CBRE Research

CBRE Research
Name	CBRE Research
Type	Research division
Founded	21st century
Headquarters	Global (Los Angeles, London, Hong Kong)
Parent org	CBRE Group, Inc.

CBRE Research

CBRE Research is the research division of a global commercial real estate services firm providing market intelligence, forecasting, and analytics to investors, occupiers, and policymakers. It publishes regular reports on office, industrial, retail, multifamily, and capital markets, producing data-driven analysis used by firms involved with Blackstone (company), Brookfield Asset Management, JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley. Its work is often cited alongside research from Jones Lang LaSalle, Cushman & Wakefield, Savills, Knight Frank, and academic centers such as the Harvard Real Estate Academic Initiative.

Overview

CBRE Research produces thematic studies, quarterly market reports, and proprietary indices that inform decisions by stakeholders including sovereign wealth funds like Government Pension Fund of Norway, pension funds such as CalPERS, insurance companies like AIG, and corporate occupiers including Amazon (company), Google, Microsoft, and Apple Inc.. Its outputs encompass sectors tracked by institutional investors like BlackRock and development firms such as Hines Interests Limited Partnership. The group synthesizes data to serve clients ranging from regional developers linked to The Related Companies to public agencies such as Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York) and Transport for London.

History and Development

The research unit evolved alongside the parent company through mergers and market expansion that paralleled events like the consolidation trend involving firms similar to Trammell Crow Company and transactions comparable to the acquisition activity of CBRE Group, Inc. in the early 21st century. Its lineage intersects with industry milestones involving advisors and capital markets actors such as Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated and Colliers International Group. Over time, the division expanded geographic teams aligned with offices in financial centers including New York City, London, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney, and Frankfurt am Main. The group scaled during cycles shaped by financial episodes such as the 2007–2008 financial crisis and regulatory changes exemplified by initiatives like Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, adapting reporting standards to serve stakeholders including European Central Bank observers and municipal planners like those at City of Los Angeles.

Research Products and Publications

CBRE Research issues flagship products that include quarterly market snapshots, annual outlooks, topical white papers, and proprietary indices comparable in influence to the S&P 500 for equities or the Case–Shiller index for housing. Recurring publications cover office occupancy trends in central business districts such as Canary Wharf, La Défense, and Shinjuku; industrial logistics dynamics in corridors like the Inland Empire (California) and Port of Rotterdam; and retail performance for nodal centers like Mall of America and Westfield London. Reports frequently reference capital flows involving institutional investors like TPG Capital, sovereign entities like Qatar Investment Authority, and REITs such as Prologis. Special reports examine themes related to technology firms including Facebook (now Meta Platforms), energy transition actors like ExxonMobil, and demographic shifts in markets exemplified by Tokyo, São Paulo, and Mumbai.

Methodology and Data Sources

Analytical methods integrate proprietary transaction databases, leasing activity drawn from brokerage networks, and valuation inputs aligned with standards used by audit firms like PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, and KPMG. Data sources include public records from municipal registries in jurisdictions such as Los Angeles County, port authorities like the Port of Los Angeles, and capital market feeds utilized by exchanges like New York Stock Exchange and London Stock Exchange. Research teams apply statistical techniques consistent with academic practice at institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, London School of Economics, and University of Hong Kong, and they calibrate forecasts against macroeconomic indicators reported by bodies like the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

Global and Regional Coverage

Coverage spans North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East, with regional desks monitoring metropolitan areas including San Francisco, Chicago, Paris, Berlin, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul, Sydney, Mexico City, Santiago (Chile), Dubai, and Riyadh. Reports tailor analysis to local dynamics influenced by infrastructure projects such as Crossrail, High Speed 2, Greater Bay Area development, and port expansions like those at Port of Singapore and Port of Los Angeles. The organization collaborates with local advisory teams akin to those at CBRE Group, Inc. affiliates to ensure regional nuance for investors like Temasek Holdings and developers such as Lendlease Group.

Impact and Industry Influence

Findings influence corporate real estate strategies at firms including Bank of America, Citigroup, and Walmart Inc., and inform institutional allocation decisions by entities like Pension Protection Fund (UK) and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board. Media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Bloomberg News, Reuters, and The New York Times often cite its reports in coverage of leasing cycles, rent growth, and investment returns. Its indices serve as benchmarks for market commentary used by commentators at CNBC, BBC News, and Financial Times Alphaville.

Awards and Recognition

The group and its analysts have been acknowledged in industry awards and rankings by trade publications akin to Institutional Investor, PERE (Private Equity Real Estate), and Euromoney. Analysts have presented findings at conferences hosted by organizations such as Urban Land Institute, National Association of Realtors, CoreNet Global, and forums like World Economic Forum. Individual contributors have been recognized with speaking invitations at universities including Columbia University, Stanford University, and University of Cambridge for commentary on urban markets, capital flows, and workplace trends.

Category:Commercial real estate research organizations