Episode 16: Midwest Markets Leading — Indianapolis, Columbus, Kansas City posting 4-5% YoY rent growth

Welcome back to What's Hot & What's Not CRE — your daily pulse on commercial real estate in America. It's Monday, January 12th, 2026.🔥 What's Hot:National Rent Growth Turning Positive — +0.3% MoM in December; 2.1% YoY, strongest since Q2 2024Midwest Markets Leading — Indianapolis, Columbus, Kansas City posting 4-5% YoY rent growthOccupancy Stabilizing — National occupancy at 94.2%; Class B leading at 95.1%Investor Activity Picking Up — Transaction volume +18% QoQ in Q4 2025; PE and family offices targeting Class BSun Belt Concessions Elevated — Austin, Phoenix, Jacksonville still offering 6-8 weeks freeNew Supply Still Delivering — 440K units in 2025; 380K expected in 2026Class A Vacancy High — 8.7% nationally vs 5.8% for Class BSFR Softening — Rent growth decelerated to 1.2% YoY❄️ What's Not:📊 Why It Matters:The multifamily market is inflecting. Midwest and Southeast secondary markets are healthy, while Sun Belt Class A remains challenged. Investors in workforce housing are being rewarded.💡 Investor Takeaway:Focus on Class B in supply-constrained markets. Midwest secondary cities offer the best risk-adjusted returns. Avoid Class A in Austin, Phoenix, Atlanta until concessions burn off — likely mid-to-late 2026.Thanks for tuning in. See you tomorrow! Don't forget to Like, Share and Subscribe! Visit hotnotcre.com to learn more and subscribe to our newsletter.