Shafiq Hirani CCIMReal Estate Advisor, REMAX Distinctive · Real Estate Advisor at RE/MAX Distinctive Commercial | Washington, DC | Your Guide To Profitable Real Estate Ventures

Vacancy Trends: Why Real Estate Markets Are Tricky #shorts

15 Aug 2026 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

0:33

In this short video, the narrator highlights a paradox in U.S. office vacancy data: overall vacancy fell by 14 basis points year‑over‑year, while stabilized vacancy rose by 34 basis points. The increase in stabilized vacancy occurred across every major U.S. region—Northeast, Pacific, South, and Mountain—even in areas where the overall vacancy metric showed improvement. The speaker explains that this pattern reflects a market where newly built properties are being absorbed quickly, whereas older, established buildings are experiencing rising vacancy rates, suggesting a nuanced, uneven recovery.

Chapters

Overall vacancy fell 14 basis points year over year. But stabilized vacancy rose 34 basis points. Those 2 numbers are moving in opposite directions. And this is the critical part. Stabilized vacancy increased year over year in every major US region. Northeast, Pacific, South, Mountain, every one. Even in regions where overall vacancy improved. Read that again. The market looks like it is recovering because new buildings are leasing up. Established buildings are seeing vacancy go up, not down.