2026 U.S. Real Estate Market Outlook

CBRE

Research

38 Pages

CBRE forecasts commercial real estate investment activity to increase by 16% in 2026 to $562 billion, nearly matching the pre-pandemic (2019) annual average. 

Date published: January 2026

Key Takeaways

Income drives returns: Rental income rather than price gains is expected to anchor real estate returns this cycle.
Quality matters more: Newer prime assets outperform as older stock faces obsolescence and weaker demand.
Sector paths diverge: Data centers and industrial remain resilient while office and multifamily recover unevenly.
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