Company: MMI
Filing Date: 2025-08-07
Form Type: 10-Q
Source: 0001578732-25-000040
Chunk: 118

Company: Marcus & Millichap, Inc.
Filing Date: 2025-08-07
Form: 10-Q
Item: Part I, Item 8
Chunk 118
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 migrate out of U.S. bonds and financial assets, putting upward pressure on interest rates. Looking forward, long-term rates may be more influenced by international capital flows and treasury issuance than by the Federal Reserve.

Although economic uncertainty together with financial market and interest rate volatility normally tend to increase investor caution, capital flows into commercial real estate could potentially be bolstered. As a “hard asset” with some level of resistance to inflation, recessions and financial market volatility, investment into commercial real estate could benefit from the current economic climate. The repricing of commercial real estate assets over the last three years has enhanced the yield profile, supporting positive or neutral leverage in many markets and property types. In addition, the passage of the new tax act provides some benefits and additional clarity to the commercial real estate market. Bonus depreciation rules, increased state and local tax (“SALT”) allowances, and increased deductibility of interest paid on commercial real estate could bolster investment activity. Furthermore, by making many of the new tax rules permanent, investors can rely on greater tax policy certainty, allowing them to deploy longer-term investment strategies. Whether capital migrates to commercial properties will likely depend on the risk perception of the broader financial market, but other hard assets have already experienced increased demand in the wake of the rapid policy shifts and financial market downturn.

Investor Sentiment and Investment Activity

We facilitate investors buying, selling, and financing properties in order to generate commissions. Investors’ desires and need to engage in real estate transactions are dependent on many factors that are beyond our control. The economy, supply and demand for properly positioned properties, available credit and market events impact investor sentiment and, therefore, transaction velocity. In addition, our private clients, who make up the largest source of revenue, are often motivated to buy, sell and/or refinance properties due to personal circumstances, such as death, divorce, partnership breakups and estate planning.

In the second quarter of 2025, commercial real estate transaction activity increased by 12% compared to the same quarter last year, led by velocity gains in office and retail property sales. Apartment transactions increased by 12% on a year-over-year basis, while industrial and seniors housing sales flattened and hotel property sales activity declined. The transaction uptick reflects the continuance of transactions initiated in the first quarter when the expectation gap had narrowed, but recent financial market volatility and uncertainty surrounding trade and the economy could re-widen expectations. Clarity on investor expectations in the new trade and economic climate have yet to fully emerge.

Several metrics traditionally associated with rising transaction activity