Insights
KW® reports YTD systemwide commercial volume of $9.4 billion
KW-affiliated brokerages generated $9.4 billion in commercial transaction volume through August 2026, a 12.3% increase over last year. Overall commercial gross commission income rose 8.1%.
Source: CRE Daily
September 2026 Commercial Real Estate Market Insights Report
Economic conditions held broadly steady in July. Hiring continued to slow, although unemployment eased to 4.1%. Inflation also moderated further to 3.4%, while the economy continued to grow at a modest pace. Real GDP increased at a 1.5% annual rate in the second quarter, with stronger consumer spending. Interest rates remained a challenge for commercial real estate.
Source: NAR – National Association of REALTORS®.
Industrial Demand Accelerating Through Remainder of 2026
CREDA’s latest Industrial Space Demand Forecast esimates 150 million square feet of industrial net absorption in the second half of 2026 building on the 114 million square feet absorbed during the first six months of the year. Elevated interest rates and inflation remain headwinds.
Source: CREDA – Commercial Real Estate Development Association
The Cost of Convenience to Shoppers and How Retailers Can Adapt
Shoppers evaluate multiple dimensions: total price at checkout, arrival time, fit and fulfillment uncertainty, return effort and store access. Ninety percent of consumers would accept slower shipping to save money, but tolerance has limits: the median maximum wait for standard free delivery is five days, and 80% set a maximum of seven days or fewer.
Source: ICSC – International Council of Shopping Centers
Retail Pulls Ahead in an Increasingly Uneven CRE Recovery
Retail is leading an increasingly uneven commercial real estate recovery as performance diverges by property sector, asset quality and local supply conditions.
More than 90% of surveyed retail markets are in recovery or expansion, according to Integra Realty Resources’ 2026 Mid-Year Viewpoint Report.
Source: GlobeSt
Placer.ai July 2026 Office Index: Steady in the Summer Heat
The Placer.ai Nationwide Office Building Index: The office building index analyzes foot traffic data from some 1,300 top-tier office buildings across the country, including newer buildings that were at least partially leased from the end of 2019. It only includes commercial office buildings, and commercial office buildings with retail offerings on the first floor.
Source: Placer.ai
CRE Investment Volume Rises 18% as Capital Broadens in Early 2026
Commercial real estate investment activity is showing renewed momentum in early 2026, with deal volume rising as capital begins to move more broadly across property types and transaction structures. The article points to improving investor confidence, even as the market continues to navigate pricing, debt, and economic uncertainty.
Source: GlobeSt
Real Estate Property Type Outlook 2026
The 2026 property outlook shows that investors are becoming more selective, with stronger interest in asset classes supported by durable demand, limited supply, and long-term demographic or technology-driven growth.
Source: PwC / Urban Land Institute — Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2026
Matrix Multifamily National Outlook — Winter 2026
Yardi Matrix’s 2026 multifamily outlook describes a market being tested by competing forces: steady investor and lender interest on one side, and slower rent growth, softer job growth, and ongoing supply pressure on the other. The report points to a more uneven year ahead, where market performance will depend heavily on local supply pipelines, absorption, renter demand, and economic momentum.
Source: Yardi Matrix
2026 Top Ten Issues Affecting Real Estate®
The Counselors of Real Estate® identifies the top issues expected to impact real estate in 2026, including fiscal and monetary policy, portfolio risk, capital flows, technology and AI, valuation, housing attainability, and demographic shifts. The report highlights that while fundamentals remain stable in many sectors.
Source: The Counselors of Real Estate®