Weekly Perl: A Commercial Real Estate News Recap

Marc Perlof • May 22, 2026
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Retail Real Estate Leaders Brace for Inflation Risks

Retail real estate professionals arrived at ICSC Las Vegas this week with leasing momentum still intact, but economic anxiety creeping into conversations across the industry’s biggest annual gathering. Executives interviewed by CoStar News said resilient consumer spending and active retailer demand continue to support the sector, even as inflation, fuel prices, and global instability cloud the outlook for the second half of 2026...

The front of an aldi store with a sign in front of it.

CRE Lenders Finally Cut Losses on Distressed Debt

According to Bloomberg, commercial real estate lenders are finally
forcing a reset. After years of extending loan maturities and waiting for interest rates, office demand, and valuations to rebound, banks and debt funds are increasingly selling distressed CRE debt at steep discounts or taking control of troubled properties outright...

An elevated outdoor view of a modern shopping mall promenade with manicured greenery, palm trees, and pedestrians.

Top economist sounds alarm on America’s 40% recession risk, warns stocks are disconnected from reality

Despite triumphant headlines from Wall Street, one prominent economic forecaster is sounding the alarm that the U.S. economy is sitting on a razor's edge.


In a recent interview with TheStreet, Moody’s Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi placed the probability of a U.S. recession within the next year at 40%, compared to a historical average of about 15%.

"So, 40% is very elevated, very uncomfortable — it gives you a sense of how close I think things are to the edge here," he said...

The American flag waves against a bright blue sky between towering glass skyscrapers, viewed from a low angle.

Jack in the Box CEO out; to close 50 to 100 restaurants

The chief executive of Jack in the Box has left just 14 months after he took the job on a permanent basis.



Lance Tucker is out as CEO of Jack in the Box. He was named to the role on an interim basis in February 2025, following the departure of CEO Darin Harris, and on a permanent basis shortly after.

The quick-serve burger chain has appointed Mark King as executive chairman and interim CEO, effective immediately. King, a member of the Jack in the Box board since November 2025 and its chair since March 2026, is the former CEO of Taco Bell Corp...

A flat, single-story retail building with a

Study: Family Dollar closed ‘at least’ 350 stores in past 10 months — here’s where

An analysis of Family Dollar store closings reveals the states that are taking the heaviest hits.

The discounter, whose sale by Dollar Tree to Brigade Capital Management and Macellum Capital was completed in July 2025, has closed “at least” 350 stores from July 7, 2025, to May 12, 2026, representing a 4.69% reduction in the size of the chain, according to an analysis by Local Falcon. (In July 2025, Dollar Tree Inc. completed the sale of Family Dollar to private equity firms Brigade Capital Management and Macellum Capital...)

The main entrance of the NuHAA building, featuring a modern glass and stone facade, at sunset.

Bed Bath & Beyond moves in to first Container Store, with dozens more to follow


The parent company of Bed Bath & Beyond and the Container Store is opening the first retail site combining the two brands, with dozens more to follow, in an experiment aimed at linking home essentials with organizational and design services.



The strategy involves transforming an existing Container Store in Fort Worth, Texas, by removing about one-third of its Container Store products to make room for home goods from Bed Bath & Beyond. The removed items include duplicate products from multiple manufacturers and some merchandise that executives decided not to sell any more, such as a $200 luxury laundry hamper...

A green Publix Food & Pharmacy sign mounted on a white and beige building exterior against a blue sky.

Dollar Stores Face Margin Squeeze as Gas Prices Climb

Dollar stores have spent the past year riding one of retail’s strongest tailwinds: Americans across nearly every income bracket hunting for cheaper goods. The Commercial Observer reports that that trade-down effect helped Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and Five Below post improved results through late 2025 and into 2026, supporting thousands of planned store openings and remodels nationwide...

Two bundt cakes on small plates: one with chocolate drizzle, one with caramel drizzle, with cinnamon sticks nearby.

Home Depot Q1 sales rise 5% despite headwinds

The Home Depot got a sales lift in April fueled by strong demand in its spring-related and “pro” categories.

The home improvement giant’s first-quarter sales gain, which beat Wall Street expectations, came despite continued pressure from housing affordability and cautious consumer spending around large discretionary projects...


Interior of a casual restaurant featuring blue chairs, red accents, brick walls, and a

FAT Brands Split Up in Nearly $1 Billion Bankruptcy Sales Process

FAT Brands’ sprawling bankruptcy process appears to have been finalized.


A Texas court approved Tuesday the sale of more than a dozen concepts in the portfolio, with a total value of nearly $1 billion.


The largest piece of the restructuring came through a $595 million credit bid submitted by lenders that covers Fatburger, Johnny Rockets, Buffalo’s Cafe, Buffalo’s Express, Hurricane Grill & Wings, Ponderosa Steakhouse, Bonanza Steakhouse, Yalla Mediterranean, Great American Cookies, Marble Slab Creamery, Pretzelmaker, Round Table Pizza, Fazoli’s, and Native Grill & Wings...

Rising Bond Yields Deepen CRE Leasing Divide Across Markets

Globe St reports that commercial real estate entered 2026 expecting a steadier recovery, but surging bond yields and geopolitical volatility are complicating the outlook. The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield climbed to roughly 4.6% on May 15, according to Treasury Department and MarketWatch data, marking its largest weekly jump since the tariff-driven market turmoil of April 2025...


