NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.— Commercial real estate sales surged 16% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year, according to new data from Green Street’s Real Estate Alert, signaling renewed momentum across markets and sectors after several turbulent quarters.
In a special mid-year supplement analyzing the private-capital segment, Green Street reported that overall U.S. commercial property transactions valued at $5 million and up totaled $163.61 billion through June — up from $141.34 billion in H1 2024.
Notably, sales of larger assets over $25 million led the recovery, climbing 21% to $118.37 billion, while deals between $5 million and $25 million grew more modestly at 3.5%, reaching $45.24 billion. The divergence highlights a faster rebound among institutional and major investors, even as private-capital players remain somewhat cautious.
One standout trend: brokered sales outpaced unbrokered trades across both market tiers. Sell-side advisor–led deals rose 21% in each segment, while unbrokered sales declined 16% in the $5 million–$25 million range — a sign that sellers are increasingly leaning on brokerage expertise in a more competitive market.
“The year-over-year increase that Green Street’s reporting has shown in the first half is just the latest bellwether of improvement in the commercial real estate space,” said Rich Quinn, Managing Editor of Real Estate Alert. “The quality of our proprietary data and the depth of our analysis reveals a landscape that is primed for a strong second half.”
Sector-wise, activity was healthy across multifamily, industrial, office, retail, hotel, and niche segments, reflecting broad-based investor confidence. While April’s tariff announcement from the Trump Administration temporarily slowed listings and deal flow, most market participants viewed it as a brief disruption rather than a sustained drag.
Green Street’s rankings are based on a nationwide survey of 46 brokerages, supplemented by property records, news sources, and independent reporting — offering a unique window into real-time deal activity and market sentiment.
With momentum accelerating, analysts expect a robust finish to 2025 as capital continues to return to commercial real estate.
