Low Vacancy, High Rent Spreads Continue to Support Retail Real Estate Investment

By Joseph Miller, MAI, MRICS, Managing Director for Partner Valuation Advisors,  published on May 05, 2025, on GlobeSt.com

As we continue to move through 2025, which is likely to bring continued economic uncertainty, many investors will be watching to see how retail closure and backfills impact their overall portfolio. While there are retailers in the market looking for space, many are being more cautious than their predecessors when signing large, long-term leases. Many investors also believe that retail in the U.S. is under demolition and as we continue to see mall redevelopments take way and the available retail vacancies should continue to trend downwards, creating opportunities for retail owners.

In this latest GlobeSt article, Joseph Miller discusses how low vacancy will offset store closures, how grocery-anchored stores are still favored, and shares some trends to watch for the rest of 2025.