Ben Azulay sits down with Bradford Allen’s Neil Bouhan, senior vice president, research, for this episode of Ten with Ben to unpack what’s shaping Chicago’s office market as 2026 begins. The conversation highlights encouraging year-end signals, including improving leasing momentum and how vacancy trends are evolving.

They also discuss how shifting tenant priorities are influencing leasing decisions across the market, offering a clear, data-backed look at what’s driving activity right now and what to watch in the year ahead.

Ben sits down with teammates Nathan Meisner and Lauryn Sussman for a year-end review of team milestones and key shifts in Chicago’s office market. From rising downtown foot traffic to changing landlord strategies and major Loop developments, they share what defined the year and how those trends are setting the tone heading into 2026.

In this episode of Ten with Ben, Ben shares the mic with his brother and commercial real estate colleague, Jon Azulay from CBRE. A former Chicago broker now working in Los Angeles, Jon explores the unique differences between the two commercial real estate markets. From payment cadence and RTO office trends to broker culture, he explains why the Chicago market remains one of the most competitive markets across the country. 

Ben is joined by Kathleen Bertrand of Transwestern for a wide-ranging conversation on the current state of the Chicago office market. They reflect on their parallel 20-year careers in commercial real estate and how market cycles — and downtown activity — are shifting again. They discuss how deal momentum is returning, particularly among smaller tenants, and how Gen Z is helping fuel the shift back to in-office work. Bertrand also shares why landlord flexibility and creative deal-making are more important than ever in a high-cost, fast-moving environment.

Ben is back with another episode of Ten with Ben, exploring the recent momentum in the commercial real estate market. Leasing velocity is up, transaction volume is rising, and distressed assets that once seemed stagnant are now trading hands. Post-election stability and renewed business confidence have fueled this shift, as companies gain clarity on their long-term office strategies. The return-to-office movement is no longer just a talking point with many firms solidifying in-person work policies, with some even requiring five-day attendance. Landlords are responding by enhancing assets with premium amenities to attract and retain tenants. As deal flow accelerates, the market is demonstrating greater resilience than many anticipated—particularly in Chicago, where leasing and investment activities showcase a revived sense of optimism.

On this episode of Ten with Ben, Justin Kessler, Nathan Meissner, and Lauryn Sussman join Ben to reflect on a productive 2024 for the tenant rep team at Bradford Allen. The team discusses the uptick in tenant activity, surprising stability in office space needs, and the late-year momentum in deal-making. They also highlight how flexibility from ownership groups has created opportunities for tenants despite market challenges.

Looking ahead to 2025, the team shares their optimism for continued market growth and new opportunities as the market adapts.

In the latest episode of Ten with Ben, Ben Azulay reflects on the year so far, highlighting consistent deal flow and how companies are renegotiating leases to take advantage of current market conditions. He discusses the recovery of distressed properties, with lenders and landlords working out solutions, and questions the real value of amenities in office buildings. Looking ahead, Ben is monitoring how these trends will shape the market through the end of 2024
and into 2025.

In the latest episode of Ten with Ben, Ben Azulay dives into the world of hotel real
estate with Aghfar Arun, Director, Hospitality at Bradford Allen. Aghfar discusses
his journey into hospitality and the intricacies of acquiring hotel properties,
emphasizing the importance of brand affiliation with major players like Hilton and
Marriott. He also explores the specialized challenges of converting properties
in the hotel sector compared to other real estate markets. The conversation
also touches on the impact of the pandemic on operations and the disruption
introduced by competitive platforms like Airbnb.

In the latest episode of Ten with Ben, Ben welcomes Jimmy Sarnoff, Managing Partner at Sarnoff & Baccash, to discuss the intricacies of property taxation in Chicago. They dive into how recent changes by the City’s Assessor have impacted property assessments and taxes, particularly highlighting the triennial reassessment cycle and various tax-saving strategies. Jimmy offers insights on leveraging property tax incentives for commercial and residential developments, and the potential benefits of converting commercial properties to residential to revitalize Chicago’s LaSalle Street. This episode provides crucial advice for navigating the complex landscape of property taxes and making informed real estate investment decisions in Chicago.