2026 Market Data

CRE Cap Rates by Market
2026 Reference

Average cap rates for 25 major US metros across multifamily, office, retail, industrial, and mixed-use — sourced from CBRE, Marcus & Millichap, and NAR research. Use these ranges to benchmark deals and evaluate markets before you underwrite.

Data reflects Q1–Q2 2026 market averages. Ranges represent typical traded cap rates — actual deals vary based on asset quality, lease structure, and submarket. See our cap rate guide for methodology.

How to read this table: All figures are ranges (e.g., "5.5–6.5%") representing the typical spread of traded transactions in that market and property type. Green = favorable/higher yield, yellow = moderate, red = compressed/lower yield relative to the national average for that asset class. Sources: CBRE Cap Rate Survey H1 2026, Marcus & Millichap National Investment Forecast, NAR Commercial Real Estate Outlook.

Cap Rates by Metro & Property Type

Color key for multifamily & industrial: Higher yield (secondary/tertiary markets) Moderate (mid-tier markets) Compressed (primary gateway markets)
Metro Multifamily Industrial Retail (NNN) Office Mixed-Use
New York City 3.5–5.0% 4.5–6.0% 5.5–7.0% 6.5–9.0% 4.0–5.5%
Los Angeles 3.5–5.0% 4.5–5.5% 5.5–7.0% 6.0–8.5% 4.0–5.5%
San Francisco 3.5–4.5% 4.5–5.5% 5.5–7.0% 7.0–10.5% 4.0–5.5%
Miami 4.0–5.5% 5.5–7.0% 5.5–7.5% 6.5–8.5% 4.5–6.0%
Dallas–Fort Worth 5.0–6.5% 5.0–6.5% 6.0–7.5% 7.0–9.0% 5.0–6.5%
Austin 5.0–6.5% 5.5–7.0% 6.0–7.5% 7.0–9.0% 5.0–6.5%
Houston 5.5–7.0% 5.5–7.0% 6.0–7.5% 7.5–10.0% 5.5–7.0%
Atlanta 5.0–6.5% 5.0–6.5% 6.0–7.5% 7.0–9.5% 5.0–6.5%
Phoenix 5.0–6.5% 5.0–6.5% 6.0–7.5% 7.0–9.0% 5.0–6.5%
Chicago 5.0–6.5% 5.5–7.0% 6.0–7.5% 7.5–10.0% 5.0–6.5%
Seattle 4.0–5.5% 4.5–6.0% 5.5–7.0% 7.0–9.5% 4.5–5.5%
Denver 5.0–6.5% 5.5–7.0% 6.0–7.5% 7.0–9.5% 5.0–6.5%
Nashville 5.0–6.5% 5.5–7.0% 6.0–7.5% 7.0–9.0% 5.0–6.5%
Charlotte 5.0–6.5% 5.5–7.0% 6.0–7.5% 7.0–9.0% 5.0–6.5%
Tampa–St. Pete 5.0–6.5% 5.5–7.0% 6.0–7.5% 7.0–9.0% 5.0–6.5%
Washington DC 4.0–5.5% 5.5–7.0% 5.5–7.0% 7.0–10.5% 4.5–6.0%
Boston 3.5–5.0% 5.0–6.5% 5.5–7.0% 6.5–9.0% 4.0–5.5%
Minneapolis 5.5–7.0% 5.5–7.0% 6.0–7.5% 7.5–10.0% 5.5–7.0%
Indianapolis 5.5–7.5% 5.5–7.5% 6.5–8.0% 7.5–10.0% 5.5–7.5%
Kansas City 5.5–7.5% 5.5–7.5% 6.5–8.0% 7.5–10.0% 5.5–7.5%
Columbus 5.5–7.5% 5.5–7.5% 6.5–8.0% 7.5–10.0% 5.5–7.0%
Detroit 6.0–8.0% 6.0–8.0% 6.5–8.5% 8.0–11.0% 6.0–8.0%
Memphis 6.0–8.0% 5.5–7.5% 7.0–9.0% 8.0–11.0% 6.0–8.0%
San Antonio 5.5–7.0% 5.5–7.0% 6.0–7.5% 7.0–9.5% 5.5–7.0%
Salt Lake City 5.0–6.5% 5.5–7.0% 6.0–7.5% 7.0–9.0% 5.0–6.5%

Sources: CBRE H1 2026 Cap Rate Survey, Marcus & Millichap 2026 National Investment Forecast, NAR Commercial Real Estate Market Conditions. Ranges represent typical traded transactions; outliers excluded.

Market Context by City

Quick snapshots on cap rate drivers, recent trends, and what's moving the market in each major metro.

New York City
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Multifamily cap rates remain among the tightest nationally (3.5–5.0%), driven by persistent housing shortage and rent stabilization complexity. Industrial in the outer boroughs has compressed as last-mile logistics demand absorbs scarce land. Office vacancy has improved slightly from 2024 peaks but fundamentals remain challenged in Class B/C product — expect cap rates to stay elevated at 6.5–9.0%+ until absorption proves durable.

LA multifamily continues to trade at premium cap rates (compressed, 3.5–5.0%) despite rent control risk in rent-stabilized units. Industrial has been the standout performer in the Inland Empire corridor — cap rates for Class A logistics have compressed to near-coastal levels. Office in downtown LA and Century City remains under pressure with vacancy elevated post-pandemic, pushing cap rates higher.

