The Weekly Take from CBRE

The best time to make a real estate decision is before you run out of options. Charter Communications (Spectrum) real estate leaders explain how top-down strategic planning, proactive portfolio management and close alignment with business leaders help them manage roughly 3,500 locations. We provide an inside look at managing lease negotiations, supporting employees and keeping millions of customers connected.

Key Takeaways from Charter Communications’ Mike Reid and Carrie Walters:

This episode highlights why mission-critical manufacturing facilities are compelling net lease investments. Longtime industry leaders explore how investors evaluate tenant and location risk, the effects of reshoring, and how a changing interest rate can create opportunities for net lease investors.

Key Takeaways from TPG Net Lease’s Gordon Whiting and CBRE’s Will Pike

·     Manufacturing assets offer exceptionally sticky tenants and are less vulnerable to economic downturns than many other real estate asset classes.

·     U.S. private manufacturing construction spending surged more than 200% between 2021 and 2025.

·     Institutional capital is gravitating to industr...

San Francisco’s office recovery has a striking contradiction: Overall vacancy remains elevated, while competition for the best workplaces is increasingly intense. We look inside the Bay Area real estate market, highlighting AI-driven demand, rising trophy rents and the reinvention of The Spear and 301 Battery.

Key takeaways from Presidio Bay’s Cyrus Sanandaji and CBRE’s Conor Famulener:

·      Flight to experience is replacing flight to quality

·      AI companies are fueling San Francisco's office recovery

·      Creating value by reimagining underutilized office assets

·      Companies are increasingly using workplace design, amenities a...

Bob’s Discount Furniture is charting a path from 200 stores to 500-plus locations by 2035. Two company leaders enlighten us on their market expansion strategy, data-driven site selection, use of logistics and the importance of the customer experience.

Key Takeaways from Bob’s Ryan Schaffer and Christopher Day:

·      Successful expansion balances profitability, brand awareness and network effects.

·      Physical retail works best when stores and logistics scale together, creating density that supports faster delivery and a more productive network.

·      The best sites are chosen using a combination of analytics and local kn...

Devin Chen and Rich Hill dissect Principal Asset Management’s unique “four quadrants” investment strategy. This helps to pinpoint value in sectors like multifamily, data centers and office, as well as in selective new development. They share insights on optimizing income growth and portfolio diversification.

1. Principal’s “four quadrants” framework suggests investors may be thinking too narrowly. Instead of choosing between equity vs. debt or public vs. private, investors should consider that each has a role in an investment portfolio depending on where valuations and the market cycle stand.

2. Where the real opportunitie...

Easterly Government Properties’ Darrell Crate and CBRE’s Marcy Owens Test explain the unique complexities and opportunities when leasing space to the U.S. government. They explore government agencies’ specialized build-out requirements, the market impacts of the federal government’s shift from ownership to strategic leasing, and other topics of interest to commercial real estate investors.

•       The federal government occupies more than 2 billion sq. ft. of real estate.

•       For investors, government leases can offer long-term stability and strong tenant credit.

•       The shift from government ownership to leasing is creating more opportunities for investors.

•...

Verizon's Nicole Nicholson and CBRE's Jamie Hodari discuss how real estate, technology and human connection are strengthening business outcomes and creating competitive advantage in an AI-powered world. Learn from seasoned executives responsible for managing large, complex real estate portfolios.

• Corporate real estate is evolving from a cost center into a strategic tool that supports culture, talent attraction and business performance.​

• Managing complex portfolios means aligning people in different workplaces, retail locations, technical facilities and infrastructure with broader business objectives.​

• Leading at scale requires communicating authentically and adapting your approach to meet the ne...

Ken Rosen has been an astute analyst of the real estate world for 50 years. The highly regarded economist, consultant and educator explains why today’s higher interest rates could force investors back to the fundamentals. He also provides a framework for strategic investment and operational excellence in a rapidly evolving landscape.

·      Higher interest rates mean returns must come from real estate fundamentals, including better asset selection, leasing, operations and placemaking.

·      Rosen notes that capital is a short-term asset, while real estate rewards long-term value creation.

·      Deep repricing, constrained supply and renewed demand can turn...

Shallow-bay industrial real estate is having a moment. Investor Jordan Schnitzer explains how his family firm was early to recognize the opportunity in this specialized corner of the market. He discusses how building deep knowledge of an asset class and local markets and operating with a long-term mindset have helped Schnitzer Properties grow a differentiated industrial platform.

