Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Weekly Take from CBRE

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 and hospitality to attract and retain top talent

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 knowledge, pairing customer segmentation data with tours of local markets.

·      Proximity to competitor stores can be beneficial when retailers position and price their products to win over consumers who comparison shop.

·      Flexible store formats expand real estate options, helping retailers adapt to the physical/digital shopping experience and changing suburban, urban and mixed-use environments.

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 opportunities are: Principal believes this cycle will reward asset selection, not broad market exposure.

3. Demand and pricing power vary across multifamily sectors: Principal is keen on opportunities in manufactured housing and other aspects of residential real estate.

4. Data centers remain compelling, but execution risk is rising. Demand looks durable, but supply is increasingly influenced by external variables like local community engagement, power and water availability, etc.

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.

•       Mission-critical facilities often require specialized and costly buildouts.

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 needs of disparate employee populations.​

• Spontaneous workplace moments, from coffee to casual meal conversations, help draw people back to the office.​

• As AI reshapes business, elements of human judgment, connection and community remain central to real estate strategy.

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 challenged markets like San Francisco into compelling opportunities.

·      Office-to-residential conversions may become a bigger opportunity as cities look for ways to address housing shortages.

·      Better data can improve decision-making, but it can’t replace human judgment, common sense and a real, experience-driven understanding of market conditions.

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.

• Demand for shallow-bay industrial space has increased as more small and mid-sized businesses need flexible facilities to store, distribute and deliver goods.
• Schnitzer Properties leaned into shallow-bay industrial early because it rewards hands-on operators with local market knowledge, tenant relationships and disciplined execution.
• The company’s long-term ownership model supports upfront investment in property quality, landscaping and “sense of arrival,” with the aim of retaining tenants and protecting asset performance.
• With cap-rate compression unlikely to drive returns, Schnitzer argues that operational expertise and niche specialization are becoming more essential.

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.

• Commercial real estate conditions have shifted since the January outlook, with geopolitical uncertainty, capital constraints and a resilient consumer shaping the market at midyear.
• Limited new supply is becoming an increasing theme across property sectors, creating a new dynamic for occupiers and investors.
• Quality is increasingly the defining characteristic of successful real estate assets.
• AI is influencing real estate demand beyond data centers, with implications for tech markets, office footprints, infrastructure needs and future property use.

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 City restaurant to flourish.

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.

• Retail's resurgence is particularly marked in Southeast markets.
• Mixed-use development plus e-commerce can transform the retail landscape.
• Data-driven underwriting can improve cash flows.
• Limited supply creates strategic investment opportunities.

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 operational alliances.

·      Patience and disciplined execution matter more in today's market cycle.

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.

• Commercial real estate conditions have shifted since the January outlook, with geopolitical uncertainty, capital constraints and a resilient consumer shaping the market at midyear.
• Limited new supply is becoming an increasing theme across property sectors, creating a new dynamic for occupiers and investors.
• Quality is increasingly the defining characteristic of successful real estate assets.
• AI is influencing real estate demand beyond data centers, with implications for tech markets, office footprints, infrastructure needs and future property use.
• Investors are placing greater emphasis on income returns, lease durability, tenant credit and market selection.

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.

• Shift your focus from self to understanding others for stronger business outcomes.
• Embrace listening to uncover unspoken needs and build trust.
• Utilize strategic silence and curiosity to enhance communication and influence.
• Develop your authentic voice; avoid AI-generated content for genuine connection.

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.

• IOS plays a key role in supporting logistics, infrastructure, construction and services businesses.
• Location is central to IOS value as users depend on proximity to ports, interstate highways, intermodal facilities, airports and population centers.
• Zoning restrictions limit IOS supply growth.
• Institutional capital increasingly views IOS as a traditional real estate asset, narrowing the valuation gap with other industrial properties.
• Tailwinds like technology and digital infrastructure-driven demand intensify competition for well-located, properly zoned IOS sites.

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.

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

By the Numbers: Strong population growth (2.2 million to 2.6 million by 2027) plus low cost-of-living (around 3% below national average) signal opportunity for investors.

