NAR 2025 Q1 VACANCY REPORT

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Inflation isn’t just an economic word the news throws around — it’s a silent force that slowly eats away at your savings, your purchasing power, and your financial peace of mind. The good news? You can protect yourself. In fact, people have been hedging against inflation for centuries, and history gives us some powerful lessons.

One of the clearest examples comes from a moment in time that feels extreme… yet surprisingly relevant to today.

In commercial real estate, the lease negotiation process can make or break the long-term profitability of an investment. Whether you’re leasing a retail suite, office building, or industrial property, the terms you negotiate will determine your cash flow, tenant stability, and future property value. Unfortunately, many landlords rush the process, leaving money—and control—on the table.

Today, the new heavyweight champion is the data center — the backbone of AI, cloud computing, and our increasingly digital world. But while these massive facilities are redefining what valuable real estate looks like, they’re also creating an entirely new problem: they’re running out of power and water.

And that’s not an exaggeration.

A government shutdown sends ripples across multiple sectors of the economy — and commercial real estate (CRE) is no exception. From delayed federal payments to shaken investor confidence, even a short-term shutdown can affect leasing activity, financing, and property values. Understanding these impacts helps both landlords and tenants prepare for potential instability.

In recent years, rising tariffs have become a central tool of U.S. trade policy. While much of the debate focuses on manufacturing, consumer goods, or macroeconomic effects, commercial real estate (CRE) sits in a complex middle ground: both exposed to headwinds and potentially positioned to benefit in niche ways. 

Discover how landlords and tenants can build strong relationships in commercial real estate. Learn about lease negotiations, property management, and long-term success.