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National  + Digital Infrastructure  | 
Dallas Office Skyline

PwC/ULI Annual Trends Report Cites Data Centers, Seniors Housing as Key Sectors

Dallas-Fort Worth ranks as the top U.S. “Market to Watch” for the second consecutive year in the Emerging Trends in Real Estate® 2026 report from PwC and the Urban Land Institute. Four of the top 10 markets are in the New York City metro area: Jersey City (#2), Brooklyn (#4), Northern New Jersey (#7) and Manhattan (#9). Rounding out the top 10 are Miami, Houston, Nashville, Tampa/St. Petersburg and Phoenix.

Beyond geography, the report examines how sector dynamics’ evolution as investors adapt to new market circumstances. Several property sectors show potential for growth, innovation and long-term resilience, including data centers, seniors, housing, self-storage, student housing and a stabilizing office sector.

“The past few years have tested the industry’s ability to pivot,” said Andrew Alperstein, a partner with PwC’s US real estate practice. “In today’s environment, we’re seeing a renewed focus on core fundamentals and deploying capital into high-growth areas. From the rapid evolution of AI infrastructure to the growing demand for seniors housing, the opportunities in 2026 will favor those who combine speed, data-driven insight and a long-term strategic vision.”

Don’t miss the chance to gain exclusive insights into the next groundbreaking technology poised to transform the commercial real estate industry and shape the future. Connect North American Investment in Digital Infrastructure & AI is scheduled for Feb. 11, 2026 in Montreal. 

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About Paul Bubny

Paul Bubny serves as Senior Content Director for Connect Commercial Real Estate, a role to which he brings 16-plus years’ experience covering the commercial real estate industry and 30-plus years in business-to-business journalism. In this capacity, he oversees daily operations while also reporting on both local/regional markets and national trends, covering individual transactions across all property types, as well as delving into broader subject matter. He produces 7-10 daily news stories per day and works with the Connect team and clients to develop longer-form content, ranging from Q&As to thought-leadership pieces. Prior to joining Connect, Paul was Managing Editor for both Real Estate Forum and GlobeSt.com at American Lawyer Media, where he oversaw operations at both publications while also producing daily news and feature-length articles. His tenure in B2B publishing stretches back into the print era, and he has served as Editor in Chief on four national trade publications. Since 1999, Paul has volunteered as the newsletter editor of passenger rail advocacy groups (one national, one local).

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