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Broker Profile: Life Science Specialist Chris Durbin

Examine the biographies of most commercial real estate brokers, and a commonality that emerges is participation in competitive sports, where they often excelled. Voit Associate and Life Science Specialist Chris Durbin of the San Diego office fits that description, shining as a competitive swimmer and lacrosse player while growing up in Southern New Jersey. That … Continued
empty outdoor retail shopping center with beautiful palm trees

Retail Remains Resilient Amid War and Tariffs: But For How Long?

Despite the ongoing war in Iran and U.S. tariff-driven price increases, retail has become one of the strongest CRE asset classes in 2026. U.S. retail vacancy is expected to peak at about 4.4% in 2026, edge slightly higher, then stabilize and tighten gradually in 2027, according to a recent CoStar press release. This vacancy rate … Continued
Busy office area with AI overlay

Office Demand Spiking and RTO Policies Take Hold as AI Companies Expand

Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and continued economic uncertainty in the U.S., the demand for office space is accelerating in many markets, according to multiple national real estate data providers. That demand extends to Southern California as well, corroborated by Voit’s research and boots-on-the-ground broker observations in our Q1 market reports (highlights can be found later … Continued
Collage of seven various IOS properties - empty lot, containers, pallets, trucks

Investors Ramp Up as SoCal IOS Market Gains Momentum

The Industrial Outdoor Storage (IOS) market appears to be rebounding from its post-pandemic slump. Institutional investors are taking notice. A Q4 2025 report by Partner Valuation Advisors states that IOS “has evolved from a niche asset class into a strategic investment target for institutional capital. In 2025, demand surged as e-commerce growth and supply chain … Continued
collage of four industrial complexes

Q1 Industrial Market Reports: It’s Still a Tenant’s Market

In his assessment of the Inland Empire industrial market, Associate Braden Sprenger of the Voit Ontario office stated what could readily be applied across the full spectrum of the industrial market, not only in Southern California but nationwide. “Notwithstanding the commercial real estate community’s eternal optimism, the reality on the ground is more complicated than … Continued
Modern office lounge with movie screen and meeting areas

Want to Increase Occupancy? Focus on the Amenities

The return-to-office (RTO) movement continues to gain momentum. According to a recent Founders Reports study, 61% of US companies have a formal RTO policy that requires employees to work in the office a minimum number of days each week. Corporate giants like Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, Dell, Instagram, and Truist are mandating that employees work from … Continued
Life science laboratory space with an overlay of DNA strands

The Long-Term Life Science Outlook Brightens

After nearly four years of incessantly rising vacancy following a pandemic-era investment and construction boom, the long-term outlook for the life science market may finally be brightening. Multiple national reports indicate that while still historically high, vacancy rates are beginning to trend downward. Even before the pandemic, the overall vacancy rates for life science properties, … Continued
1031 Exchange collage of various property types

Optimizing Your CRE Portfolio Using the 1031 Exchange

The April 15 tax deadline is a timely reminder for CRE investors to start strategizing how to optimize their portfolios in the year ahead. One tool that has been effective for institutional capital and individuals alike is the 1031 tax-deferred exchange (also known as a Like-Kind Exchange or LKE). Named after Section 1031 of the … Continued
Downtown Los Angeles skyline at dusk

Distressed Assets Offer Opportunity for Investors and Owner Occupiers

Sales of distressed commercial real estate properties should continue to increase in 2026, presenting buying opportunities not only for institutional capital but also for smaller investors and owner-occupiers. This is especially true of distressed office properties, as sales surged to a 10-year high in 2025, surpassing the previous highs of 2016 and 2024. In 2025, … Continued