Green Street Says REIT Investors Navigating Higher Rates, AI Disruption, Rising Deal Activity
Michael Knott, head of U.S. REIT research at Green Street, said the REIT market is now shaped by three forces: higher interest rates, AI‑driven employment uncertainty, and a top‑heavy industry structure. He warned that the long‑standing low‑rate tailwind has faded, and AI could weaken office demand by decoupling GDP growth from jobs. Knott recommends investors stay disciplined, seek deep discounts in single‑family rentals, and maintain exposure to data centers and resilient retail, while noting that valuations are near equilibrium and capital flows are stabilizing. He also highlighted accelerating M&A and activist activity, creating binary risk that calls for stronger risk management.
Piedmont Realty’s Sherry Rexroad Says AI Success Dependent on Disciplined Governance
Sherry Rexroad, CFO of Piedmont Realty Trust, highlighted that AI’s value in the REIT stems from disciplined governance rather than technology alone. She cited measurable gains in high‑volume areas such as accounts payable, tenant operations, and scenario analysis, achieved through...
J.P. Morgan AISS’ Pulkit Sharma on How REITs Play Complementary Role in Diversified Portfolios
Pulkit Sharma, head of J.P. Morgan Asset Management’s Alternatives Investment Strategy and Solutions, highlighted how public REITs and private real‑estate assets can be combined to boost portfolio performance. He cited a data‑driven framework, co‑authored with GIC Singapore, that recommends 20‑40%...
Paul Hastings’ Partner on Increased Importance of Cross-Border Tax for REITs
Chris Mangin Jr., a tax partner at Paul Hastings, told Nareit’s REITwise 2026 conference that cross‑border tax considerations are becoming pivotal for REITs seeking overseas capital to fund infrastructure, AI and data‑center projects. Public‑market constraints are pushing REITs toward private equity,...
Self-Storage Adaptive Reuse Offers Cost, Zoning, Synergistic Benefits
Self‑storage operators are increasingly converting existing buildings rather than building new facilities, a trend driven by lower costs and zoning flexibility. A StorageCafe report shows 3.8 million square feet—about 7.2% of upcoming storage development—are adaptive‑reuse projects, with Irving, Texas leading the...
PwC’s Julanne Discusses Everyday REIT Tax Challenges
PwC tax principal Julanne Allen highlighted that most REIT tax headaches arise from day‑to‑day operations rather than headline‑making transactions. She warned that internal teams often make well‑meaning decisions that fall outside REIT compliance without proper oversight. Allen urged proactive planning...
Easterly Ranger’s Peter Zabierek Says Complex CRE Backdrop Creates Opportunity for Selective Investors
Peter Zabierek, senior portfolio manager at Easterly Ranger, told the REIT Report podcast that the commercial real‑estate (CRE) landscape has become too complex for broad sector bets. Investors now need to be selective, focusing on where genuine demand is emerging...
KPMG’s James Gardner Highlights AI’s Document Intelligence Benefits for REITs
KPMG’s AI specialist James Gardner told Nareit’s REITwise conference that AI is already boosting REIT finance operations. He cited faster forecasting, more robust valuation scenarios, and accelerated reporting through document intelligence that extracts data from leases. Gardner stressed that leading...
SEC Shifts Tone, Signals Openness to Streamlining Disclosures
Mike McTiernan of Hogan Lovells highlighted a marked shift in the SEC’s tone at REITwise 2026, noting a more open, collaborative stance toward industry participants. The agency’s increased presence at conferences is helping regulators understand how disclosures are prepared and...
FTSE Nareit U.S. Real Estate Indexes in Review & What’s Next: Webinar Recap
The FTSE Nareit All‑Equity REITs Index posted a 3.8% total‑return through March 31, a solid start that narrowed its gap with broader equities. Speakers noted that the Middle‑East conflict raises energy prices and inflation pressures, but the direct impact on REIT...
Bank of America’s Sandra Quince on Rethinking Workforce Metrics for Long-Term Value
Sandra Quince, senior vice president at Bank of America, addressed Nareit’s REITwise 2026 conference, urging REITs to replace traditional activity‑based workforce metrics with outcome‑driven indicators. She highlighted leadership bench strength, internal mobility, high‑performer retention, and productivity per employee as direct...
Roberts & Holland's Ezra Dyckman on REIT JV Compliance Complexities
At Nareit’s REITwise 2026 conference, Roberts & Holland partner Ezra Dyckman warned REITs about hidden tax pitfalls in operating‑partnership transactions. He explained that “disguised sale” rules can turn OP‑paid costs into taxable cash, creating unexpected tax bills and debt‑capacity issues. Dyckman...
KPMG’s Sarah Kindzerske on Navigating Joint Venture Complexity in REIT Transactions
At Nareit’s REITwise 2026 conference, KPMG’s Sarah Kindzerske highlighted a shift in REIT dealmaking from large public‑to‑public mergers toward increasingly complex joint ventures and one‑off strategic transactions. These structures involve multiple partners, layered financing, and intricate contractual terms, raising challenges...
NYSE’s Ron Bohlert on Early 2026 REIT Market Trends, Texas Expansion
Ron Bohlert, NYSE real‑estate director, warned that early 2026 REIT momentum is fading after a late‑2025 AI‑driven rally. Investors are re‑evaluating growth amid heavy capital spending, pressuring tech stocks while boosting defensive REITs. Geopolitical tensions and rising oil prices have...
Digital Realty’s Aaron Binkley Outlines Heightened Focus on Data Center Energy Efficiency
Digital Realty’s sustainability chief Aaron Binkley highlighted the company’s intensified focus on energy‑efficient data centers as AI‑driven workloads surge. The firm is expanding its clean‑energy portfolio while adopting liquid‑cooling technology to curb water use. Binkley emphasized that transparent ESG reporting...