Xander Snyder
@xandersnyder.bsky.social
Senior Commercial Real Estate Economist at First American Financial
Yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of the start of the major fires in Los Angeles that spread across the city. While they began as wildfires, by the time they were extinguished they had also become major urban fires, destroying a significant number of structures.
January 8, 2026 at 6:20 PM
Yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of the start of the major fires in Los Angeles that spread across the city. While they began as wildfires, by the time they were extinguished they had also become major urban fires, destroying a significant number of structures.
I had the pleasure of chatting with Matt Sexton at MPA Mag about opportunities in 2026 for CRE mortgage brokers. It's part outlook, part strategy guide for brokers thinking proactively about how to position themselves early in the year.
Read his full article here:
www.mpamag.com/us/specialty...
Read his full article here:
www.mpamag.com/us/specialty...
Why distressed properties should be a top focus for CRE, non-QM brokers in 2026
Senior economist shares sectors brokers should target this year
www.mpamag.com
January 7, 2026 at 6:26 PM
I had the pleasure of chatting with Matt Sexton at MPA Mag about opportunities in 2026 for CRE mortgage brokers. It's part outlook, part strategy guide for brokers thinking proactively about how to position themselves early in the year.
Read his full article here:
www.mpamag.com/us/specialty...
Read his full article here:
www.mpamag.com/us/specialty...
Great sentiment. In the short term, it may pay off being first to say something about some event. But in the long term, your reputation depends on saying something **right** and well considered, and the contemplation required to do that takes time.
(my regular reminder to consider letting stories breathe before commenting. There's no value in being first to market with a comment.)
January 7, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Great sentiment. In the short term, it may pay off being first to say something about some event. But in the long term, your reputation depends on saying something **right** and well considered, and the contemplation required to do that takes time.
I had the pleasure of chatting with Noah Zucker at Bisnow about my outlook for CRE in 2026. I was just one of many economists he spoke with, and there are a lot of great pieces of information here from several top thinkers in our space.
Take a read here: www.bisnow.com/national/new...
Take a read here: www.bisnow.com/national/new...
From AI Data Centers To Sun Belt Apartments, Here Are 7 CRE Predictions For 2026
Commercial real estate experts have a mixed bag of predictions for 2026, with some sectors emerging as bright spots but others facing problems.
www.bisnow.com
January 6, 2026 at 7:01 PM
I had the pleasure of chatting with Noah Zucker at Bisnow about my outlook for CRE in 2026. I was just one of many economists he spoke with, and there are a lot of great pieces of information here from several top thinkers in our space.
Take a read here: www.bisnow.com/national/new...
Take a read here: www.bisnow.com/national/new...
Housing affordability just reached its best level in more than three years. The key variable to watch isn’t just mortgage rates - it’s months’ supply. Months’ supply acts like a price thermostat. When supply is tight, competition...
December 29, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Housing affordability just reached its best level in more than three years. The key variable to watch isn’t just mortgage rates - it’s months’ supply. Months’ supply acts like a price thermostat. When supply is tight, competition...
Reposted by Xander Snyder
Great conversation on what’s ahead for the housing market in 2026. Can’t wait to continue the discussion at the HousingWire Economic Summit in February!
www.housingwire.com/podcast/firs...
www.housingwire.com/podcast/firs...
First American’s Odeta Kushi on the 2026 housing forecast - HousingWire
HousingWire CEO Clayton Collins talks with First American's Odeta Kushi, about affordability and her 2026 forecast.
www.housingwire.com
December 29, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Great conversation on what’s ahead for the housing market in 2026. Can’t wait to continue the discussion at the HousingWire Economic Summit in February!
www.housingwire.com/podcast/firs...
www.housingwire.com/podcast/firs...
For much of the past 25 years, declining cap rates quietly did a lot of the work for CRE returns. Looking back over a longer horizon, though, the last 25 years stands out as unusual.
December 22, 2025 at 7:16 PM
For much of the past 25 years, declining cap rates quietly did a lot of the work for CRE returns. Looking back over a longer horizon, though, the last 25 years stands out as unusual.
I had the opportunity to chat with Matthew Sexton at Mortgage Professional America to discuss the major drivers of the CRE market next year, and how it may differ from the last one. Read his full article here:
www.mpamag.com/us/specialty...
www.mpamag.com/us/specialty...
Liquidity, repricing, and falling rates creating a ‘new cycle’ in commercial market
Senior economist tells brokers what will drive more deals in 2026
www.mpamag.com
December 19, 2025 at 6:57 PM
I had the opportunity to chat with Matthew Sexton at Mortgage Professional America to discuss the major drivers of the CRE market next year, and how it may differ from the last one. Read his full article here:
www.mpamag.com/us/specialty...
www.mpamag.com/us/specialty...
On the latest episode of The REconomy Podcast, we walked through our 2026 CRE outlook. In short, after a challenging set of years defined by rate shocks, falling prices, and general macroeconomic uncertainty, the commercial real estate market appears to reached a turning point.
