‘Change is In Motion Everywhere’ in 2018

“Yields on commercial real estate are still attractive when compared with alternative investments,” says Rose.

CHICAGO—“It’s critical to note that change is in motion everywhere,” says Mark E. Rose, chairman and CEO of Avison Young, in a video segment discussing the firm’s 2018 outlook report. “Change that is positive, powerful and moving quickly. This is the type of evolution that creates opportunity.”

Occupier behavior is one such change area, he points out: alternative workplace strategies are “finally being accepted as strategic.” When anticipating the impact of autonomous vehicles on everything from urban and suburban dynamics to the repurposing of parking lots and logistics configurations, “a host of real estate challenges and opportunities open up,” he says. “And while potentially disruptive in the short term, ultimately these trends will result in real estate being used more effectively and with greater cost efficiency.”