Retail Investors Seek Safety and Upside Amid Market Uncertainty

Economic uncertainty drove many investors toward retail properties offering potential stability, according to Marcus & Millichap.

The company’s recently released third-quarter national retail report found that many investors favored single-tenant, net-leased properties because of their perceived lower risk. Others gravitated toward shopping centers with upside through re-tenanting, upgrades and improved management.

The number of $20 million-plus retail sales during the first half of 2026 was the second-highest tally on record for a January-June period, the report said.

Looking ahead, if inflationary pressures remain, investors could favor properties with high-credit tenants and built-in rent increases, as well as recently renovated assets with long-term leases. Retail properties renovated within the past five years could command a premium. Over the past 12 months, those assets traded for an average of more than $700 per square foot, according to the report.

An increase in institutional capital and retail pricing could generate additional sell-side activity during the second half of 2026, the report said.