The REconomy Podcast™: Commercial Real Estate Turns a Corner: What to Expect in 2026
In this episode of The REconomy Podcast™, we explore the 2026 commercial real estate outlook and five forces signaling a real CRE recovery.
blog.firstam.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:29 PM
On the latest episode of The REconomy Podcast, we walked through our 2026 CRE outlook. In short, after a challenging set of years defined by rate shocks, falling prices, and general macroeconomic uncertainty, the commercial real estate market appears to reached a turning point.
After a multi-year freeze, the housing market is showing signs of a slow thaw. The reason isn't a big drop in mortgage rates, but rather the shift in the mortgage rate lock-in effect. Most homeowners refinanced or bought at all-time low interest rates in 2020-2022.
December 17, 2025 at 8:13 PM
After a multi-year freeze, the housing market is showing signs of a slow thaw. The reason isn't a big drop in mortgage rates, but rather the shift in the mortgage rate lock-in effect. Most homeowners refinanced or bought at all-time low interest rates in 2020-2022.
This is an interesting reads from @dianaolick.bsky.social at @cnbc.com discussing CRE transaction volume in October, which fell by 27 percent compared to last October (using Moody's data).
www.cnbc.com/2025/12/09/c...
www.cnbc.com/2025/12/09/c...
Commercial real estate deal volume drops for the first time in nearly two years
Commercial real estate has had a rough year after gaining momentum coming out of the pandemic.
www.cnbc.com
December 11, 2025 at 5:06 PM
This is an interesting reads from @dianaolick.bsky.social at @cnbc.com discussing CRE transaction volume in October, which fell by 27 percent compared to last October (using Moody's data).
www.cnbc.com/2025/12/09/c...
www.cnbc.com/2025/12/09/c...
A few choice excerpts from Chair Powell's press conference this afternoon:
Said more than once: "There are no risk free paths"
"$40bn of purchases in first month and remain be elevated in first several months…but actual rates will depend on market conditions."
Said more than once: "There are no risk free paths"
"$40bn of purchases in first month and remain be elevated in first several months…but actual rates will depend on market conditions."
December 10, 2025 at 11:00 PM
A few choice excerpts from Chair Powell's press conference this afternoon:
Said more than once: "There are no risk free paths"
"$40bn of purchases in first month and remain be elevated in first several months…but actual rates will depend on market conditions."
Said more than once: "There are no risk free paths"
"$40bn of purchases in first month and remain be elevated in first several months…but actual rates will depend on market conditions."
The Federal Reserve cut rates by another 25 basis points today, bringing its target range down to 3.5%–3.75%. The vote was not unanimous - most members supported a 25 bps cut, one preferred a 50 bps cut, and two favored no cut at all.
December 10, 2025 at 10:14 PM
The Federal Reserve cut rates by another 25 basis points today, bringing its target range down to 3.5%–3.75%. The vote was not unanimous - most members supported a 25 bps cut, one preferred a 50 bps cut, and two favored no cut at all.
Had the opportunity to chat with @eriksherman.bsky.social at Globe Street to discuss First American's 2026 outlook for the CRE market.
Our latest research highlights five forces that are reshaping the market today, and which will propel greater market activity next year:
Our latest research highlights five forces that are reshaping the market today, and which will propel greater market activity next year:
December 9, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Had the opportunity to chat with @eriksherman.bsky.social at Globe Street to discuss First American's 2026 outlook for the CRE market.
Our latest research highlights five forces that are reshaping the market today, and which will propel greater market activity next year:
Our latest research highlights five forces that are reshaping the market today, and which will propel greater market activity next year:
Looks like we will not be getting a Producer's Price Index report this month (covering October). Instead, there'll be a delayed version of October's figures released when November's figures come out in mid January.
www.wsj.com/economy/bls-...
#PPI #Inflation #BLS #Economics
www.wsj.com/economy/bls-...
#PPI #Inflation #BLS #Economics
BLS to Skip October PPI Report
The BLS will skip publication of its delayed report on wholesale-price inflation, and will instead roll those figures into a postponed November report to be published on Jan. 14.
www.wsj.com
December 8, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Looks like we will not be getting a Producer's Price Index report this month (covering October). Instead, there'll be a delayed version of October's figures released when November's figures come out in mid January.
www.wsj.com/economy/bls-...
#PPI #Inflation #BLS #Economics
www.wsj.com/economy/bls-...
#PPI #Inflation #BLS #Economics
The latest REconomy episode pulls from a classic 1970's claymation film in order to…unpack the Fed's upcoming rate decision, one of the trickiest it will face in recent memory.
You might be asking yourself - how in the world are these two things related? Well..
You might be asking yourself - how in the world are these two things related? Well..
December 5, 2025 at 6:46 PM
The latest REconomy episode pulls from a classic 1970's claymation film in order to…unpack the Fed's upcoming rate decision, one of the trickiest it will face in recent memory.