Local Color: Lenovo Center preserves a tailgating culture while adding retail, restaurants, structured parking and year-round activation.

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.

• Sports venues can anchor mixed-use developments, driving urban revitalization.
• Public-private partnerships and tax incentives are essential for stadium projects.
• Year-round venue activation draws daily traffic, crucial for surrounding businesses and real estate.
• Office space is vital for mixed-use success, bringing steady economic activity.
• Nearby universities can fuel market growth and attract outside investment.

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.

• AI demand fuels near-zero data center vacancy rates in some key markets.
• Power availability and permitting slow new data center development.
• Asia and Southern Europe are seeing data center expansion.
• Community engagement can facilitate data center growth.

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.

• The latest market data from Europe reveals that NOI growth remains the primary driver of investment performance.
• A K-shaped economic recovery is creating opportunities in both necessity-based and luxury real estate.
• Secondary investment opportunities in Europe offer investors access to assets at a discount and positive yield spreads.
• Asset operations are critical for enhancing value.
• A focus on niche sectors—student housing, healthcare and industrial outdoor storage—enables investors to capitalize on current demand and demographic trends.

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 service tenants.

·     E-commerce accounts for about 16% of total retail sales. This requires retailers to balance brick-and-mortar and digital strategies to sustain growth.

·     Grocery-anchored retail remains a compelling long-term investment, with stable cap rates and strong demand from other tenants.

·     Service-oriented tenants—such as fitness, healthcare and personal care—are expanding, offering investors attractive income streams.

·     Advanced analytics and local market data can pinpoint emerging opportunities and mitigate risks in a rapidly evolving retail landscape.

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.

• Future-ready organizations track change early, plan proactively and communicate and act with clarity.
• Employee experience can be enhanced by setting clear expectations, providing consistent support and candidly communicating performance standards and growth paths.

·      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.

·      AI creates value when it helps people spend more time on high-impact work that requires judgment, creativity and communication.

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 expanding: “Clubonomics” is carving out a distinct niche, especially in markets undergoing transformation and reinvention.

·     Dallas offers a blueprint: The city's embrace of upscale amenities outside the traditional downtown illustrates how this trend could impact urban real estate.

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.

·      Hands-on operating expertise matters more than financial engineering.

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.

• Corporate real estate can be a powerful strategic asset, driving productivity, collaboration and business performance.
• Modern workplaces are shifting away from individual workstations to collaborative, brand-forward environments that better support how teams work today.
• A well-designed headquarters can support innovation, operations, sustainability and community engagement.
• Large, global portfolios require intentional design that balances brand consistency with flexibility across offices, retail and logistics space.
• Building flexibility into real estate portfolios allows companies to adapt more easily to hybrid work, new technologies and evolving business needs.

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 performance.

· Leasing velocity drives NOI growth.

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.

·     Lenders are underwriting selectively, with scrutiny of debt coverage, leverage, and asset fundamentals.

·     Capital is flowing back into debt funds, CMBS and preferred equity, though competition remains intense.

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 market.

· Office-to-residential conversions are highly bespoke, where building bones matter more than any rule-of-thumb formula.

· Great residential conversions are redefining downtowns, but their future hinges on policy, pricing and how the next market cycle unfolds.

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.

* Rekindled global capital inflows could boost U.S. real estate transaction volume.

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.

* Driverless trucks will eventually alter supply chain networks and spatial economics.

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.

* The Lisbon and Porto office markets are exhibiting strong performance.

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 Numbers: Strong population growth (2.2 million to 2.6 million by 2027) plus low cost-of-living (around 3% below national average) signal opportunity for investors.

Local Color: Lenovo Center preserves a tailgating culture while adding retail, restaurants, structured parking and year-round activation.

Food halls are no longer just a trend—they are a high-impact amenity for improving a property’s dwell time, leasing velocity and NOI. Recorded at Central Perk in Times Square, a quartet of experts from Colicchio Consulting and CBRE explain how the best food halls prioritize operations and programming, new beverage and evening strategies, the lowdown on operator selection and deal structures that offer better risk-sharing and returns.

- Food halls aren’t food courts: Independent concepts + community + beverage drive performance.

