What Can the Desert Southwest Teach Us About Commercial Real Estate?

As our travels took us to Phoenix, Tucson, and Santa Fe over the past week - I had two colliding thoughts. The beauty of the desert southwest was consuming and our world at this time 16 years ago was consuming as well! Our commercial real estate market was side swiped by the financial crash of 2008! I wondered if the two were somehow related and if lessons could be leaned. 
 
So. Here goes. 
 
If you’ve ever spent time in the desert Southwest—Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico—you know that survival there is all about adapting to extremes. In the blistering summer, temperatures soar, and water becomes a precious resource. Yet life persists. Cacti, creosote bushes, and desert wildlife don’t just endure—they thrive because they’ve evolved to do so. They’ve learned to make the most out of the environment they’re in, maximizing every drop of water and adjusting to whatever comes their way.
 
Commercial real estate, like desert life, is a game of adaptation. Whether you’re a seasoned investor, an owner-occupant, or an industrial broker positioned in today’s dynamic market, the lessons from the desert are right there in front of us—if we’re willing to see them.
 
1. Resilience in the Face of Scarcity
The desert’s number one challenge is scarcity, and in real estate, it’s no different. In boom times, it’s easy to make deals—capital is abundant, credit is flowing, and everyone’s eager to move fast. But what happens when those resources dry up? Think back to the 2008 financial collapse. One moment, liquidity was everywhere; the next, it vanished. Deals died overnight, and only the most prepared, resilient players could weather the storm.
 
A desert cactus stores water for months, waiting for the right conditions to use it. As a commercial real estate professional, this is a reminder to build reserves—whether that’s in capital, market knowledge, or relationships. Like the cactus, don’t overextend yourself in good times. Prepare for downturns, and when they inevitably come, you’ll not just survive—you’ll thrive.
 
2. Know Your Environment
Brokering commercial real estate isn’t just about playing the market—it’s about knowing the environment. The desert has very specific climates, microclimates even, and if you don't understand those differences, you’ll fail. Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Albuquerque might all share the desert’s common traits, but each has its unique challenges and opportunities. What works in Phoenix won’t necessarily work in Las Vegas.
 
Likewise, industrial real estate in Southern California has its nuances. I often remind clients that even though SoCal is a booming market, the micro-markets of Long Beach, Inland Empire, and north Orange County, where I worked during the 2008 financial crisis, each require a tailored approach. Just like a desert traveler checks the conditions before setting out, commercial real estate practitioners must assess the specific terrain they’re in. Understanding the local economic, political, and market conditions can mean the difference between a deal’s success or failure.
 
3. Timing is Everything
The desert teaches patience. Rain doesn’t come when you expect it; it comes when the environment is ready for it. In commercial real estate, timing is just as critical. Sometimes deals fall apart not because of lack of interest, but because the timing isn’t right—either for the buyer, the seller, or the market itself.
 
I’ve seen this time and time again in my own experience. Back in 2008, during the height of the financial collapse, a promising buyer for a large manufacturing site suddenly lost financing when their Small Business Administration loan commitment disappeared. The market shifted almost overnight, and we had to wait until the right time to close a deal at a significantly reduced price. Understanding when to act—and when to wait—is a skill that separates the seasoned from the amateurs.
 
4. Innovation is Key
Despite the desert’s harsh conditions, innovation thrives there. Solar farms, sustainable architecture, and water conservation technologies are just some of the breakthroughs we’ve seen over the years. Similarly, commercial real estate is ripe for innovation. The industrial sector is adapting to a post-pandemic world by embracing e-commerce, automation, and green technologies.
 
Whether you're retrofitting older properties or designing new industrial spaces, the industry’s future depends on staying ahead of the curve. Just like innovators in the desert seek new ways to make life easier and more efficient, those of us in commercial real estate need to be thinking not just about the present, but about how to create spaces that will serve the future.
 
The Takeaway
The desert may seem like an unforgiving place, but it’s also full of lessons. Adaptability, patience, and resourcefulness are key to surviving—and thriving—in both the desert and in commercial real estate. As the market shifts, those who prepare, understand their environment, and are willing to innovate will be the ones who succeed. So, the next time you're out in the desert Southwest, take a moment to reflect. The landscape might be more like our industry than you’d think.
 
