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There is a decidedly mixed outlook for commercial real estate markets. In isolation, the lower interest rates will be welcomed. More transactions will be able to move forward, and more loans will be refinanced. That means more deal activity for brokers, investors, and lenders. That’s all good. However, slower economic and job growth reduces growth in net operating income. Tenant demand may fall as job growth moderates, affecting space absorption, occupancy, and rent growth. And weakening fundamentals also constrain demand for CRE assets and limit price appreciation. This is the yin and the yang of falling interest rates.
Real estate capital markets are recovering. The Fed’s new direction and clear guidance on future moves are aiding in the price discovery needed to reduce bid-ask spreads between buyers and sellers. Plus, the lower debt costs are improving deal economics for more projects. Together, these factors will encourage more investors and developers to move off the sidelines and transact, whether to buy, sell, lend, borrow, or refinance. However, in many markets, development still seems further off.
The pandemic triggered profound shifts in how tenants use different types of space: how much, where, and what kind. The changes began with the lockdown as many sectors of the economy were forced to adapt to new ways of operating, and many of those adaptations have endured in some form. By now, these shifts have either largely played out, or their direction is reasonably foreseeable. Despite the broad demand recovery, vacancy rates are rising across many property types as surging supply outpaces absorption in many markets. All this new construction is swinging the power pendulum to the tenants.
As climate change intensifies, its impact on the real estate industry is becoming more pronounced, extending beyond extreme heat to include risks like flooding, cold snaps, and wildfires. Southern regions, historically unaccustomed to severe cold, are facing new threats, with buildings and energy grids ill-equipped to handle the damage and power outages caused by plunging temperatures. At the same time, migration patterns from the Frost Belt to the Sun Belt are moderating, with climate risks increasingly influencing homebuyers' decisions alongside affordability and quality of life. Nearly half of homes nationwide are at risk from at least one type of severe climate event, making insurance harder to obtain. In response, real estate firms are incorporating climate risk into their decision-making and risk assessments, preparing for more frequent shifts in market dynamics and infrastructure resilience.
Housing affordability is no longer confined to large coastal cities. The multifamily market in 2025 will be shaped by the issue of supply, with a wave of apartment deliveries peaking in 2024 and concerns about a supply glut in high-growth Sunbelt markets. However, industry specialists anticipate that demand will remain strong due to job growth, favorable demographics and immigration. Rent growth has slowed in high-supply markets but remains positive in regions with limited new construction. An increasing number of renters are cost-burdened, underscoring the need for more market-rate and affordable housing through new policies and streamlined development.

Property Type Outlook

Stability has returned to property markets, and investors are now addressing cyclical issues like oversupply and adapting to changing consumer and tenant preferences. One exception is the rise in demand for data centers which is soaring due to the widespread growth of artificial intelligence, while other niche property types are also seeing strong growth. 

Learn more about the 5 Emerging Property Trends that we expect for 2025 and beyond: 

  • Industrial Smart Growth: The next stage of tactical network optimization
  • Data Centers: Navigating power and constraints and skyrocketing demand
  • Senior Housing: Building new muscles
  • Retail Resilience: Weathering every storm
  • Innovating the Suburbs: Is Life Sciences’ growth sustainable? 

Markets to Watch 

Geographic preferences are changing even if many of the broad trends have continued from recent years. Sun Belt markets still rule the rankings, particularly the largest Super Sun Belt metro areas, but some formerly high-flying smaller Magnet markets are losing altitude. Meanwhile, many Snow Belt markets are getting another look from investors and are climbing the rankings. Still, the overall market outlook remains tepid. Explore in-depth case studies on the top 5 markets, Dallas, Miami, Houston, Tampa/St. Petersburg, and Nashville, as well as thinks year’s movers and shakers, Manhattan, Detroit, Columbus, Charleston, and New Orleans.

Acerca de Tendencias emergentes en Real Estate®

Tendencias emergentes in Real Estate® es una de las perspectivas anuales de la industria más respetadas para la industria de bienes raíces y uso de la tierra, publicada conjuntamente por PwC y Instituto del Suelo Urbano. Al incorporar entrevistas y respuestas a encuestas de varios cientos de profesionales de la industria, el informe proporciona una perspectiva detallada por región sobre la inversión inmobiliaria, las tendencias de desarrollo y Mercados de capitales. El informe se produce en cuatro versiones: América, Asia Pacífico, Europa y Global. Todos los informes Tendencias emergentes in Real Estate® publicados desde 2003 están disponibles en Knowledge Finder.

ULI y PWC

Tendencias emergentes in Real Estate® está patrocinado conjuntamente por Instituto del Suelo Urbano y PwC. Desde 2003, Instituto del Suelo Urbano y PwC han colaborado para producir uno de los informes de la industria inmobiliaria y de uso de la tierra más completos. PwC es una red global de firmas en 158 países con más de 236,000 personas que están comprometidas a brindar calidad en servicios de aseguramiento, asesoría e impuestos. Obtenga más información sobre PwC en pwc.com .

 

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