2026 Land & Development Outlook — Buy Now or Compete Later?

After a brutal year in land and development…

Is 2026 the opportunity cycle?

I’m excited to share my latest conversation with Mike Czestochowski, Vice Chairman at CBRE and one of the most experienced voices in land and development.

Last time Mike joined us, he made a call nobody wanted to hear:

➡️ “The worst is yet to come in 2025…there's more pain ahead” – Unfortunately, He nailed it.

Now he’s back and he’s making some seriously bold predictions for 2026:

🎧 Listen below to hear:

✅ Why Mike believes “2026 is the year to buy”

✅ His aggressive call: a run on low-rise housing by the fall

✅ Why waiting for “lower prices” could backfire

✅ Ground-related residential land showing real strength

✅ Condo market stress = future opportunity

✅ How buyers are getting aggressive VTB structures

✅ Retail development momentum in growth markets

✅ Industrial land scarcity still driving pricing

✅ Office recovery & how fast sentiment can flip

One of Mike’s strongest warnings:

⚠️ “If you don’t buy in ’26, you may be sitting in ’27 saying it’s too late.”

He reminds us that markets can snap back quickly once confidence returns

➡️ “All it takes is one or two headlines…

…and suddenly there are lineups again.”

What if the best buying opportunities of the cycle are happening right now…while most people are still waiting?

If you’re a broker, owner, developer, lender or investor, this episode is packed with real-world perspective on where the market is headed in 2026

CONNECT WITH US

Mike on LinkedIn – ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-czestochowski-4575b212/ ⁠

Mike's Website – ⁠https://www.cbre.ca/people/mike-czestochowski⁠

Manish on LinkedIn – ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manishjain818/⁠

CRE Debt & Equity Podcast – ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/cre-debt-equity-podcast/