It’s not just New York and California — the office market is getting healthier across the country.

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National office vacancy rates declined 10 basis points in the second quarter, with more than half of the 92 markets tracked by Cushman & Wakefield notching a dip in vacancy rates. The second-quarter results reinforced an uptick at the start of the year that has been building despite macroeconomic volatility. 

Vacancy has declined for two consecutive quarters as tenants fill the highest-quality buildings, leading some demand to trickle into the Class-A tier as the worst office space is being taken out of commission, with more than 90,000 apartments in the office-to-residential conversion pipeline. 

“The first half of 2026 reinforced that the office recovery is no longer confined to a handful of leading markets or trophy assets,” David Smith, the head of Americas insights at Cushman & Wakefield, said in a statement. 

Vacancy declined in 49 of the 92 markets tracked by Cushman, or 53% of cities. Tech firms building artificial intelligence tools continue to drive leasing activity, and the best-performing markets continue to be tech-centric hubs. San Francisco, Orange County and Midtown Manhattan recorded the largest year-over-year declines in vacancy, according to Cushman.

Other areas around New York City are well represented in the top 20 markets for vacancy declines, joined by secondary markets including Kansas City, Missouri; Charlotte; Jacksonville, Florida; Austin; and others. Many of the markets are bouncing back from cyclical vacancy highs, with San Francisco gaining 364 basis points of occupancy but leaving overall vacancy elevated at 30%. 

The wide representation of markets seeing vacancy dips suggests that office leasing activity is more broad-based and not solely reliant with tech tenants.

Total U.S. office inventory also contracted by 33M SF over the past five quarters, and 20 markets have had at least 1% of their office space taken off the market, as more conversions are proposed. 

Among markets moving in the other direction, vacancy climbed the most year-over-year in Cleveland, although the city’s vacancy rate is below the national average of 20.1%.

Boston, Oklahoma City, Puget Sound’s Eastside outside Seattle and Los Angeles’ central business district round out the five markets where vacancy has grown the most year-over-year. Boston’s vacancy rate is still below the national average, and neighborhoods outside Downtown Los Angeles have seen vacancy plateau over the last three quarters.

Tenants vacated a net 300K SF of space during the second quarter, but absorption for the rolling 12 quarters totaled 14.3M SF after revisions to previous quarters’ totals pushed move-ins higher and suggest that this quarter’s total could also shift upward.

Sublease availability has also declined 15% year-over-year to 96M SF, its lowest point since early 2021, and continuing a downward trend that Cushman says historically precedes a broader market recovery. 

More conversions will be announced, helping support gradual occupancy improvement across the sector as it benefits from healthier supply-side dynamics, Smith said. 

Law firms across the country have watched their caseloads explode under a triple whammy of increased artificial intelligence usage, rising regulatory uncertainty and a more litigious business climate.

These new business challenges have supercharged law practices’ growth. Flush with cash, they have been gobbling up office space at a pace few other industries can match, growing their footprints after years of shrinkage.

“The folks who signed a lease in 2019, 10-year leases, they’re coming up in a few years,” said SmithGroup senior workplace strategist Madeline Dunsmore, who focuses on legal clients. “These are big firms with big budgets, and suddenly, in this market, those budgets go pretty far.” 

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Compared to the pre-pandemic average, legal leasing activity was up 46% in the year trailing the first quarter of 2026, while tech leasing in the same period was down 8% from its pre-pandemic average, according to CBRE.

The legal industry signed 4.6M SF leases in the first three months of 2026, part of a string of four years of record leasing activity, according to Cushman & Wakefield.

The trend represents a reversal from a decade ago, when the average law firm was giving back 25% of its office space when signing a new lease.

Firms are signing for larger blocks, renewing early and planting flags in fast‑growing markets as they compete for attorneys with specialized AI and compliance expertise. With legal hours rising and AI‑related legislation proliferating across the country, the sector’s office growth now reflects a broader shift.