Allen C. Buchanan, SIOR, is a principal with Lee & Associates Commercial Real Estate Services in Orange. He can be reached at abuchanan@lee-associates.com or 714.564.7104. His website is allencbuchanan.blogspot.com.

The Dance of Commercial Real Estate: A Complex Waltz

Commercial real estate deals often appear as a bewildering tango of factors. Motivation, fear, greed, market conditions, financing, credit-worthiness, uncertainty, and economic outlooks all swirl together in a dizzying display. But strip away the complexities, and you're left with two essential players on the dance floor: an occupant and an owner.
An occupant might be a buyer looking to purchase or a tenant seeking to lease. On the other side, an owner could be a landlord with space to rent or a seller ready to part ways with their property. When these two parties, properly motivated, find each other, the real dance begins.
As a commercial real estate practitioner, my role is to choreograph this intricate performance. To do so effectively, I rely on five key elements:

1. Ownership: Knowing who holds the deed is the first step in any potential transaction.
2. Availability: What's on the market? What spaces are up for grabs?
3. Recent leases: Understanding the current rental landscape informs both occupants and owners.
4. Recent sales: These transactions set the tempo for property values.
5. Appeal: Identifying which occupants might be drawn to a particular building is crucial for a successful match.

But let's circle back to those factors I mentioned earlier. How do they fit into this dance?
Motivation is the music that gets everyone moving. Without it, the dance floor remains empty. Fear and greed? They're the rhythm section, driving the beat faster or slower, influencing how quickly deals come together or fall apart.

Market conditions and economic outlooks set the overall mood of the ballroom. Are we in a upbeat swing or a cautious waltz?

Financing and credit-worthiness act as the dancing shoes. Without them, even the most eager dancers might sit out a few numbers.

Uncertainty? That's the fog machine, adding an element of mystery and sometimes confusion to the proceedings.

When all these elements align - when the music is right, the rhythm is pulsing, the mood is positive, and everyone's got their dancing shoes on - that's when the magic happens. A motivated occupant and an equally motivated owner find each other on the dance floor, and a deal is struck.
As a commercial real estate professional, my job is to be part DJ, part dance instructor, and part matchmaker. I need to read the room, understand the music, and bring the right partners together at the right time.

It's a complex dance, indeed. But when it all comes together? There's nothing quite like it in the business world.
 
Allen C. Buchanan, SIOR, is a principal with Lee & Associates Commercial Real Estate Services in Orange. He can be reached at abuchanan@lee-associates.com or 714.564.7104. His website is allencbuchanan.blogspot.com.

Marshall Field’s Contribution To Retail

Our travels took us to the Windy City over the weekend to celebrate a milestone event in our marriage. To better understand one of America’s great cities and its origin - we took a walking city tour. I love the architecture of the bygone days and as a commercial real estate professional, the story behind how cities develop is fascinating to me. 
 
As we approached the corner of State and Washington, an immense fourteen story structure loomed. We found ourselves learning about a Chicago icon—Marshall Field. As we strolled through this bustling city, weaving through shoppers and gazing up at storefronts, I was reminded of just how much one man, more than a century ago, shaped the way we experience retail today. 
 
Things such as individual item pricing, customer service, purchase returns and the experiential approach stores such as BassPro and REI have adopted were all Field hallmarks. 
 
Field’s legacy is more than a department store; it’s a blueprint for modern commerce, and his influence is still alive in almost every retail experience we have today.
 
Marshall Field more than a retailer—he was a visionary. His store on State Street wasn’t just a place to buy things; it was a place to be. He understood, long before anyone else, that shopping should be more than a transaction—it should be an experience. Walking into his store was like stepping into another world, where beautiful displays and carefully curated products drew customers in, not just to buy, but to linger and enjoy. 
 
Field realized that the environment mattered as much as the merchandise. It’s no wonder department stores became destinations unto themselves, and that tradition endures in some of our most iconic retailers today.
 
But Field’s real genius was his deep respect for the customer. He’s the one who coined the phrase "The customer is always right," and he truly lived by it. He made it easy for people to return items if they weren’t satisfied, a policy that, at the time, was revolutionary. Field believed that if you treated people well, they’d keep coming back—and they did. 
 
