Balancing Opportunity and Headwinds in 2026 (Market Survey Takeaways)

In Seyfarth’s 11th Annual Real Estate Market Sentiment Survey, commercial real estate stakeholders remain broadly optimistic about 2026, with 86% viewing it as a year of opportunity despite ongoing headwinds. Respondents highlight data centers as the most impactful trend, though investment appetite has moderated, and point to renewed interest in office-to-residential conversions even as physical constraints, zoning, and construction costs continue to pose challenges. At the same time, interest rates, rising construction costs, and geopolitical instability rank among the top concerns shaping the market outlook. In this episode, Eric Greenberg is joined by James O’Brien and Christine Kim to break down key findings from the survey, including shifting asset allocation trends, expectations for rate cuts, and the growing role of AI in areas like due diligence and closing efficiency. Read the full transcript here: https://www.seyfarth.com/dir_docs/podcast_transcripts/The-Property-Line-Real-Estate-Survey-2026.pdf