“The legal profession is recession-proof, and it’s been consistently more office-centric than other industries,” Cushman & Wakefield Head of Insights for the Americas David Smith said. “I think some firms are opportunistic.”

The average firm’s profit growth last year was 13%, according to a joint state of the industry report by Georgetown Law and the Thomson Reuters Institute. 

The report says the surge in demand lifting profits is due in large part to chaos, including trade wars, regulatory upheaval and geopolitical tensions that “require constant legal navigation.” 

These demand drivers led to a 3.9% year-over-year jump in the total hours worked by lawyers last year, one of the most rapid expansions the report has ever tallied. 

Legal leasing continues to grow in top-tier markets. In May, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett finalized a 916K SF lease at Extell Development’s upcoming New York tower at 570 Fifth Ave., Manhattan’s largest office lease in six years. 

Firms like Kirkland & Ellis and Goodwin Procter expanded late last year as part of an industry “space race.” 

Legal clients have accounted for 17% of Manhattan leasing volume this year, up from 11% in all of 2025, according to Savills.

But the industry’s growth is also driving more activity in regional markets with growing populations, business expansion or evolving office dynamics. In Miami, the legal industry now makes up 20% of office leasing, versus 10% pre-pandemic. 

Nashville, Charlotte and Charleston, South Carolina, have all seen similar jumps, and Austin and Dallas have seen booms in new legal spaces due to firms opening satellite offices, Smith said.

“There are countless examples of people just doubling down and renewing with similar amounts of space or slightly more than they had at their large offices,” Smith said.

The number of job postings among law firms for lawyers with AI skills and experience has jumped seven times since generative AI became more prevalent in 2022, according to Cushman & Wakefield.

“There has also been an increase in AI-related bills introduced into current legislative sessions across more than half of states,” Smith said. “This unprecedented legislative activity is a driving force for top law firms to have and grow their AI practice groups.”

But it remains to be seen if the chaos that has driven increased revenues proves to be a sustainable business strategy. The Georgetown-Reuters report hints at substantial financial pressures — including growth in spending on AI tools but an inability to charge premium AI-level fees — and the potential for a boom-and-bust cycle coming to the industry.

Firms are racing to load up on tech and talent, and workforce costs are up 8.2% compared to 2024, according to the Georgetown-Reuters report. 

“Certain law firms, even though they’re becoming more efficient from a utilization-of-space perspective, are actually growing because they’re acquiring attorneys and end up expanding their offices as a result,” said Ryan Lopez, vice president of leasing at Carr Properties.

The amount of office space needed per attorney is down from 925 SF before the pandemic to 746 SF today, but other needs are filling the gaps in law firms’ requirements.

Legal firms want to expand with more collaboration areas and more war room space for mock trials and strategy sessions, and they want high-end amenity space as a talent magnet.

Hospitality-driven design, gyms, pools and collaboration spaces are in, taking up to one-fifth of new offices, Smith said. Other in-demand amenities include parking, especially for partners, as well as conference and meeting rooms sizable enough for events and dinners.

“Rather than just cutting costs, firms are investing in placemaking, shared spaces that support culture and client interaction,” CBRE Managing Director of Americas Consulting Emily Botello said.

They are also investing in proprietary software and AI systems that need staff to oversee them, scaling up space needs where the mid-2010s removal of physical law libraries shrunk office footprints.

“The bottom line is that AI is creating demand for AI legal services, and it is also creating demand for AI support positions within law firms to implement, manage and maintain AI systems,” Smith said. 

Office loans posted the weakest maturity outcomes among major property types in the first quarter of 2026, Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) reported. Of the $2.21 billion in non-defeased conduit CMBS office loans that matured, 68% failed to pay off on time, highlighting ongoing office market distress. Conversely, KBRA reported, “our findings suggest that markets remain liquid for higher quality properties.”