You might be asking yourself - how in the world are these two things related? Well..
You might be asking yourself - how in the world are these two things related? Well..
How are you feeling about 2026? In a webinar I gave yesterday, I asked this question of a group of CRE professionals of different varieties, and 59% said that they were hopeful or some version of optimistic about next year. Less than half were concerned or despondent.
December 4, 2025 at 8:23 PM
How are you feeling about 2026? In a webinar I gave yesterday, I asked this question of a group of CRE professionals of different varieties, and 59% said that they were hopeful or some version of optimistic about next year. Less than half were concerned or despondent.
2026 might mark the turning point many in CRE have been waiting for.
In my latest piece, a 2026 outlook, I discuss a combination of five stabilizing “forces” that's laying the groundwork for a real recovery across commercial real-estate.
blog.firstam.com/cre-insights...
In my latest piece, a 2026 outlook, I discuss a combination of five stabilizing “forces” that's laying the groundwork for a real recovery across commercial real-estate.
blog.firstam.com/cre-insights...
2026 CRE Outlook: Five Forces Forge a Favorable Foundation for CRE
As commercial real estate stabilizes and distress peaks, sales rise and refinancing nears pre-pandemic levels, setting the stage for the 2026 outlook.
blog.firstam.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:24 PM
2026 might mark the turning point many in CRE have been waiting for.
In my latest piece, a 2026 outlook, I discuss a combination of five stabilizing “forces” that's laying the groundwork for a real recovery across commercial real-estate.
blog.firstam.com/cre-insights...
In my latest piece, a 2026 outlook, I discuss a combination of five stabilizing “forces” that's laying the groundwork for a real recovery across commercial real-estate.
blog.firstam.com/cre-insights...
Interesting piece yesterday in the The Wall Street Journal by @BrianMcgill, Max Rust, and Peter Grant yesterday about office conversions. The interactive viz does a great job at laying out some of the unique challenges that these conversion projects face, and..
www.wsj.com/real-estate/...
www.wsj.com/real-estate/...
Office-to-Residential Conversions Are Booming and New York Is the Epicenter
A tour of Manhattan buildings you can now call home, and a peek inside the architectural hacks that make transformations possible.
www.wsj.com
December 2, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Interesting piece yesterday in the The Wall Street Journal by @BrianMcgill, Max Rust, and Peter Grant yesterday about office conversions. The interactive viz does a great job at laying out some of the unique challenges that these conversion projects face, and..
www.wsj.com/real-estate/...
www.wsj.com/real-estate/...
Housing affordability is finally drifting in the right direction - slowly, but durably. The pandemic-era forces that shocked affordability (price growth and interest rate increases) have stabilized. In First American's affordability outlook for 2026, Mark Fleming discusses how...
December 1, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Housing affordability is finally drifting in the right direction - slowly, but durably. The pandemic-era forces that shocked affordability (price growth and interest rate increases) have stabilized. In First American's affordability outlook for 2026, Mark Fleming discusses how...
Inflation data is starting to be released again, and yesterday we received the first Producer's Price Index (PPI) report since the government re-opened. What did we learn about construction material costs and their inflation trends?
November 26, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Inflation data is starting to be released again, and yesterday we received the first Producer's Price Index (PPI) report since the government re-opened. What did we learn about construction material costs and their inflation trends?
Younger buyers are finally pulling up chairs at the homeownership table, just on a longer timeline. As we approach Thanksgiving, Sam Williamson discusses all the aspects of homeownership we have to be thankful for this season.
November 25, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Younger buyers are finally pulling up chairs at the homeownership table, just on a longer timeline. As we approach Thanksgiving, Sam Williamson discusses all the aspects of homeownership we have to be thankful for this season.
In the latest episode of the Inside Look, I welcomed have our very first guest, Annemarie Caruso, to talk about how Pennsylvania is turning into an up-and-coming state for data center development.
November 24, 2025 at 5:16 PM
In the latest episode of the Inside Look, I welcomed have our very first guest, Annemarie Caruso, to talk about how Pennsylvania is turning into an up-and-coming state for data center development.
New listings are playing an increasingly important role in unlocking the housing market. Where fresh inventory normalizes, sales tend to normalize too. This is a key ingredient for any sustainable rebound.
November 20, 2025 at 6:26 PM
New listings are playing an increasingly important role in unlocking the housing market. Where fresh inventory normalizes, sales tend to normalize too. This is a key ingredient for any sustainable rebound.
Excited to share a byline with Julie Baird in Commercial Property Executive on how changes in interest rates impact 1031 exchanges.
www.commercialsearch.com/news/balanci...
www.commercialsearch.com/news/balanci...
Balancing Act: 1031 Exchanges and Interest Rates
What the current environment could mean for your next transaction.
www.commercialsearch.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Excited to share a byline with Julie Baird in Commercial Property Executive on how changes in interest rates impact 1031 exchanges.
www.commercialsearch.com/news/balanci...
www.commercialsearch.com/news/balanci...