Commercial Real Estate · Investment · Markets
Commercial Real Estate for Sale: Where the Money Is Moving in 2026
Global investment volume has turned a corner after two down years. Here's which cities and countries are pulling in capital right now — plus a live snapshot of top markets and the latest CRE-for-sale coverage below.
Editorial briefing · Updated August 2026 · ~6 min read
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+28%
Global direct CRE investment growth, Q2 2026 vs. Q2 2025 (JLL)
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$1.4T
Global real estate investment volume in 2025 (Cushman & Wakefield)
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16.5%
Global office vacancy rate, trending down as new supply stays near record lows
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2.81/5
ULI/PwC investor confidence score for 2026, up from multi-year lows
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After roughly two years of retreat, capital is coming back to commercial real estate. JLL's Global Real Estate Perspective clocked direct investment up 28% year-over-year in the second quarter of 2026, with every major region — the Americas, EMEA, and Asia Pacific — posting double-digit growth. It's not a broad recovery to prior peaks so much as a selective one: money is concentrating in markets with clear demographic momentum, infrastructure investment, and diversified economies, rather than spreading evenly.
Top U.S. markets for 2026
The ULI and PwC's annual "Emerging Trends in Real Estate" survey — the industry's benchmark ranking, based on polling investors, developers, and lenders — put Dallas/Fort Worth in the No. 1 spot for a second straight year, citing economic diversification and corporate relocations. Jersey City posted the biggest jump, surging from No. 19 to No. 2 on access to talent and capital at a more affordable price point than Manhattan. Miami held the No. 3 spot, still benefiting from its role as a gateway for Latin American capital. San Francisco was the year's biggest comeback story, climbing 23 spots, while Austin saw the steepest fall, dropping from No. 15 to No. 30 as its boom-era pricing corrects.
| Rank | Market | 2026 momentum |
| 1 | Dallas–Fort Worth | Holds No. 1 for 2nd straight year |
| 2 | Jersey City | Up from No. 19 — biggest riser |
| 3 | Miami | Steady gateway-market demand |
| 18 | Orange County | Up 11 spots |
| 27 | Chicago | Up 11 spots |
| 40 | San Francisco | Up 23 spots — largest gainer |
Source: ULI/PwC "Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2026." Rankings reflect investor and developer survey results, not real-time transaction data.
Where global capital is flowing
Outside the U.S., Asia Pacific was the standout region in early 2026, with direct investment up 38% year-over-year — Japan and Australia led on liquidity, and Singapore posted exceptional growth. In Europe, EMEA transaction volumes rose 27%, driven largely by Germany and France. Within North America, Canada emerged as the second-most liquid market globally after the U.S. Cross-border investment specifically — capital crossing a national border to buy property — grew 25% year-over-year, the first meaningful rebound since 2021.
| Region / country | 2026 signal |
| Japan | Most liquid market in Asia Pacific |
| Singapore | Exceptional growth in transaction volume |
| Germany & France | Leading EMEA's 27% volume increase |
| Canada | 2nd most liquid market globally, after the U.S. |
Source: JLL Global Real Estate Perspective, Q2 2026; Cushman & Wakefield.
| "The markets gaining share are those with clear demographic tailwinds, infrastructure investment and diversified economic bases — it's no longer just about yield, but about positioning for the next cycle." |
What this means if you're buying
Sellers have largely accepted the post-2022 pricing reset, which is opening a window to acquire quality assets at more realistic capitalization rates before the next cycle takes hold. Net-lease and grocery-anchored retail continue to draw the most conservative capital, while industrial and logistics remain favored for their tie to reshoring and e-commerce demand. The clearest theme across every ranked market, U.S. or global: capital is rewarding infrastructure readiness and economic diversification over pure population growth alone.
Core Insights Review contributors publish research-based analysis and editorial insights on commercial real estate, PropTech, smart infrastructure, sustainable construction, industrial real estate, and emerging technologies shaping the future of the built environment.
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