Heading into 2026, a lot of investors are still playing the same game they played in 2021: chasing whatever looks hot, reacting to headlines, and hoping the next deal fixes the last one. But markets don’t reward hustle forever. They reward positioning. If you’ve got real exposure in CRE—whether that’s a solid portfolio, meaningful liquidity, or even just a few good assets—you’re already at the point where strategy matters more than speed. The problem is most people hit that level and keep operating without a blueprint. That’s how returns get built… and quietly leak.

What separates investors who compound cycles from the ones who stall out isn’t access. It’s structure. Knowing which sectors actually have tailwinds, which markets are earning real demand, how the capital stack is shifting, and what policy or rate moves will change your underwriting before your broker calls you. If you want 2026 to be an advantage—not a surprise—you need to stop reading news like entertainment and start reading it like allocation.

In today’s Deal Desk breakdown, we cover:

• What the ULI Emerging Trends report is really saying about 2026 winners and losers
• Why niche sectors like data centers, self-storage, and senior housing are pulling ahead
• The Trump White House ballroom story—and what it reveals about regulation and development power
• The 50-year mortgage push and why “affordability fixes” can destroy long-term wealth
• The NYC-to-Florida migration narrative—what’s real, what’s hype, and how to underwrite it
• And whether a Fed cut is back on the table, plus what that means for cap rates and deal flow

If you’re serious about making smart moves heading into next year, this is the kind of context that keeps you ahead of the market instead of chasing it.

Sponsored by www.CRECentral.com