insurmountable competitive advantage" in everything from predictive operations to valuation. But—and this is a big but—the CRE sector is experiencing some severe growing pains with AI integration. It's not enough to have the tech; you need to implement it in ways that actually move the needle.
Making decisions based on data isn't just a nice-to-have; it's absolutely essential. The brokers closing deals aren't just the ones with the best golf game anymore; they're the ones with the best data, delivered at the right moment, in the right context. Integration between platforms (CRM, property data, and financial modeling) has become the holy grail. Why? Data silos are more than just annoying - they're deal killers.
Not all property types are created equal in this market; some are thriving while others are just surviving:
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