As 2025 comes to a close, commercial real estate is stepping into 2026 with cautious optimism. Pricing and lending conditions are still adjusting, but many leading indicators suggest a more stable environment ahead. This month’s outlook highlights the macro forces and sector trends CRE professionals are watching most closely as the next cycle takes shape. 

Preparing for a Changing Market  
As we move toward the end of 2025, commercial real estate professionals are balancing optimism with caution. Capital markets remain fluid, property performance is uneven across sectors, and investor strategies are adapting to a new cycle. This month’s insights look at how these shifts are shaping opportunities as we head into 2026. 

Day Two of our 2025 Fall Forum began with a breakfast session full of updates about The CCIM Institute and the economy at large. The morning featured remarks from our 2025 Global President, Steve Rich, CCIM, followed by an insightful Economic Update from Steig Seward, Senior National Director of Research at Colliers. 

At this year’s C5 Summit in Chicago, one of the most anticipated conversations centered on a critical theme: how legislation is reshaping commercial real estate. The session, Policy & Progress, brought together top advocacy voices to cut through the noise in Washington and deliver clarity on what truly matters for real estate professionals. 

This September, The CCIM Institute co-presented the C5 + CCIM Global Summit, the premier commercial real estate conference bringing together leaders, innovators, and decision-makers from across the industry. Now in its fifth year, the summit has become a cornerstone event for networking, dealmaking, and sharing insights that are actively shaping the future of commercial real estate. 

As ICSC Las Vegas began this week, the energy was electric with retail commercial real estate professionals from across the globe gathered to connect, collaborate, and close deals. The CCIM Institute was excited to return to ICSC this year, not only to connect with members, candidates, and CRE professionals, but also to introduce three custom-made retail commercial real estate classes.