B
enzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commissions from the links below. Earlier this year, economic uncertainty slowed the commercial real estate (CRE) market, but a key metric has now risen, suggesting capital is re‑entering the sector and offering a glimmer of optimism for investors. In July, JLL’s proprietary Bid Intensity Index (BII) increased for the first time since December. The BII aggregates bid‑ask spread, bids per deal, and bid variability to gauge competitiveness in direct investment, providing early signals before transaction volumes confirm trends. The uptick indicates that market‑wide bidding activity is becoming more competitive after a period of volatility. The index dipped at the start of 2025 due to bond market turbulence and trade‑policy uncertainty, but it is now stabilizing, signaling growing market momentum.

    JLL’s report also breaks down performance by property type: multi‑family housing leads in bidding intensity thanks to high liquidity and housing shortages; industrial and logistics lag slightly because of a leasing slowdown; retail has seen improved intensity since 2024, supported by balanced supply‑demand and strong consumer spending.

    Additional highlights: a limited‑time offer to invest in Pacaso ends September 18; a former real‑estate firm sold for nearly $1 billion and is now advancing U.S. industrial growth; Deloitte’s rapidly growing software platform, “Scrolling To UBI,” lets users earn money on their phones, with shares available at $0.30 each.