Among office loans that paid off at maturity in Q1 2026, there were weighted average (WA) metrics of 96% occupancy, a debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) of 1.84 and a debt yield (DY) of 11%, reported KBRA. Although these metrics supported stronger maturity outcomes, they still trailed the credit profile of newly securitized debt.

In contrast, office loans that failed to pay off at maturity exhibited materially weaker credit profiles. These loans carried a WA DSCR of 1.26, DY of 7%, and substantially lower occupancy of 66%. “We view these loans as significantly overleveraged, with an average KBRA loan-to-value (KLTV) of 170% based on our proprietary collateral values,” KBRA reported.

REALM, in partnership with Delshah Capital and A.M. Properties, has acquired CitySpire, a 377,000-square-foot office condominium comprising 24 floors within the 70-story tower at 156 W 56th St. in Midtown Manhattan. Purchased at an 8.5% cap rate, the 98% occupied property features renovated common areas, high-end finishes and a roster of tenants including Caleres, Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, LLP and New York Road Runners. 

Built in 1987 and maintained by institutional ownership, the property has undergone approximately $22 million in capital improvements and requires no near-term capital expenditures, REALM said, noting that. Manhattan office leasing activity reached pre-pandemic highs in late 2025. 

“CitySpire represents the type of opportunity we seek in today’s market,” said Travis King, founder and CEO of REALM, an investment collective of 130 family offices. “While capital markets remain cautious on office, we see strong fundamentals in premier Midtown assets, where leasing activity and occupancy continue to outperform. CitySpire reflects our focus on highly selective investments with strong downside protection and long-term upside.”  

Colliers completed the sale of 2323 Grand Boulevard, a 321,000-square-foot office property located in Kansas City’s Crown Center sub-market.

Senior Vice President Evan Warwick represented the owner, and Principal Bryan Johnson represented the buyer. Stanton Road Capital, LLC, a private investment management and advisory firm, sold the property to Crain Company, a Wichita-based multifamily acquisition and development company.

The 11-story office building was developed in 1985 and acquired by Stanton Road Capital in 2017. Conveniently located within a well-established commercial corridor, the property offers walkable access to nearby hotels, retail, and dining options, along with covered and surface parking.

“This area continues to show strong long-term potential, particularly due to its proximity to the new Kansas City Royals stadium and ongoing development activity nearby,” commented Warwick. “The property’s premier location and panoramic downtown views made it a highly attractive asset, and we are especially appreciative of the trust our clients placed in us throughout the process.”

Highwoods Properties sold Bridgestone Tower, a 513,000 square foot office tower in Nashville, for $255 million. This property is 100% leased and is projected to generate approximately $17 million of annual cash in 2026. Eastdil Secured advised the seller on this transaction.

Drawbridge Realty was the buyer of the 30-story, Class AA office tower. The property was developed as a build-to-suit for Bridgestone Americas and delivered in 2017. The property is fully leased to Bridgestone, the tire and rubber company.

Bridgestone Tower is positioned in Nashville’s central business district, within walking distance of Broadway, Bridgestone Arena, the Music City Center, and the Country Music Hall of Fame.

With the addition of Bridgestone Tower, Drawbridge has acquired more than $740 million in assets in the last 12 months, totaling over 1.1 million square feet.

Colliers has been awarded the exclusive leasing assignment for 601 City Center, located in Oakland’s downtown. The firm has been hired by the new owner, Kennedy Wilson, to lease the property’s 24-story, 607,000-square-foot office tower. EVPs Charlie Allen and Anthony Shell and SVP Amber Merrigan will lead the marketing efforts.

“We’re excited to reintroduce Bay Area companies to this exceptional office tower,” said Allen. “Its new construction and upgraded design features, including a double-glazed glass curtain wall and illuminated exterior, make it an outstanding option for companies seeking a distinctive new home. We can accommodate a large contiguous block of approximately 260,000 square feet or professional suites starting at 5,000 square feet.”

Built in 2019, the Class A tower is the first high-rise office building constructed in the city in roughly a decade. Kennedy Wilson acquired it in April through foreclosure, according to published reports.

