February 27, 2026 — Global commercial real estate (CRE) advisor Avison Young recently released its 2026 U.S. Outlook, revealing a significant uptick in optimism among the firm’s real estate professionals. In a survey of more than 270 Avison Young experts, nearly 70% — up from 51% at mid-year — expressed confidence in the CRE market heading into 2026.
Harry Klaff, Principal and U.S. President, Avison Young, remarked:
Commercial real estate is a major cornerstone of local and national economic growth — providing spaces for businesses to operate and bringing vibrancy to communities. As we look toward 2026, confidence and optimism are continuing to build across U.S. markets. It’s shaping up to be a year of renewed investment, sector growth opportunity, and stronger fundamentals driving a resilient landscape.
Why surveying real estate professionals matters
Avison Young’s survey draws on insights from its U.S. experts who are closest to market dynamics and client decision-making. Their expertise provides a real-time pulse on confidence levels, investment strategies, and sector-specific trends shaping the year ahead.
Jen Rosenak, Principal, U.S. Director of Market Intelligence, explained:
Our survey is more than a forecast — it’s a roadmap for our clients. Nearly 70% of our professionals express confidence in the market — up sharply from mid-year. By analyzing sector-specific trends and macroeconomic drivers, we help clients anticipate opportunities, mitigate risk, and make informed business and real estate decisions that align with their long-term strategies.
The report covers multiple aspects of several CRE sectors. For example, according to the Office sector report:
The office sector remains highly bifurcated heading into 2026, with performance varying sharply by market and asset quality. The San Francisco office market exemplifies this current bifurcation: strong activity in high-quality, amenity-rich buildings catering to technology and AI tenants has surged, while older or less competitive assets face elevated distress, including special servicing and foreclosure risks. For occupiers, topics like workforce optimization, investment allocation, and technology adoption are all taking center stage.
View Avison Young’s U.S. Outlook 2026 report to explore trends and sentiments of these specific CRE sectors:
| Industrial | Retail | Data centers | Healthcare | Multifamily | AI / tech | Life sciences |
