💼 The Direct Approach to CRE Closings

Reliable execution beats lowest quote every time

Author

Anne Morgan
August 14, 2025

In partnership with

Former Zillow exec targets $1.3T market

The wealthiest companies tend to target the biggest markets. For example, NVIDIA skyrocketed nearly 200% higher in the last year with the $214B AI market’s tailwind.

That’s why investors are so excited about Pacaso.

Created by a former Zillow exec, Pacaso brings co-ownership to a $1.3 trillion real estate market. And by handing keys to 2,000+ happy homeowners, they’ve made $110M+ in gross profit to date. They even reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO.

No wonder the same VCs behind Uber, Venmo, and eBay also invested in Pacaso. And for just $2.90/share, you can join them as an early-stage Pacaso investor today.

Paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the NASDAQ is subject to approvals.

Hello, Commercial Real Estate Pros! 🏢

In this issue, we explore what truly earns a lender’s trust in CRE. It is not flashy pitches or overpromises, but consistent honesty and transparency from brokers.

That means clear property details from day one, admitting when a deal does not fit, and proving reliability with every transaction.

📰 Upcoming in this issue

  • 🤝 Honesty Wins: What CRE Lenders Expect

  • 🏙️ Cleveland CRE: Industrial & Retail Lead the Pack

  • 🏢 US Office Tenants Plan Growth as Hybrid Fuels Demand

🤝 Honesty Wins: What CRE Lenders Expect

In today’s tougher market, iBorrow CEO Brian Good says deals move fastest when brokers and borrowers disclose everything upfront—and when lenders give quick, realistic answers that actually close.

Key Takeaways:

  • 🗣️ Radical Transparency Speeds Deals: Don’t hide office percentages in flex, true location, tenant issues, or other warts—lenders will find them, and early honesty builds trust.

  • 👥 Brokers Raise the Game: More borrowers are using brokers who bring better data and process know-how, improving submissions and outcomes.

  • 🔎 Data Checks Are Instant: With market intel at their fingertips, lenders verify claims in seconds, so misrepresentation quickly kills credibility.

  • 📏 Certainty Beats “Lowest Quote”: Reliable lenders give fast yes/no decisions and close as promised, while too-good-to-be-true rates often don’t fund.

🏙️ Cleveland CRE: Industrial & Retail Lead the Pack

Cleveland’s industrial engine keeps humming while retail surprises on the upside, with tight vacancies and disciplined building shaping a steadier market.

Key Takeaways:

  • 🏭 Industrial Still Tight: Vacancy sits near 3.1%, and most new projects are build-to-suit or pre-leased rather than speculative.

  • 🛍 Retail Holds Firm: Vacancies hover around 7.9% as brands target neighborhood infill and developers avoid overbuilding.

  • 🏢 Office Finds a Release Valve: Overall vacancy is about 15%, with office-to-multifamily conversions easing supply and strengthening downtown living.

  • 🌆 Downtown Momentum Builds: With 21,000 residents today and a goal of 30,000 by 2030, aligned civic leadership and projects like NASA Glenn, Blue Abyss, and Cleveland Clinic’s neuro institute fuel confidence.

🏢 US Office Tenants Plan Growth as Hybrid Fuels Demand

A new CBRE survey finds more companies looking to expand office footprints—with demand clustering in prime, amenity-rich, hybrid-ready buildings as teams rebalance how they work.

Key Takeaways:

  • 📈 Expansion Outweighs Contraction: More office users plan to grow space than shrink it, signaling a cautious turn toward offense in H2.

  • 🌟 Flight to Quality Continues: Tenants prioritize well-located buildings with standout amenities, healthy interiors, and flexible layouts over raw square footage.

  • 🧭 Hybrid Shapes Design: Collaborative zones, meeting-rich floors, and tech-enabled rooms rise in importance as heads-down work shifts to home or third spaces.

  • 🏗️ Landlord Playbook Evolves: Spec suites, upgraded amenities, and workplace services become key to winning move-ins and faster lease decisions.

Why It Matters

In CRE, your reputation is built on trust and consistency. When you lead with integrity, lenders are more likely to back your deals and stand with you in making them succeed.

Anne Morgan
Editor-in-Chief
Commercial Real Estate Weekly

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