Where are commercial investors putting their money in 2026?
Discover the rising sectors capturing attention—and capital—this year
New year, new investment opportunities!
Driven by persistent demand, multifamily properties continue to capture the attention of savvy commercial investors. But the broader landscape is changing as people are increasingly looking beyond traditional apartments to diversify their portfolios and position themselves for long-term growth. The question is—where are they looking?
“Data centers, senior living, self-storage, and medical offices are really gaining traction,” says Everest Loan Officer Judy Stein. “Clearly, investor confidence is rising and fundamentals are stabilizing across a variety of non-multifamily sectors. It’s an exciting time for CRE investment.”
Your trusted partners at Everest have rounded up the seven most promising property types to look into this year. But before we break them down, let’s take a look at some relevant stats. These should give you a good confidence boost!
A few non-multifamily facts
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Vacancy rates at U.S. data centers remain extremely tight, staying below 2% in late 2025.
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Senior housing occupancy is projected to exceed 90%, one of the highest levels in two decades.
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Self-storage demand is strengthening, as the share of U.S. households using these spaces jumped from 11.1% in 2022 to 13.4% in 2024.
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“Each of these sectors is showing investors there’s more to explore than just apartments,” explains Judy Stein. “Data centers are booming because businesses need more digital space, senior housing is full with people aging into care, and the list goes on and on. For anyone willing to look beyond the usual multifamily, these types of properties can offer steady income and solid long-term growth.”
Breaking out of the box
Finally, here’s a countdown of the top areas gaining momentum this year. As always, our top choices are based on insights from industry experts and market reports.
7 CRE Sectors to Watch in 2026
7. Single-Family Rentals (SFRs)
Single-family rentals continue to appeal to investors seeking stable cash flow and geographic diversification. With homeownership out of reach for many, professionally managed rental homes provide both steady demand and long-term appreciation potential. SFRs are especially attractive in suburban markets with strong population growth, positive employment trends, and ideal commuting access (think: Westchester, Rockland, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties, NY).
6. Senior Housing
As the U.S. population ages, senior housing is experiencing renewed interest. Independent living, assisted living, and memory care facilities are drawing investors because of their recession-resistant demand. Recent data shows that the sector benefits from predictable occupancy rates and a growing need for specialized care services. For example, in 2025, independent living communities surpassed 90% occupancy according to the National Investment Center.
5. Data Centers
Our tech-driven economy has made digital infrastructure more critical than ever. Data centers are at the heart of this demand as businesses expand cloud computing, AI applications, e-commerce operations, and more. In particular, investors are drawn to the sector’s long-term leases and reliable cash flow, not to mention its strategic importance in a connected world. Did you know that data traffic is projected to double every three years?
4. Medical Offices
In 2026, healthcare is expected to remain a robust sector regardless of economic cycles. Medical office buildings offer consistent tenancy, often backed by long-term leases with reputable healthcare providers. Industry experts argue that telehealth is complementing (not replacing) traditional care, so demand for specialized office spaces continues to grow. Examples include imaging/radiology centers, outpatient surgery centers, dialysis centers, rehab facilities, as well as dental and ENT offices.
3. Self-Storage
Self-storage facilities are thriving in urban and suburban markets alike. Investors appreciate the relatively low management requirements, high margins, and consistent demand driven by people’s desire to downsize, relocate, or simply store stuff because of lifestyle changes. And this isn’t the old-school sector you’re thinking of. Today, technology-enabled management and climate-controlled units can enhance your efficiency and profitability.
2. Moderate-Income Housing
Moderate-income housing is a rising focus for socially conscious investors seeking both returns and impact. This under-the-radar sector addresses affordability gaps while offering stable rental income like other forms of residential housing. Public-private partnerships, tax incentives, as well as government support all strengthen investor confidence in this space. Put simply, millions of households fall into the ‘moderate income’ category, and this creates a huge tenant pool. Bonus point: compared to luxury renters, these individuals are also known to stay longer.
1. Grocery-Anchored Retail
While retail has faced challenges in recent years, grocery-anchored centers are standing out as resilient assets all across the country. Essential retailers maintain consistent foot traffic, while landlords often benefit from long-term leases and creditworthy tenants. CRE Daily reports that these retail centers saw vacancies dip to around 3.5% in 2024—an incredibly strong stat. They also experienced some of the highest rent growth among retail subtypes at 3% year-over-year. Clearly, grocery anchors provide stability that many other retail formats cannot match.
Your next investment starts here
Ready to explore opportunities beyond multifamily? Whether you’re curious about data centers, senior housing, or grocery-anchored retail, Everest is here to help you navigate these emerging sectors with confidence. Let’s find the right path for your commercial real estate goals in 2026!
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