“We saw robust activity in the brick-and-mortar retail segment as 2014 came to a close,” says Sharga. “Deal volume is up, but prices are cooling in the sector due to trends like the growth of e-tailing and excess inventory coming to market as big-box stores shutter thousands of locations.”

Interestingly, as GlobeSt.com had reported in April 2014, class-A retail properties was one of the sectors leading the rising-price trend in commercial properties at that time, according to Auction.com. According to Eric Paulsen, EVP, general manager, commercial division, for Auction.com, “With sale prices continuing on an upward trajectory, performance across all sectors remains healthy, with multifamily and class-A retail leading the way. The Auction.com platform remains a major player in this sector, yielding above-market sales in these categories.”

More recently, as GlobeSt.com reported earlier this week, retail prices have been showing a cooling trend. According to Auction.com's most recent Market Monitor, while retail continues to face headwinds due to the rise of online shipping, deal volume increased to a 20% share of the total. The sector's pricing continues to work back toward prerecession peaks, but year-over-year price growth is trending well below the other sectors at 6.3%, even as its deal volume improves, possibly reflecting a recalibration of retail values following the unexpected sharp jump in investor interest earlier and the recent fall-off and challenges facing the sector.

The firm reported closings on 127 commercial real estate assets throughout December, with a total combined value of more than $327 million. Among the closings were a 30,102-square-foot retail strip center in East Hanover, NJ; Park West, a 92%-occupied, 133,000-square-foot retail strip center in Pinellas Park, FL; Panasonic Office Building, a 78%-occupied, 128,000-square-foot, three-story office building in Farmington Hills, MI; Indian Wells Apartments, a 67%-occupied, 176,000-square-foot multifamily property in Apache Junction, AZ; and a 17,000-square-foot vacant office property in Newport Beach, CA.