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Corporate in-migration into the Sun Belt has picked up steam again as the largest office landlord in Metro Atlanta reports it has more than 1M SF in the pipeline in potential lease deals. 

The Atlanta skyline

Cousins Properties CEO Colin Connolly said his firm has seen a “significant uptick in relocation activities” from companies looking to move to Sun Belt markets. They are choosing to do so, in part, because of the threat of new personal and business tax proposals in states like California, New York and Washington, he said.

Recent business headlines seem to strengthen Connolly’s assertion of a Sun Belt revival. 

Starbucks announced in April it was opening a $100M regional headquarters in Nashville. It was reported in late March that financial giant Apollo is seeking a Southeast headquarters, with a focus on Austin, Nashville and South Florida. And asset management firm Capital Group announced last month it was spearheading a $60M East Coast office hub in Charlotte. 

Locally, Yamaha Motor Co. announced it was moving its headquarters from California — where it’s been for nearly 50 years — to Kennesaw, north of Atlanta. 

In the first quarter of this year, office landlords tallied their first positive absorption since the end of 2022, with AT&T and KPMG grabbing big chunks of office space. 

Cousins inked 49 office leases totaling 932K SF in the first quarter, with 52% of those being new and expanded leases, Executive Vice President Richard Hickson said. 

In Metro Atlanta, Cousins leased 192K SF in the first quarter, including KPMG’s new 105K SF lease at the Proscenium in Midtown. It also facilitated CallRail’s 46K SF deal at 725 Ponce in April.

“We believe that we are still in the early innings of this migration trend and expect these announcements to continue,” Connolly said during an April 30 earnings call.

Connolly’s comments echoed the optimism expressed by other publicly traded REIT leaders about the Metro Atlanta commercial real estate market. 

Piedmont Realty Trust Inc. tallied Atlanta as its second most-active office leasing market, securing 12 deals for 88K SF in Q1 2026, Piedmont Executive Vice President George Wells said during a May 1 earnings call. 

Despite this activity, Cousins posted a net loss of nearly $25M for the quarter, down from net income of $20.9M in Q1 2025, according to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings. 

Cousins attributed the loss to a more than $36M impairment loss over the pending sale of One Eleven Congress, a 30-story office tower in Austin. That deal is expected to be consummated in the third quarter.

During the same period, though, Cousins’ rental income climbed nearly 7.5% quarter-over-quarter from $243M to $261.1M. 

Piedmont also posted a net loss of $12.9M for the quarter, up from a loss of $10M year-over-year, according to SEC filings. This was attributed mainly to higher depreciation expense from finished improvements.

Despite the net income loss and the coming loss of two big Piedmont tenants, the firm remained upbeat about re-leasing space in the coming months, especially with a backlog of early proposals and fewer big blocks of space remaining available in key submarkets, Wells said. 

For example, Piedmont has about 300K SF of prospective tenant proposals in the pipeline to help backfill the loss of the two large tenants in Central Perimeter, he said. Wells said the REIT is well-positioned in that submarket.

“One of the advantages here is that when you look at the supply of large block space for 150K SF or larger, there’s only four that really we would call the Tier One, and we own two out of four of those,” Wells said. “So we feel pretty good about that.”

Cousins’ Connolly also said Buckhead — one of the toniest submarkets in Metro Atlanta — is nearing a point where new construction could be justified. The firm has previously announced its intentions of potentially adding office to Buckhead’s skyline.

While the delta between asking rents in Buckhead — between $50 to $60 per SF — and new construction costs of around $90 per SF remains prohibitive, Connolly said the lack of available office space is making the prospect of new construction more likely.

“I use kind of one example where I’m sitting today in the Buckhead submarket of Atlanta,” he said. “If a user today needed 100K SF or had a 100K SF requirement in what I would characterize as a trophy lifestyle office building, they have exactly zero options.”

The first three months of 2026 were the most active period for office landlords since before the pandemic.