Dallas–Fort Worth
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DFW industrial cap rates have compressed 30–50bps over the past 12 months driven by sustained logistics and e-commerce demand. Multifamily supply deliveries spiked in 2023–2024, creating near-term softness, but population growth supports a strong long-term demand floor at 5.0–6.5% cap rates. Retail in suburban corridors has outperformed, particularly grocery-anchored centers with sub-7% cap rates for well-leased product.

Miami has transitioned from a COVID-era pricing outlier to a permanently elevated market. Multifamily cap rates (4.0–5.5%) reflect strong international demand and continued in-migration from the Northeast. Office in Brickell and the Design District has outperformed most US gateway markets. Retail on premium corridors — Lincoln Road, Wynwood — commands the tightest retail cap rates in the Southeast.

Atlanta industrial is one of the top logistics corridors nationally, with cap rates tightening to 5.0–6.5% for Class A product along the I-85 and I-20 corridors. Multifamily absorbed significant new supply in 2023–2025 — rent growth has normalized but occupancy has held, keeping cap rates in the 5.0–6.5% range. Office in Midtown has stabilized; suburban office remains under pressure.

Chicago offers some of the more attractive risk-adjusted cap rates among major US metros. Industrial in the O'Hare and I-55 corridors trades at 5.5–7.0%, competitive with smaller Sunbelt markets but with deeper tenant pools. Office fundamentals remain challenged downtown — vacancy is above 20% for Class B/C, pushing cap rates above 7.5%. Multifamily in the North Side and transit-served neighborhoods continues to attract institutional capital at 5.0–6.5%.

Phoenix multifamily absorbed a historic wave of deliveries in 2024 — rent growth paused but values held as investors priced in long-term demand. Industrial in the Southeast Valley and West Valley has seen steady demand from semiconductor supply chain and distribution, with cap rates at 5.0–6.5% for Class A. Retail has been a quiet outperformer — Phoenix suburban retail has among the lowest vacancy in the Sun Belt.

Nashville remains one of the highest-conviction secondary markets for multifamily investment. Cap rates at 5.0–6.5% are justified by continued population and employment growth. Industrial demand has been driven by Midwest regional distribution expansion. Office in the CBD has outperformed most secondary markets, with tech and healthcare tenant demand keeping vacancy below the national average.

Denver multifamily has weathered elevated supply better than Austin — population growth and tech employment have absorbed units faster than most forecasts. Cap rates at 5.0–6.5% reflect a market that never saw the extreme compression of coastal peers. Industrial in the I-70 corridor and airport submarket has attracted strong investor interest, with cap rates near 5.5–7.0%. Office in downtown Denver has stabilized but suburban office remains challenged.

Indianapolis is one of the most accessible major US markets for investors targeting 6%+ returns across all asset classes. Industrial is the standout — Indy sits at a major logistics node (I-65, I-70, I-74 convergence) with Fortune 500 distribution tenants driving demand. Cap rates of 5.5–7.5% offer a significant yield premium over coastal industrial. Multifamily fundamentals are steady with consistent job growth and minimal supply overhang.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good cap rate in 2026?
It depends entirely on market and property type. In primary coastal markets (NYC, LA, SF), multifamily cap rates of 3.5–5.0% are standard and considered acceptable given appreciation expectations. In secondary Sunbelt markets, investors typically target 5.5–7.5% for multifamily. There is no universal "good" cap rate — what matters is whether the risk-adjusted return meets your requirements given alternative investments. A 4.5% cap in a gateway market may be a better risk-adjusted return than a 7.0% cap in a tertiary market with declining fundamentals. See our cap rate guide for a deeper breakdown.
Which cities have the highest cap rates in 2026?
Secondary and tertiary Midwest markets consistently offer the highest cap rates: Detroit, Memphis, Kansas City, Columbus, and Indianapolis typically see 6.0–9.0% cap rates across property types. These reflect lower appreciation expectations and higher perceived risk versus gateway markets. Sunbelt growth markets (Dallas, Phoenix, Atlanta, Nashville) sit in the middle, offering 5.0–7.5% with stronger rent growth prospects to offset the lower yield.
How do cap rates vary by property type?
As of 2026, industrial and multifamily trade at the tightest cap rates nationally. Multifamily in primary markets: 3.5–5.5%. Industrial/warehouse nationally: 5.0–7.5%. Retail varies significantly — NNN leases to investment-grade tenants: 5.5–7.0%; strip centers: 6.5–8.5%. Office is under structural pressure in most markets: 6.5–10.0%+. Mixed-use blended rates typically fall between multifamily and retail levels. See our property types guide for a full breakdown by asset class.
Are cap rates going up or down in 2026?
In 2026, cap rates have broadly stabilized after the significant expansion seen in 2022–2024 driven by rising interest rates. Most markets are 50–150 basis points above their 2021 lows. Industrial cap rates have held firm or compressed slightly in high-demand logistics corridors. Office continues to drift higher in most markets. Multifamily has seen modest compression in Sunbelt markets as rent growth normalized. The trajectory going forward depends heavily on Fed rate policy — a sustained rate decline would compress cap rates; elevated rates would keep them range-bound.

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