CBRE Survey Shows Investors Increasing Capital Allocation Into Commercial Real Estate for 2026
Commercial real estate investors are gearing up for a transformative year, according to the newly released
2026 North America Investor Intentions Survey from
CBRE.
With stabilizing pricing expectations, improving fundamentals, and renewed optimism around cooling debt costs,
substantial capital injections are expected to reshape the U.S. commercial real estate landscape in 2026.
A remarkable 95 percent of investors plan to either increase their purchasing activity or at minimum match last year’s volume.
More notably, 55 percent intend to increase overall capital allocation—a strong jump and a clear indicator of rising confidence.
“Investors are approaching 2026 with optimism…”
“Despite political and economic uncertainties, stabilizing debt costs and attractive pricing entry points are driving a strong
sense of opportunity,” said Tommy Lee, President and Co‑Head of Capital Markets, U.S. & Canada, for CBRE.
Top Markets Investors Are Targeting in 2026
Dallas continues to dominate as the most attractive U.S. market for the fifth consecutive year.
Cities like Atlanta and San Francisco follow closely behind.
New high‑growth entries—including Charlotte, Nashville, Tampa, and Seattle—highlight growing demand in both emerging regions
and discounted major metros.
What Property Types Are Investors Prioritizing?
Multifamily leads the pack, targeted by 74 percent of U.S. investors.
Industrial and logistics assets follow with 37 percent, then retail at 27 percent, and office at 16 percent.
Across all categories, top‑tier assets remain the core focus.
Alternative asset categories—including self‑storage, land, industrial outdoor storage, cold storage, and healthcare—are gaining interest,
though only 11 percent of investors plan to pursue them actively this year.
Investor Strategy: Moderate Risk, Higher Returns
Value‑add and core‑plus strategies continue to grow in popularity as investors lean toward balanced risk‑to‑reward profiles.
While core strategies are improving modestly, opportunistic and distressed strategies have softened.
Debt & Financing: Investors Brace for Market Shifts
Over 70 percent of investors expect to maintain their current debt‑to‑equity ratios. Nearly half are willing to endure a
year of negative leverage—demonstrating confidence in long‑term asset performance.
Key concerns include fluctuating interest rates and shrinking refinance loan sizes due to adjusted valuations.
Even so, direct real estate equity remains the favored investment vehicle, with continued interest in mezzanine financing,
mortgage lending, and secured loan strategies.
Thinking About Breaking Into Real Estate?
With investor enthusiasm rising, opportunities across commercial and residential real estate are expanding rapidly.
If you’re preparing to enter the field or elevate your credentials, Cameron Academy offers flexible, industry‑leading licensing education
across Florida and beyond. Explore online courses in real estate, mortgage, insurance, finance, and more at
CameronAcademy.com.
More Articles
Getting licensed or staying ahead in your career can be a journey—but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Grab your favorite coffee or tea, take a moment to relax, and browse through our articles. Whether you’re just starting out or renewing your expertise, we’ve got tips, insights, and advice to keep you moving forward. Here’s to your success—one sip and one step at a time!
Lofty has launched the industry’s first Agentic AI Operating System, a breakthrough platform that doesn’t just follow commands—it plans, executes, evaluates, and adapts entire workflows on its own. Designed specifically for real estate professionals, the system acts like an AI “orchestra,” coordinating specialized agents for lead qualification, marketing, SEO, transaction management, website creation, and more. With leaders calling this a major leap beyond traditional tools, Lofty AOS signals a new era where agents can focus on relationships and closings while AI handles the heavy lifting.
Florida’s insurance landscape is finally showing signs of stability as private insurers return and Citizens Property Insurance drops below 400,000 policies. Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky says reforms are working, but homeowners may not feel relief yet as inflation and rebuilding costs keep premiums high. With transparency improvements, mitigation credits, and new AI regulations on the horizon, Florida aims to avoid another insurance crisis while keeping the market competitive and consumer‑friendly.
Mortgage rates just hit their lowest point since 2022, closing January at 6.18% and giving buyers and industry professionals a rare moment of relief. But while the Federal Reserve continues to pause rate hikes, economists warn that significant declines are unlikely. Most forecasts show rates hovering near 6% through 2026, with political uncertainty and inflation keeping markets volatile. For now, stability may be the best we get — and even that could be temporary.
Propy, a fast-growing real estate tech firm blending AI automation with blockchain-backed transaction systems, has secured a major $100 million credit facility to accelerate nationwide title company consolidation. The funding aims to modernize the traditionally slow, paper-heavy closing process, offering real estate professionals a faster, more secure, and more transparent experience. As automation reshapes the industry, staying educated on emerging technology will be essential for agents, brokers, mortgage professionals, and investors looking to stay competitive.
Escrow payments in Florida have jumped an astonishing 70% since 2019, far outpacing the national average and now consuming nearly 38% of a typical monthly mortgage payment. Surging insurance premiums and rising property taxes are driving the increase, reshaping affordability for homeowners and pricing out many would‑be buyers.
After losing their Altadena home in the LA wildfires, Jessica and Matt Conkle expected State Farm to help them rebuild. Instead, they faced months of delays, low valuations, and stalled claims — a struggle shared by nearly 80 percent of wildfire survivors. As insurers pull out of high‑risk areas and premiums soar, the crisis is reshaping homeownership, tightening mortgage approvals, and straining government safety nets. What’s happening in California is rapidly becoming a national issue, with real estate, mortgage, and insurance professionals on the front lines of a system under unprecedented pressure.