Office tenants signed roughly 120M SF in new leases in the first quarter of the year, a 25% increase compared to the first quarter of 2025 and the highest quarterly total since 2018, according to a CoStar report.

The surge was largely driven by a higher volume of smaller leases — a trend that emerged after the pandemic. The number of leases signed hit its highest point going back a decade.

“While the quarterly figure signifies continued momentum for national office recovery, the composition of leasing activity reflects an intensification of patterns that have emerged in the leasing office market since the pandemic began,” CoStar National Director of Office Analytics Phil Mobley wrote in the analysis.

Since the beginning of 2023, new lease sizes remained about 15% below pre-pandemic averages, due in part to restricted hiring and the lack of larger space in newer buildings, according to the report.

Smaller leases also tend to be more fluid with shorter terms, promoting more leasing activity.

Amid the surge, almost half of the nation’s largest office markets have had leasing return within 10% of their pre-pandemic averages — primarily led by Charlotte, New York City, Miami and San Francisco, which are above their 2015 to 2019 averages.

Courtesy of CoStar Group

The demand from banks and financial institutions, which have maintained a higher in-office attendance record, has uplifted leasing recovery. That trend is particularly strong in Charlotte, where Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. have all announced significant expansions.

But there are still a handful of metropolitan areas — including Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Denver, Seattle, San Diego and Philadelphia — that are still below 20% of their pre-pandemic average of office leasing activity.

Looking forward, the first quarter’s momentum may not be sustainable through 2026 amid economic and uncertainty pressures, Mobley wrote.

“On the demand side, the return-to-office movement is reaching its apogee, and job growth remains tepid,” he wrote. “Rising energy costs associated with the conflict with Iran also present a headwind to economic growth and, in turn, to demand for office space.”

U.S. office vacancy hit a new high as commercial real estate’s subdued 2025 performance carried into the first quarter of 2026, according to a report from Moody’s Analytics.

Two markets in Texas and California led the increase in vacancy rates, with nearly 1M SF of office occupancy losses each.

The industry is navigating an “increasingly complex set of crosscurrents,” including renewed inflationary pressure, resilient high-income consumer spending and restrained office leasing demand that will likely keep CRE performance uneven in the near term, per Moody’s Analytics CRE Preliminary Trend Analysis for Q1 2026. 

The 21% office vacancy rate is up 10 basis points from the previous quarter and up 60 bps from the previous year. The new vacancy rate is 4% higher than the 17% vacancy rate recorded in 2020 at the start of the pandemic. 

Oakland-East Bay, California, led the U.S. in negative absorption with 944K SF of occupancy lost, according to the report. That was followed by Austin with 870K SF of negative absorption, then Chicago with 571K SF lost and San Jose, California, with 540K SF lost. 

Occupied office stock expanded during 2021 and 2022 as firms worked through pre-pandemic leases, but now 10 of the last 13 quarters have shown net contraction. The overall decline was 5.2M SF in the first quarter, bringing the decline since 2025’s first quarter to nearly 20M SF, the report states.

The trend reflects structural and cyclical forces, including the demand for higher-quality space and smaller footprints. Moody’s expects vacancy to continue rising this year as more leases expire.

Across all asset classes, Moody’s reports broadly stable performance. Multifamily rent growth remained modest, increasing less than 1%, amid a 10-bps increase in vacancy to 6.8%. Markets with the most aggressive construction pipelines, particularly Sun Belt markets like Dallas, Phoenix, Charlotte and San Antonio, saw increased vacancy rates. 

Retail “delivered mild upside surprises” with a flat vacancy rate of 10.4%. Strong consumer spending is helping but keeping the sector steady rather than spurring growth as labor markets soften and cost-of-living pressures increase.  

Industrial rents flattened as vacancy ticked up 10 bps to 8.4%, its highest level since 2021, as inventory growth narrowly outpaced occupancy gains. Industrial net absorption totaled 1.3M SF during the quarter.