- Hybrid work has changed the operating model: Fewer office days demand longer-hour, programming-led models.

- Conversions can happen everywhere: Converting buildings to their highest and best use can work for both offices and food halls, especially in suburban markets.

- Alignment between operators and landlords: Vendor stall flexibility and percentage-rent leases can benefit operators and investors.

- Market snapshot: Colicchio Consulting believes the sweet spot of sizing is around 10,000–15,000 sq. ft. with average buildout costs around $400/sq. ft., depending on the market.

AI is reshaping the business landscape, including commercial real estate. Data scientist and author Sandy Pentland and CBRE’s Sandeep Davé discuss how the intersection of emerging technologies and human insight is driving better decision-making for investors, occupiers and building operators.

• Commercial Real Estate & AI: For occupiers, AI can create significant operating efficiencies and enhance the workplace experience; for investors, increased efficiency can boost asset values.
• People and Technology: AI is enhancing—not replacing—human decision‑making across organizations.
• Data Quality: Good data management is the foundation for applying AI most impactfully.
• Productivity: Every organization is balancing innovation and productivity gains with responsible deployment that considers privacy, governance and human‑in‑the‑loop practices
• Long-term Outlook: AI is broadening visibility across markets, helping to foresee unanticipated or exogenous events and surfacing new ideas.

Recorded at the CBRE Women’s Network Power of WE conference, this episode offers a rapid-fire, insights-rich tour of major U.S. commercial real estate markets. Our subject-matter experts provide inside views of how different regions are navigating supply, demand and economic forces—from industrial and logistics to multifamily, office and retail—and insights on where investors and occupiers may find value in 2026.

• National CRE outlook, including signs of asset repricing stabilization, improving liquidity and transactions momentum. 
• Industrial dynamics in Southern California, from manufacturing fundamentals and port-driven demand to pockets of strength and ongoing vacancy challenges. 
• Sector trends, including data centers, alternative assets, big‑box scarcity, rent trends, and how corporate occupiers are re‑entering the market. 
• Multifamily performance across gateways, the Sun Belt and the Midwest, driven by slowing construction cycles, demographic patterns and evolving investor interest. 
• Emerging and opportunity markets, from South Carolina’s growth to resurgent metros like San Francisco, Seattle, Phoenix and smaller high-growth cities such as Boise. 

PwC’s Karl Russo and CBRE’s Henry Chin share their outlook for the U.S. economy and commercial real estate in 2026, exploring opportunities and risks to growth.

Key Takeaways:

• The U.S. economy should remain resilient in 2026.
• While the labor market finds a new equilibrium, many companies are racing to upskill and retain talent as they adopt AI processes.
• Reshoring and infrastructure improvements are expected to drive industrial growth in secondary markets.
• Data centers are positioned as a leading sector amid structural undersupply.

Alex Mehran Jr., CEO of a third-generation family developer, walks us through the transformation of Bishop Ranch—a master-planned community in San Ramon, CA. Mehran shares valuable lessons on reinventing a suburban office park into a vibrant, mixed-use destination.

• Mixed-use suburban developments are gaining strong appeal.
• ·      Amenity-rich office space drives tenant demand and retention.
• ·      Short-term, flexible leases can dovetail well with corporate occupier’s needs.
• ·      Residential conversions of obsolete suburban office parks can enhance long-term asset value.
• ·      Planned communities thrive with diverse housing and retail integration.

 Alison Fragale, author of the provactively titled “Likeable Bad Ass," breaks down the science of status—offering practical advice on how leaders can use warmth and competence to drive respect and gain greater influence.

Key Takeaways:

1.        Status—being respected and regarded—leads to influence, access to resources, and career advancement.

2.        People judge quickly, and have high regard for those who are well-intentioned and competent.

3.        Hard work needs to be seen to ensure effort is valued.

4.        You can leverage “swing thoughts” to improve your career. [SI1] 

 [SI1]Do not really understand this. Remind me what “swing thoughts” are

Wharton organizational psychologist and New York Times-bestselling author Adam Grant shares insights on making better business decisions, fostering innovation and how your personal "challenge network” can lead to superior products and delight your customers.

