Key Takeaways
- • The National Association of REALTORS (NAR) third quarter 2026 Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Demand Index shows industrial employment growth emerging as a key driver of commercial real estate demand in select markets.
- • Industrial employment remained relatively flat nationally, but stronger job growth in manufacturing, transportation and warehousing lifted San Antonio, Seattle and Nashville higher in the rankings.
- • Of the 306 metropolitan areas tracked, 143 scored above 100 in the third quarter, indicating stronger CRE demand drivers relative to other markets.
- • St. George, Utah, retained the top spot with a score of 132, followed by Huntsville, Ala. (125), Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Ark. (123), Sherman-Denison, Texas (123) and Ocala, Fla. (121).
Summary
The National Association of REALTORS (NAR) has released its third quarter 2026 Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Demand Index, which identifies industrial employment growth as a key driver of commercial real estate demand in select markets. Nationally, industrial employment was relatively flat, but gains in manufacturing, transportation and warehousing employment propelled markets including San Antonio, Seattle and Nashville higher in the rankings.
The index tracks 306 metropolitan areas, of which 143 scored above 100 in the third quarter. A score above 100 indicates stronger commercial real estate demand drivers relative to other markets. St. George, Utah, retained the top position with a score of 132. Huntsville, Ala. ranked second at 125, followed by Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Ark. and Sherman-Denison, Texas, both at 123, and Ocala, Fla. at 121.
Nadia Evangelou, principal economist and director of real estate research at NAR, framed the quarter's findings around hiring patterns: "The story this quarter is where companies are hiring." The rankings suggest that demand for commercial space is tracking local labor market shifts, with metros where employers are adding jobs in industrial sectors gaining relative ground. The source article was truncated before further detail on methodology or additional market data was available.
The index tracks 306 metropolitan areas, of which 143 scored above 100 in the third quarter. A score above 100 indicates stronger commercial real estate demand drivers relative to other markets. St. George, Utah, retained the top position with a score of 132. Huntsville, Ala. ranked second at 125, followed by Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Ark. and Sherman-Denison, Texas, both at 123, and Ocala, Fla. at 121.
Nadia Evangelou, principal economist and director of real estate research at NAR, framed the quarter's findings around hiring patterns: "The story this quarter is where companies are hiring." The rankings suggest that demand for commercial space is tracking local labor market shifts, with metros where employers are adding jobs in industrial sectors gaining relative ground. The source article was truncated before further detail on methodology or additional market data was available.
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