Work from Home Is Here to Stay

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Work from Home Is Here to Stay link

• Office occupancy rates have stabilized at around 55% of 2019 levels since 2023. Data from Kastle Systems shows that this trend is consistent across 10 major US cities.

• Household surveys and location data confirm that work-from-home patterns have remained steady for the last two years. Office visits are down significantly compared to pre-pandemic levels, indicating a lasting shift in work habits.

• The office building index shows that foot traffic remains well below 2019 levels. Commercial buildings with retail offerings have seen particularly low recovery rates.

The inside scoop on outdoor storage: the evolution of the equipment rental market link

• The industrial outdoor storage (IOS) market is seeing rapid growth, but zoning remains the biggest barrier to entry. Aggregators looking to scale may face trouble with local zoning restrictions, especially in Florida and California.

• Equipment rental revenue is closely tied to construction activity, with about a one-year lag. Sunbelt Rentals and United Rentals are the largest players, with Sunbelt growing faster since the pandemic.

• Cap rates for equipment rental properties have fallen due to rising market rents. Investors are underwriting higher renewal rents, but short lease terms could pose a risk if local competition increases.

Latest Lending Trends link

• Lenders extended $384 billion in loans into 2025, up from $270 billion the previous year. CMBS extensions made up 54% of 2025’s maturities ($125 billion), while bank loans accounted for 44% ($199 billion).

• Multifamily had the highest volume of extensions at $97 billion, followed by office at $85 billion and "other" (self-storage, manufactured housing) at $87 billion. Industrial properties had 55% of 2025 maturities pushed from prior years, the highest of any sector.

• $957 billion in loans won’t pay off this year, and a significant share will be pushed into 2026, when $663 billion in loans come due. Lenders are starting to force sales and foreclosures as market conditions shift.

The Wettest Cities US Cities link

• Fort Lauderdale and Miami are the rainiest cities in the U.S., each averaging about 68 inches of rain annually. Three other Florida cities — West Palm Beach, Port St. Lucie, and Tallahassee — also rank in the top 12, each getting over 58 inches per year.

• The study ranked cities by total precipitation and number of rainy days, with all top 10 rainiest cities by total inches located in the South. However, the top 10 cities by number of rainy days were all in the North, led by Syracuse, Buffalo, and Rochester, N.Y.

• Rain in Florida mostly comes from tropical storms, thunderstorms, and hurricanes during summer and fall. Winters are drier and sunnier, which helps maintain Florida's appeal as a winter destination.

How a 26-year-old Douglas Elliman agent closed $100 million+ in 2024 link

• Abraham Sarway’s team closed $100 million in sales across 60 sides in 2024, up from $15 million in his first year. He focused on both luxury units in Manhattan and high-demand areas like the South Bronx, where fewer agents were competing.

• Sarway built his confidence by knowing local market data inside and out, which allowed him to give honest advice even if it cost him a big commission. He turned down a six-figure payday, and his client later bought a property at double the price.

• His success comes from disciplined daily habits like cold calling, handing out flyers, and staying consistent even when deals aren’t closing. He believes momentum from closing deals creates the energy needed to stay motivated and scale the business.

2025 apartment deliveries will be Savannah’s biggest volume in 25 years link

• Savannah will see 2,600 new apartment units in 2025, increasing inventory by 7.1% — the largest delivery in 25 years. North Savannah has seen a 46% inventory jump over the last five years, driving most of the growth.

• Occupancy in Savannah hit 94.8% in February 2025, slightly below the five-year average of 95.2%. South Savannah led at 95.4%, while Class C units were the highest performing at 96.1%.

• Rent growth remained positive in 2024, with Class A leading at 0.4% and Class B and C at 0.3%. The Port of Savannah grew container volume by 12.5% in 2024, supporting over 609,000 jobs statewide and $40 billion in income.

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Vidit

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