1.    Encourage[SI1]  Humor and Humility: They help maintain a flexible and open-minded approach, making it easier to rethink and adapt.

2.    Have Pre-Mortems: Discuss as many potential failures as possible before launching. That way you can prevent or know how to handle problems when they occur.

3.    Eschew Best Practices for Better Practices: “Best Practices” implies there’s only one right way, while seeking “Better Practices” encourages people to innovate and try new things.

4.    Build a Challenge Network: Maintain a group of trusted critics who provide truly honest feedback to improve your decision-making.

5.    Reward Speaking Truth to Power: Encourage employees to ask questions, suggest improvements and challenge outdated ideas.

 [SI1]Please run these by Adam

Jamie Hodari, CBRE's CEO of Building Operations & Experience, spotlights where he sees the biggest opportunity across commercial real estate: workplace experience. He discusses how a company’s space can attract tenants and enhance the employee experience, enriching people’s lives and increasing business effectiveness.

• Everything is operational real estate: Real estate companies are evolving from asset focused businesses to operating platforms, requiring high-quality management relentlessly focused on workplace experience.
• AI and data utilization are no longer nice-to-haves: Using AI to manage and interpret data is crucial for optimizing building operations.
• Markets are adapting to accommodate hybrid work models with flexible office usage: Urban markets especially put significant emphasis on making downtown areas vibrant.
• Finance institutions are catching up: The finance industry must recognize and adapt to the operational nature of modern real estate.
• Flight-to-quality is expanding: The focus for landlords and occupiers will increasingly be on creating spaces that people find enriching and valuable, not just functional.

J.P. Morgan Asset Management’s Josh Myerberg breaks down the 2026 real estate outlook, why quality assets and operational excellence matter, and where savvy investors are finding opportunity now. Don’t miss these timely insights from one of the industry’s top portfolio strategists.

• J.P. Morgan Asset Management is optimistic about 2026, driven by expectations of lower interest rates and resilient real estate fundamentals.
• Quality matters more than ever—top-performing assets and strong operators are expected to outperform, while tertiary markets and lower-tier properties carry greater risks.
• Retail real estate has made a strong comeback, and high-quality office space is showing positive momentum, especially in major markets like San Francisco and New York.
• Operational excellence and risk management—including attention to emerging risks—are critical for long-term portfolio success.
• Diversification remains key: even the best assets need to fit together strategically to reduce volatility and capture growth opportunities.

Shorenstein CEO Brandon Shorenstein and CBRE’s Patrick Gildea discuss why the office market is poised for a comeback. Hear what they have to say about risk-adjusted returns, property conversions, the importance of workplace amenities and more.

Key takeaways on office investing:

Office market is recovering: Investment activity in the office sector is rebounding with more bidders and increased debt availability.

Investment strategies have shifted: Investors are focused on cash flow and downside protection, with cash-on-cash yields reaching 8%–15%.

Micro-market dynamics are key amid a flight to quality: Prime assets in live-work-play submarkets are outperforming, while obsolete buildings face demolition or conversion, reducing overall supply.

Conversions are limited: Selective repositioning is critical, as only a small percentage of office buildings are structurally viable for residential or hotel conversions.

Occupier priorities have changed: Tenants now prioritize wellness, sustainability and experiential amenities, driving demand for high-quality spaces.

Clarion’s Brent Jenkins and CBRE’s Zaahir Syed discuss how capital raising for real estate is rapidly evolving. They provide insights on fund development, non-traded REITs, emerging opportunities in private wealth markets and more.

Key takeaways on raising and deploying capital:

• Sourcing real estate capital is diversifying, with growing emphasis on private wealth and new opportunities to tap into the defined-contribution (DC) market.
• Accessing retail capital and 401k plans through DC channels is potentially a major area of growth, requiring new product structures and daily liquidity solutions.
• Fund managers must strategically align vehicle structures with investor objectives and market conditions for both short- and long-term capital needs.

Mortenson’s Maja Rosenquist and CBRE’s Gordon Dolven examine one of real estate’s most dynamic sectors. They discuss how AI’s growth has accelerated data center development, how site-selection strategies are evolving and the challenges posed by power constraints.