By Marc Perlof May 18, 2026
By Marc Perlof | MarcRetailGuy CA #01489206 May 18, 2026 If you own retail real estate, here’s what just changed for you. In some situations, removing the price can lead to stronger offers. This approach allows the market to determine value instead of limiting it upfront. When used correctly, it can create competition and improve your outcome. More retail properties are being marketed without a price. Brokers are using offer-driven strategies to let buyers compete based on their own assumptions. What is causing it? Differences in buyer expectations and uncertainty in valuation are driving this shift. In many cases, investors and developers value the same property differently, especially when there is upside or redevelopment potential. How does removing the price affect your value? Removing the price can eliminate the ceiling. Buyers are not anchored to a specific number, which can lead to stronger offers when demand is present. When multiple buyers are involved, this approach can create competition and push pricing higher. What is the risk? If demand is limited, offers may come in below expectations. This often happens when the buyer pool is thin or when the property has uncertainty, such as a short lease term, tenant risk, or redevelopment challenges. When should you use Request for Offers? Use it when there is strong demand and the property is expected to attract multiple buyers. Even in these situations, active buyers and brokers will often ask for pricing guidance or a whisper price to understand where the seller expects the deal to trade. When should you use a more flexible approach? Use submit offers when you want flexibility and are testing the market. This approach allows you to respond to buyer feedback while still maintaining control of the process. Some properties are marketed without a price because the broker does not have a clear view of value. That is not the same as a strategy. When used correctly, removing the price is intentional and supported by buyer demand, positioning, and a defined process. Without that structure, it can create confusion and weaker results. We are seeing strong assets generate multiple offers with this approach, while weaker deals struggle to gain traction without pricing guidance. This strategy is not about avoiding a price. It is about allowing the market to define it when the conditions support it. If you need context, review Part 2: “Should You List Your Retail Property With an Asking Price?” In next week’s final article, read “How Strategic Underpricing Can Increase Your Retail Property Sale Price” (Part 4) , including one approach many owners overlook. If you are considering an offer-driven strategy, reach out before going to market. I will help you determine if your property can support it and how to structure it properly. Call or DM me for more information. Would removing your price increase your value or create uncertainty? Based in Los Angeles. Serving Southern California. Active across California. Advising clients nationwide. #RetailRealEstate #CRE #InvestmentProperty #CommercialBroker #LosAngelesRealEstate #NNN #RetailInvesting #PropertySales
By Marc Perlof May 15, 2026
CPI surged in April as inflation soars to highest level in almost 3 years Inflation accelerated in April to an annual rate of 3.8%, the highest since May 2023, as the Iran war pushed up energy costs and raised prices across the economy. By the numbers Economists predicted inflation would jump to 3.7% on an annual basis, up from the 3.3% reading in March, according to a FactSet poll.
By Marc Perlof May 11, 2026
By Marc Perlof | MarcRetailGuy CA #01489206 May 4, 2026 If you own retail real estate, here’s what just changed for you. Pricing your retail property is not about picking a number. It is about choosing the right strategy to drive buyer demand and maximize your final sale price. If you use the wrong approach, you limit your buyer pool and your outcome. Retail property pricing has become more strategic. Buyers are more selective and move quickly when deals are positioned correctly. Properties that are not positioned well are being ignored. What is causing it? Higher interest rates and rising operating costs have made buyers more disciplined. At the same time, demand still exists for well-located assets, especially in Southern California. This creates a gap. Strong deals get attention. Weakly positioned deals sit. How does pricing affect your property value? Pricing determines how many buyers engage. More buyers create competition. Competition drives stronger offers and higher pricing. If your property attracts only one buyer, that buyer controls the negotiation. If multiple buyers engage, you control the process. How are buyers responding today? Buyers are prioritizing deals that feel well positioned from the start. If pricing creates hesitation, they move on quickly. If pricing creates opportunity, they act. What should you do right now? Start by understanding that pricing is a strategy, not just a number. Different approaches create different outcomes depending on your asset and buyer pool. What should you focus on? Match your pricing approach to your property. A stabilized NNN asset, a strip center with upside, and a redevelopment site should not be brought to market the same way. Buyers are actively pursuing deals that feel correctly positioned and ignoring those that feel priced without strategy. There are several ways to bring a retail property to market, including an exact asking price, pricing guidance, request for offers, submit offers, and off-market sales. Each approach attracts a different buyer mindset and leads to a different outcome. In retail real estate and select commercial opportunities, including development sites, pricing strategy plays a direct role in the final outcome. Pricing controls demand. Demand controls price. In the next three weeks, I will break down how each pricing strategy works and when to use it. Start with “Should You List Your Retail Property With an Asking Price?” (Part 2) , where I explain when pricing helps and when it hurts your result. If you listed your property today, would your pricing strategy attract multiple buyers or just one? Call or DM me for more information. If pricing drives demand, are you using the right strategy for your property? Based in Los Angeles. Serving Southern California. Active across California. Advising clients nationwide. #RetailRealEstate #CommercialProperty #NNN #StripCenters #ShoppingCenters #CRE #LosAngelesRealEstate #InvestmentProperty #PropertyValue
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