Charlotte CRE hot takes for 2026

Plus: Does Truist need more office space?; Taking a tour of Oro at The Bowl; CannonDesign to open first Southeast office in Charlotte; Entertainment center eyes north Charlotte

Today’s Real Estate Whispers is sponsored by The McIntosh Law Firm. At The McIntosh Law Firm, we offer experienced legal guidance in real estate development, property revaluation appeals, government relations, land use, estate planning, and business law—helping clients navigate complex legal and regulatory challenges.

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Welcome back to our weekly look at Charlotte real estate and development news. Today is our last edition of 2025 for Charlotte Commercial Real Estate Whispers, your home for all things on Charlotte’s dirt and development. We’ll be back the first full week of January, but thank you for reading in 2025.

As always, if you have a tip, let me know at ashley@cltledger.com.

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In today’s edition:

1. Industry insider predictions for Charlotte’s commercial real estate market in 2026

2. Five-day-a-week mandates prompt questions about office space requirements

3. Take a peek inside Ballantyne’s new luxury apartment tower

4. A local architecture firm is being acquired

5. And a wrap-up of land deals and real estate news, from us and other sources

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What industry insiders are watching in Charlotte commercial real estate next year

Will we see another office tower break ground in red-hot South End in 2026? (Photo courtesy of Rico Marcelo Photography)

In my experience covering the industry, I’ve found folks in commercial real estate tend to have a lot of hot takes. I decided to see what predictions those in the industry (or who closely follow the market) have for what we’ll see in Charlotte development, leasing and investment in 2026.

Some of these takes are spicier than others, but a couple of themes emerged in the responses. For one, it seems that many people are optimistic about the office’s comeback in 2026. And while the market may start to see an uptick in investment activity next year, there’s still an expectation among many industry insiders that investment will take time to recover.