With the H1 2026 data in hand, we can see how commercial real estate is evolving in a market where AI, geopolitical events, capital discipline and a resilient economy are rewriting earlier forecasts. CBRE’s Research leaders discuss the company’s 2026 Midyear Outlook—published today—and examine what’s changed since the start of the year and the implications for occupiers, investors and the broader market.

New York Post columnist Steve Cuozzo has long been a go-to source for the latest buzz about the goings-on in New York City commercial real estate and its iconic restaurant scene. Cuozzo shares five decades of wisdom and insight on all things New York.

·     Steve Cuozzo’s five decades of reporting and editing provide seasoned insights into what makes New York tick.

·     The City’s office rebound is strongest in prime corridors.

·     Restaurants send a powerful signal of a neighborhood’s vitality.

·     Why it takes more than an appetizing menu for a New York...

Retail is thriving and investors are taking a fresh look at existing assets amid high construction costs and shrinking availablility. Greenberg Gibbons’ Eric Walter and CBRE’s Ryan Sciullo discuss where capital is flowing, why the Southeast stands out and how mixed-use retail can create long-term value.

Bob Hart built TruAmerica into a major multifamily owner and operator by betting big on workforce housing. He explains why patience is especially important amid today's high interest rates and evolving capital structures, how he’s tapping into growing demand for workforce and affordable housing and where he's finding opportunity.

·      Workforce housing remains a compelling long-term investment.

·      Strong multifamily growth opportunities are available in Midwest and New York Metro markets.

·      Affordable housing offers sticky demand and government subsidies that support development activity.

·      Strategic partnerships with co-GPs can deliver funding, credibility and operat...

With the H1 2026 data in hand, we can see how commercial real estate is evolving in a market where AI, geopolitical events, capital discipline and a resilient economy are rewriting earlier forecasts. CBRE’s Research leaders discuss the company’s 2026 Midyear Outlook—published today—and examine what’s changed since the start of the year and the implications for occupiers, investors and the broader market.

Winning isn't about persuasion, it's about connection. That's what Esther Choy, CEO of The Leadership Story Lab, believes. In her latest book, Winning Without Persuading, Choy asserts that creating genuine connection can unlock success for leaders and deal makers. Choy makes a case for how strategic silence, creative listening and storytelling can build trust and transform relationships.

Commercial real estate is entering a new era. CBRE Investment Management’s Julie Ingersoll explains why traditional assumptions are being challenged, where investors should focus next and what it takes to create long-term value in today's environment.

How did a property sub-sector built around equipment and vehicle storage garner the interest of  institutional investors? Alterra Property Group’s Leo Addimando and CBRE's Will Pike discuss the evolution and growth of Industrial Outdoor Storage (IOS), current market dynamics and its emergence as an increasingly mainstream institutional asset.

Before they lifted the Cup, here’s how they built an arena worthy of a champion. Raleigh has long been one of the best-performing secondary markets. Its arena district is poised to be the next engine in its growth. Carolina Hurricanes CEO Brian Fork and Greater Raleigh Chamber CEO Adrienne Cole discuss how the Lenovo Center anchors a mixed-use redevelopment on state-owned land—structured through a complex public-private partnership.

In this episode:

Public-Private Partnerships: The Lenovo Center anchors an 80-acre, 15-year, $1 billion arena-district redevelopment via a public-private/ground-lease structure.

Sports venues can be powerful urban growth engines. Entrepreneur Larry Botel, co-owner of the Richmond minor-league baseball team, and CBRE’s Pam Strieffler discuss how mixed-use districts anchored by these venues can transform CBD-adjacent areas. They walk through strategies for attracting outside capital, navigating rising construction costs, drawing year-round visitors, and forging public-private partnerships to create districts that propel economic activity.

Data centers are the hottest asset class in CRE right now. Digital Realty CEO Andy Power and CBRE's Pat Lynch discuss the sector’s dynamics, including power constraints, evolving location strategies and international markets. They also offer key insights from CBRE’s hot-off-the-presses Global Data Center Trends Report 2026.

What do “higher for longer” interest rates mean for investors? CBRE Investment Management’s Achal Gandhi and Rik Eertink break down the practical ways they identify and pursue opportunities in the living, logistics, office and retail sectors across Europe, in both direct and indirect execution formats.

Retail real estate requires an operator's mindset. While attending ICSC Las Vegas, CBRE's Americas Head of Retail Research, Ebere Anokute, spoke with us about the state of the market, challenging conventional wisdom and leveraging robust data to navigate an evolving retail landscape.

