From: Bentley Real Estate Group
Date: March 31
Subject: COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE INSIGHTS - MARCH 2025 - BREG Newsletter (3/31/25)



Latest Stories


New York City Office Demand Returns to Pre-Pandemic Levels
After years of uncertainty, office demand in New York City has finally returned to pre-pandemic levels, according to data shared by JLL. Leasing activity in key submarkets like Midtown and Downtown Manhattan has picked up, driven by strong interest from finance and legal tenants. Experts note that while demand is stabilizing, the flight to quality remains dominant, with tenants favoring modern, amenity-rich spaces. (Read More)

Newer Multifamily Assets Expected to Boost Sales Activity
With the multifamily development pipeline slowing down, investors are shifting focus to newer, stabilized assets. These properties are expected to dominate upcoming sales activity, especially in Sun Belt markets. Rising interest rates and tighter construction lending are contributing to fewer new starts, making newer assets more attractive due to their lower operational risks and immediate cash flow. (Read More)

U.S. Economy Is Already in a Recession, Says Real Estate CEO
The CEO of a leading commercial real estate firm warns that the U.S. economy is already in a recession, despite official data lagging behind. He points to declining CRE transaction volumes, increased distress, and a tightening debt market as clear indicators of economic contraction. Investors are advised to stay cautious, focus on liquidity, and watch for distressed buying opportunities. (Read More)

Key Terms and Concepts:

  • Office Demand Recovery – The return of tenant leasing activity and office space absorption to pre-pandemic levels, often driven by strong economic sectors and high-quality buildings.

  • Multifamily Investment Trends – Investor behavior and market dynamics influencing the acquisition, pricing, and preference for multifamily housing assets.

  • Economic Recession Indicators – Metrics such as reduced deal volume, job losses, rising debt distress, and declining GDP that signal a downturn in economic activity.

Local Deal of The Week

MSD Partners Acquires Office Property On Lincoln Street In Boston For $400 Million

MSD Partners acquired One Lincoln in Boston through a $400M credit bid after a foreclosure auction drew no outside bidders. Fortis Property Group, which bought the building for $889M in 2006, struggled to retain tenants, leaving the 1.1M-sf office tower half empty. (Read More)

Summary of transaction details:

  • Property Type: Office
  • Transaction Amount: $400,000,000.00
  • Buyer: MSD Partners
  • Sale Date: 03/21/2025
  • Address: Lincoln Street
  • Market: Boston

NEW Episode: Real Estate Development in Boston with Aisling Kerr
In this episode, Aisling Kerr, a real estate developer and consultant, shares her journey from growing up in Boston to her experiences in both public and private sectors of real estate.

Upcoming Events

April 2 @ 9:15PM @ LaCava 305AB - Fallon Company Guest Speaker Event
April 9 @ 7PM @ LaCava 375AB - BREG's Annual Case Competition

Officers
President - Elie Safi
VP Logistics Sam Walters
VP Marketing - Ava Tavares
VP Long-Term Planning - Lorenzo Lopez
Content Creator - Adithya Vaswani
Treasurer - Calvin Monte
Freshman Liason - Grace Taylor
Freshman Liason - Natalie Barrett
Senior Advisor - James Mullen
Senior Advisor - Henry Bourgeois
Senior Advisor - Adam Fuller

EVENT

Fallon Company Guest Speakers

Wednesday, April 2
9:15pm - 10:15pm
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Come and hear from the Fallon Company, a privately held commercial real estate owner and developer of transformative, urban environments. They are headquartered in Boston, and have developed billions of dollars in real estate across the East Coast.

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EVENT

Case Competition

Wednesday, April 9
7:00pm - 9:00pm
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The BREG real estate case competition is an academic challenge that offers students the opportunity to tackle real-world real estate problems and present their solutions to industry professionals. Pre-registration is required to compete, but all members are welcome to attend and observe.

REGISTER