His dedication to customer service laid the groundwork for the personalized, customer-first approach that we all expect from businesses now.
 
Field also understood something else that was ahead of its time: the value of offering a unique product mix. He built relationships with suppliers all over the world to bring exclusive, high-quality items to his stores. Instead of trying to be everything to everyone, he focused on offering carefully selected goods that reflected the taste and aspirations of his clientele. It’s a lesson that many retailers would do well to remember—especially in today’s landscape, where a well-curated selection often speaks louder than endless options.
 
It was more than the products or the atmosphere, though. Field also believed in running his business with integrity and treating his employees with respect. At a time when labor conditions were often harsh, he made sure his employees were paid fairly and worked in humane environments. This not only created a loyal workforce but also reinforced the values of his brand—integrity, quality, and care. It’s a reminder that the culture behind the scenes often shapes the experience in front of the store.
 
As I reflect on my own experiences—whether it’s walking through grand department stores in major cities or the charm of smaller, curated shops—I realize how much of what we take for granted in retail today can be traced back to Marshall Field’s vision. His legacy is a reminder that great businesses aren’t just built on products—they’re built on people, values, and an unwavering commitment to creating something special. 
 
So next time you’re enjoying a beautifully crafted window display or being greeted with a smile when you walk into a store, take a moment to think about Marshall Field, the man who helped make it all possible.
 
Allen C. Buchanan, SIOR, is a principal with Lee & Associates Commercial Real Estate Services in Orange. He can be reached at abuchanan@lee-associates.com or 714.564.7104. His website is allencbuchanan.blogspot.com.

Random Thoughts on the State of Commercial Real Estate

Occasionally, it’s good to clear your inbox. Mine is particularly full as I’ve been out of state since mid-August. What follows are some random thoughts that are swirling around my consciousness. As someone famous once opined—they’re only opinions, but they’re all mine. So, here goes.

Traveling through the Northeast was inspirational! Our destinations included several cities in six states: Providence, Rhode Island; Boston, Massachusetts; Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Bangor, Maine; New York City; and New Haven, Connecticut.

The contrast between these historic cities and the rapidly evolving commercial real estate landscape back home is striking. In many ways, the old-world charm of the Northeast reminds me of the long-term value that well-located, enduring properties can offer. While shiny new developments and the latest logistics hubs dominate the conversation, there’s something to be said for the stability and reliability of properties that have stood the test of time.

Back in Southern California, the commercial real estate scene continues to shift. One of the more surprising developments this summer has been the unexpected uptick in leasing activity, particularly in the logistics sector. Chinese companies, spurred by the Trump-era tariffs and ongoing global supply chain disruptions, are snapping up warehouse space to better manage their inventories. It’s a trend that caught many off guard, especially considering we’re typically in the slower, vacation-heavy months of the year.

But this isn’t just a story of international companies adapting to geopolitical realities. It’s also a reminder that in commercial real estate, timing and market dynamics are everything. When supply exceeds demand, as we’ve been seeing with the glut of Class A logistics inventory above 100,000 square feet, price reductions inevitably follow. Yet, just as prices begin to soften, we’re witnessing renewed interest and activity. It’s almost as if the market itself is a living, breathing entity, responding to every nudge and shift in the global landscape.

Reflecting on these developments, I’m reminded that the commercial real estate market, much like the cities I visited, is a blend of the old and the new, the predictable and the unexpected. While it’s easy to get caught up in the latest trends or geopolitical shifts, there’s value in stepping back and considering the broader picture.

Perhaps that’s why I find travel so enriching. It offers a fresh perspective, a reminder that while the landscape may change, certain fundamentals—like the importance of location, timing, and adaptability—remain constant. So, as I clear my inbox and return to the day-to-day, I’ll keep these random thoughts in mind. They may be just that—random—but in the ever-evolving world of commercial real estate, they offer a lens through which to view the bigger picture.

And with that, it’s back to business as usual. Until the next trip, or the next unexpected shift in the market, these thoughts will keep swirling, reminding me that in real estate, as in life, it’s all about how you navigate the changes.
 
Allen C. Buchanan, SIOR, is a principal with Lee & Associates Commercial Real Estate Services in Orange. He can be reached at abuchanan@lee-associates.com or 714.564.7104. His website is allencbuchanan.blogspot.com.