Key Takeaways:

·     Investors should prioritize assets in secondary markets with strong population growth and limited new retail supply. These markets have lower vacancy rates and above-average rent growth.

·     Retailers can benefit from repeat foot traffic and community loyalty by locating in centers anchored by grocery stores and in-demand...

Futurist and author Jacob Morgan has a plan for building future-ready organizations: cultivating a thriving, accountable workforce; embracing flexibility; and applying technology to foster resilience and employee growth.

·      Learning and growth are essential to career security, which means investing in training and continual skills-building.

·      The best leaders align support with specific employee needs and career paths rather than enacting broad policies...

Retail real estate’s comeback is undeniable. Investor Adam Ifshin details how open-air retail once again became a preferred institutional asset. Recorded at ICSC Las Vegas, Adam discusses the appeal of secondary markets, value-add strategies and the reasons why real estate operations are now the key drivers of returns.

·     Open-air retail is once again an institutional asset class.

·     Secondary markets offer compelling growth opportunities.

·     Integrating healthcare tenants are a powerful value-add.

·     Skilled operators drive higher returns, especially in tight markets.

·     Limited new supply is driving long-term rent growth.

Private club entrepreneur Tommy Shuey and CBRE’s Kelly Whaley discuss how these venues fill a growing need for personalized service and engagement outside the home or office, while driving value for both property owners and local communities.

·     A new “third place” is emerging: Private clubs are filling a growing desire for curated spaces where people can connect outside the home and workplace—a trend worth watching.

·     Landlords stand to benefit: These venues come with specialized space requirements that can translate into enhanced asset value and differentiated tenant mixes.

·     Investment opportunities are expandin...

Two titans of New York real estate—Larry Silverstein and CBRE’s Mary Ann

Tighe—reveal the vision and partnerships behind the rebuilding of the World

Trade Center and Downtown Manhattan’s transformation into a vibrant 24/7

community. They make the case for art and culture as catalysts for

revitalization, dissect the complexities of public-private collaboration and

offer insights into today’s evolving office market.

LBA Realty's John Garrigan and Eric Brown and CBRE’s Matt Carlson discuss the resilient drivers propelling growth in the San Diego market. They also make a compelling case for value-add office investments, dissect the nuances of industrial capital markets and explore the role of relationships in navigating opportunities.

•      Industrial leasing is gaining momentum.

•      A flight to quality still defines office demand.

•      Smart value‑add strategies can restore positive leverage in certain sectors.

•      In industrial & logistics, infrastructure, power and relationships are key.

•      San Diego’s economic diversity lessens volatility.

Secondary investments and recapitalizations help investors find opportunity in uncertain markets. Brookfield’s Chris Reilly and CBRE's Matt White break down what returns to expect, why disciplined leverage matters and how strong operators are winning right now.

·      Secondary investing lets investors buy into real estate deals midstream, with the benefit of first seeing real performance data.

·      Recapitalizations are increasing as billions of real estate debt is coming due and owners need fresh capital.

·      Keeping debt levels around 60% or less helps investors weather market downturns.

·      Brookfield targets 12%–14% net returns in its value-add funds.

· ...

CBRE Global Head of Research Henry Chin discusses Q1 2026 investment performance and the prospects for the rest of the year. He opines on inflation, interest rates, resilient fundamentals, geopolitical uncertainty and key sectors to watch.

Under Armour’s Kathy Blessington shares the playbook for using real estate to support performance, culture and growth. From headquarters planning to retail and supply chain strategies to community engagement, Kathy explains how intentional, flexible spaces help global companies stay competitive and future-ready.

Retail’s recovery is real—and the best centers are winning through reinvention. Macerich CEO Jackson Hsieh and CBRE Retail Services Lead Todd Caruso discuss what it takes to create premier destinations today: complementary tenant mix, compelling anchors and using experience + technology to drive traffic and performance.

· Retail underwriting now hinges on a small set of KPIs that illuminate performance.

· Trade‑area analytics help focus capital on the right assets.

· Anchor tenant strategies and discipline about occupier selection translate into pricing power.

· Mobile data helps property owners maximize asset performa...

More debt capital is available for commercial real estate investment. CBRE Investment Management’s Ty Gerschick and CBRE’s Tom Burns break down what’s happening across today’s debt markets, how borrowers can navigate a more competitive lending landscape and what capital availability means for real estate investment across property types and investment strategies.

