How will we remember 2025? Nationally, commercial real estate faced mixed signals — cautious capital, elevated office vacancies and industrial normalization — amid what Deloitte calls a rapidly changing economic environment. But in secondary markets like Northwest Arkansas, the story has been far more resilient, with office vacancy near 5% and sustained demand for high-quality, well-located space, even as national rates hover above 20%. Data from CBRE, JLL and Colliers reinforces the divide: quality, functionality and location continue to outperform.
As 2026 begins, the heartland appears poised to capture reshoring, relocations and long-term investment momentum — and Northwest Arkansas is squarely in that path.
Read Clay Ramey’s latest guest commentary featured in Talk Business and Politics.
