The CRE Metrics That Matter Most Right Now 📊

Tie Occupancy, Well-being, and Retention to Real Value

Author

Anne Morgan
September 30, 2025

In partnership with

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In a hybrid world where global office utilization averages only 60%, underused space drains budgets and drags performance. Corporate real estate leaders are rethinking what success looks like by focusing on a “trinity” of metrics: occupancy, well-being, and retention.

This feature demonstrates how to track value by zone and time, explains why air quality and noise influence output, and reveals how retention signals indicate whether spaces attract or repel talent. It also highlights how modern tools surface ghost bookings and bring facilities, HR, and IT together on a single dashboard.

📰 Upcoming in this issue

  • 🏢 CRE Metrics That Matter, From Occupancy to Well-being

  • 🏗️ Northwest Alabama CRE Trends, Atlanta Fed’s Take

  • 🤝 People-Powered AI in CRE: The Human Edge

🏢 CRE Metrics That Matter, From Occupancy to Well-being

This article illustrates how space, culture, and data intersect with the P&L, explaining why occupancy, well-being, and retention form the guiding principles for workplace ROI.

Key Takeaways:

  • 📊 Occupancy Signals: Right-Size Space. Sensor and badge data reveal true usage, guiding lease decisions, desk ratios, and amenity investments.

  • 💙 Well-being Matters: Health Drives Output. Air quality, lighting, and noise scores correlate with productivity, safety, and reduced absenteeism.

  • 🔁 Retention Impact: Keep Talent Longer. Engagement and return rates predict churn risk, aligning workplace fixes with recruitment and training savings.

  • 📈 Tie to P&L: Metrics to Money. Link space and experience KPIs to cost per FTE, revenue per head, and project cycle times for credibility.

An Atlanta Fed deep dive maps what is leasing, what is not, and where capital is returning across Northwest Alabama. Expect selective strength under tighter financing conditions.

Key Takeaways:

  • 🏭 Industrial Holds Up. Manufacturing-adjacent and logistics spaces experience steady demand, with tenants prioritizing access to transportation and reliable power.

  • 🏢 Office Remains Mixed. Activity concentrates in medical and government uses, while legacy space struggles without upgrades and flexible floor plans.

  • 🏘️ Housing Steadies. Multifamily occupancy remains stable, but rent growth cools as new supply enters the market and tenants become more cautious about costs.

  • 💵 Capital is Selective. Lenders favor stabilized assets and strong sponsors, nudging value-add deals to pencil with tighter underwriting and clearer exit paths.

🤝 People-Powered AI in CRE: The Human Edge

The Observer highlights how AI accelerates analysis, while people still provide the vision, creativity, and trust that close deals. A standout stat: 64% of professionals prefer human advice over AI.

Key Takeaways:

  • 🧭 Humans Set the Why. AI speeds comps and lease reviews, but strategy, persuasion, and relationships remain decisive.

  • 📊 People Still Preferred. LinkedIn data shows 64% of respondents value human advice over AI, underscoring trust as a competitive edge.

  • 💼 Skills Become Baseline. GenAI-related job postings surged 1,848% in 2023, making AI fluency table stakes for CRE roles.

  • 🛡️ Governance Matters. With notable AI failure rates, leaders embed oversight and responsible use while tools free teams for deeper client work.

Why It Matters

Getting the right metrics changes how money and time are allocated. When teams measure occupancy, well-being, and retention together, they can right-size leases, adjust energy use to actual demand, and reduce turnover tied to poor workspace experiences.

The payoff is faster decisions, fewer costly missteps, and a stronger reputation with both leadership and employees, because every space choice is grounded in data and business impact.

Catch you in the next issue,

Anne Morgan
Editor-in-Chief
Commercial Real Estate Weekly

P.S. Interested in sponsoring a future issue? Just reply to this email and I’ll send packages!

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