2026 at the Halfway Point

Spencer and Griffin break down what the first half of 2026 is really telling us about multifamily real estate, the macro economy, and where the opportunities are hiding. Headline CPI came in at 4.2% — but is that the real story? The team makes the case that core inflation, lagging shelter data, and oil-driven volatility are distorting the headline number, and that the underlying picture may be closer to 3% than 4%.With Kevin Warsh at the helm of the Fed, the rate cut narrative is essentially dead. Markets are now pricing a rate hike as more likely than a cut by year-end — and that's creating a pressure cooker for owners who bet on refinancing relief. Spencer walks through what that means for deal flow, distressed sellers, and why patient, long-term buyers in the right markets are quietly in a very good position.Speaking of the right markets — the Midwest story keeps getting stronger. Q1 2026 deliveries in the Midwest dropped 60% from the three-year average, net migration into the region has flipped from deeply negative to positive for the first time in years, and effective rents are growing again. Meanwhile, the AI infrastructure build-out continues to accelerate, with Meta's just-announced $115M skilled trades academy with Indianapolis as one of four pilot sites.We close with the Q2 Fear & Greed Index from CRE Daily and John Burns Research: 71% of investors are on hold, a record high. Gray Capital is in the 20% that's actively deploying.Subscribe to The Gray Report for weekly breakdowns of multifamily real estate, commercial real estate markets, and the macroeconomic trends shaping where we invest.https://www.graycapitalllc.com/