Head-Scratchers, Housing Shockwaves, and a December to Remember

The first full week of 2026 delivered a rapid series of headlines, some encouraging, some concerning, and a few real head=scratchers. In this episode, Manus Clancy and Dianne Crocker break down a week of unpredictable news, from mixed macro signals and surprise policy proposals to the year’s first “didn’t-see-that-coming” geopolitical development in Venezuela.

With December behind us, LightBox’s Transaction Tracker and CRE Activity Index data is out.  December’s CRE Activity Index dipped to 86.9, a typical seasonal slowdown and about half the usual year-end decline. Meanwhile, nine-figure CRE deal volume jumped 44% month over month, reflecting the lagged impact of elevated activity in September and October, when underwriting and diligence for year-end deals were getting underway. The takeaway: December saw a seasonal pause in activity, but deal momentum closed the year on a strong note.

The hosts also explore multifamily’s uneven recovery, the office value resets across major metros, early insights from LightBox’s AI benchmark study, and why office-to-resi conversions in New York and D.C. remain a clear sign of capital conviction. 

The team also looks ahead with major forecasts leaning cautiously optimistic and January typically marking a rebound after a seasonally slower December, challenging the market to look past the noise and focus on what the numbers are signaling. 

04:23 Single Family Rental Market Dynamics
11:29 New York City Housing Challenges
16:49 Economic Outlook for 2026
20:09 CRE Activity Index and Transaction Trends
23:02 AI in Environmental Due Diligence
27:10 Multifamily Market Insights
35:02 Office Market Challenges
38:02 Development Trends and Confidence

Have questions for the pod team? Send them to Podcast@LightBoxRE.com. 

www.lightboxre.com