Webinar Recap: A First Look at the New Commercial Real Estate Forecast Dashboard

Introduced by CCIM instructor and investor Mark Cypert, CCIM, the dashboard transforms the Commercial Real Estate Performance Index's (CREPI) long-standing economic intelligence into actionable forecasts brokers and investors can use today. 

Built on the Commercial Real Estate Performance Index, the model analyzes 10 leading economic indicators—including consumer sentiment, NFIB business confidence, the yield curve, inflation metrics, labor market conditions, and the S&P 500. These indicators have been back-tested over multiple cycles and serve as the foundation for forecasting changes in vacancy, rent, and cap rates across major property types. 

The new dashboard offers five key components: 

1. Economic Indicator Summaries – Monthly updates that translate macro signals into CRE relevance. 
2. Forecast Methodology – A transparent two-phase process combining stepwise regression with a Random Forest machine learning model. 
3. 12-Month Property Sector Forecasts – Outlooks for office, industrial, retail, multifamily, self-storage, and senior housing using Moody’s Analytics data. 
4. Scenario Analysis – Baseline, pessimistic, and optimistic projections with probability weighting. 
5. Performance Insights & Recommendations – Narrative guidance for decision-making, proposals, and client conversations. 

Members overwhelmingly expressed interest in using these insights for underwriting support, leasing strategy, and investment planning. Cypert emphasized that while forecasts are estimates, CREPI’s history and transparency provide a stronger foundation than typical “black box” data sources. 

A highlight of the webinar was a sneak peek at a metro-level forecasting model currently in beta. Covering 110 U.S. metros, it will provide localized economic and employment forecasts along with competitive advantage scoring — a major step toward metro-level CRE projections. 

This new dashboard marks a significant evolution of STDB, giving CCIM professionals a data-informed edge in today's market. 

If you missed the webinar watch it now and explore CREPI’s new forecast dashboard on www.stdb.com. 

Log into your STDB account and try CREPI today.