The #1 Reason Your Center Isn’t Leasing Faster | EP 81: I Own a Shopping Center, Now What?

In this episode of I Own A Shopping Center. Now What?, I break down a lesson I teach over and over again—don’t trust outdated online data to guide your leasing strategy. I recently walked a market where CoStar claimed there was 10% vacancy… but when I hit the pavement, it was closer to 30%. That’s a huge difference—and it’s the kind of thing that could kill your deal velocity, pricing strategy, or NOI if you’re not paying attention.I’ll share how that one walk led to a $14/SF rent increase, and why boots-on-the-ground intel always beats digital reports. Whether you're setting your 2026 strategy or trying to push your leasing team to the next level, this episode will help you lead with facts—not assumptions—and unlock value hiding in plain sight.Key Takeaways:CoStar isn’t gospel—walk the market yourselfIn-person market studies will always reveal the truthVacancy myths = pricing mistakesPush your brokers to ask better questionsSales data is your leverage during renewalsOversupplied office space needs creative pricingMeet face-to-face with leasing agents and their bossesFacts create leverage. Data creates power. Don’t wing it.