·     The return of banks—particularly regional banks—has expanded financing options and increased competition across the financing landscape.

·     Higher‑for‑longer interest rates are shifting investor focus toward operational performance and sustainable cash flow rather than exit‑driven returns.

·     Le...

Retail real estate has emerged as an increasingly attractive asset class. LBX Investment’s Phil Block and CBRE’s Chris DeCouflé discuss the strategies driving today's returns and where the smart money is headed.

* Operational intensity is unlocking significant value.

* Adding multifamily or event spaces to traditional retail can enhance investment returns.

* Mispriced risk in retail presents opportunities for value-add and core strategies.

* Incorporating grocers strategically can boost open-air center value.

* Technology and data are crucial for underwriting retail real estate investments.

How did the largest office-to-residential conversion come about? Brian Steinwurtzel of GFP Real Estate offers an inside look at how lower Manhattan’s 25 Water Street, a struggling office tower that was transformed into more than 1,300 apartments. He discusses what this landmark project signals for urban resilience.

· The right acquisition price and bold design and amenity choices can turn challenged office assets into world‑class residential properties.

· Tax incentives can often be the deciding factor in whether a conversion is viable.

· Fast execution is essential for controlling risks and costs in today’s ma...

Two of the parking industry’s most influential leaders— LAZ Parking’s Alan Lazowski and Parkway Corporation’s Rob Zuritzky—explore parking’s role as critical infrastructure, a cash-flow-generating asset and a platform for EVs, autonomous vehicles and urban mobility innovation.

* Parking is vital urban infrastructure, supporting economic growth.

* Technology, like EV charging, revolutionizes parking operations.

* Parking assets can deliver stable cash flow and attractive investment returns.

* Parking structures of the future will become essential urban mobility hubs.

On this episode, we feature a wide-ranging discussion with Henry Chin, CBRE’s Global Head of Research—recorded at CBRE’s annual Capital Markets Symposium—where we explore global capital flows, the forces shaping investment strategies and why 2026 may be a compelling vintage for real estate investment.

* 2026 offers prime investment opportunities in U.S. real estate.

* Income growth, not cap rates, will drive future real estate returns.

* Value-add industrial assets with access to power are positioned for strong returns.

* Amenity-rich, well-located office space should continue to outperform.

* Reki...

Link Logistics’ Luke Petherbridge and CBRE’s John Morris dissect the powerful forces shaping industrial & logistics real estate. They explore continued e-commerce acceleration, the transformative impact of AI, driverless trucks, evolving supply chains, changing warehouse standards and much more.

* Industrial real estate had its second-best leasing year ever in 2025.

* New demand is being spurred by e-commerce and reindustrialization.

* Prime industrial sites are being developed for data center use, contributing to a scarcity of modern warehouse facilities.

* AI and automation transform operational efficiency and future warehouse design.

* Driv...

Portugal has become an unexpected real estate powerhouse in Europe. Arrow Global’s John Calvao and CBRE's Francisco Horta e Costa discuss the revival of Portugal’s economy, surging investment in hospitality, logistics, data centers and student housing, the resilient Lisbon and Porto office markets and ways to address a chronic housing shortage.

* Portugal's economic turnaround has fueled robust real estate opportunities.

* Hospitality and logistics lead growth, attracting global capital.

* Emerging sectors like data centers and student housing are seeing outsized growth.

* Multifamily housing faces persistent supply challenges.

AI’s massive investment surge is reshaping commercial real estate. Chemonics' Victoria Slivkoff and CBRE's Colin Yasukochi discuss AI's influence on tech talent and its role in revitalizing key office markets and driving physical infrastructure needs.

* AI drives massive investment into data centers and physical infrastructure.

* San Francisco's office market is experiencing an AI-driven turnaround.

* The AI revolution is creating specialized talent hubs and increasing demand for sustainable energy.

* AI will boost productivity and necessitate workforce adaptation.

Raleigh has long been one of the best-performing secondary markets. Its arena district is poised to be the next engine in its growth. Carolina Hurricanes CEO Brian Fork and Greater Raleigh Chamber CEO Adrienne Cole discuss how the Lenovo Center anchors a mixed-use redevelopment on state-owned land—structured through a complex public-private partnership.

Public-Private Partnerships: The Lenovo Center anchors an 80-acre, 15-year, $1 billion arena-district redevelopment via a public-private/ground-lease structure.

Talent, Talent, Talent: Raleigh’s three tier-one research universities and multi-node job base keep attracting talent, companies and capital.

By the...