In commercial real estate, capital isn’t king anymore—clarity is.
With cap rates rising, refinancing pressure mounting, and $600 billion in CRE debt maturing by 2028, the real question isn’t who has the cash—it’s who knows what their properties are really worth.
In today’s market, valuation transparency is a strategic advantage that unlocks trust, speeds up deals, and attracts capital.
A Market in Transition
The CRE landscape is finding its footing after a turbulent year. Key trends tell the story:
- Cap rates are up: Multifamily, industrial, and office sectors have seen increases of 40+ basis points year-over-year, with office at 7.3% and multifamily at 5.7%, reports CRED iQ.
- Valuations are also adjusting: Stabilized assets in gateway markets are down 20% or more from 2022 peaks.
- Signs of stabilization: Q2 2025 showed slight compression in multifamily going-in cap rates, hinting at renewed investor interest.
This isn’t panic—it’s the market seeking equilibrium.
Yet, a stubborn bid-ask gap continues to stall deals, as buyers demand protection and sellers cling to outdated valuations.
Why Transparency Wins
In a cautious market, transparency is a game-changer. Here’s why:
1. Closing the Bid-Ask Gap
Buyers want certainty; sellers want top dollar. Owners who provide recent appraisals, granular rent rolls, and stress-tested cashflow models reduce perceived risk, aligning expectations and accelerating deals.
2. Winning Lender Trust
Lenders are scrutinizing deals with unprecedented rigor. Clean, comprehensive data—third-party valuations, ESG risk assessments, and detailed financials—secures faster approvals and better terms.
3. Attracting Capital
With dry powder waiting for the right opportunities, sponsors who showcase downside protection and defensible underwriting stand out. Transparency signals credibility, drawing institutional equity and flexible debt.
4. Leveraging Data for Speed
AI-powered valuation tools and real-time dashboards are transforming appraisals from quarterly snapshots to dynamic insights. This agility lets proactive players seize opportunities while others lag.
The Transparency Playbook
To thrive in this repricing cycle, CRE leaders are adopting a new toolkit:
- Current Appraisals: Reflect today’s interest rates and cap rate realities.
- Scenario-Based Modeling: Stress-test NOI for rent, vacancy, and expense risks.
- Granular Tenant Data: Highlight lease terms, renewals, and tenant credit profiles.
- Replacement-Cost Analysis: Show trades below build-to-core costs to justify value.
- Comparable Sales: Use recent comps to anchor underwriting assumptions.
- Proactive Disclosures: Share reserve plans, TI exposure, and lease-up timelines upfront.
These steps build trust, streamline diligence, and close deals faster—critical in a capital-constrained market.
The Road to Recovery
If interest rates ease and liquidity returns in 2026, valuations could stabilize and recover as sidelined capital re-enters. But the real winners won’t be those who waited—it will be the ones who embedded transparency into their strategy today.
In a market searching for its new normal, valuation clarity is your currency. Master it now, and you’ll set the terms for CRE’s next chapter. Take Action: Audit your portfolio’s valuation data. Update appraisals, stress-test assumptions, and share clear, defensible metrics with stakeholders. In today’s CRE, transparency isn’t just strategy—it’s survival.
