5.18.26 Greenville Chapter Meeting

Greenville  Chapter Key Take Aways!

1. Greenville-Spartanburg remains one of the strongest growth markets in the Carolinas

• Greenville/Spartanburg continues to benefit from strong in-migration, quality of life, and strategic location.
• The region’s population has grown approximately 9% since 2019, with another 8.5% projected through 2029.
• South Carolina ranked #5 nationally for population growth in 2025, adding roughly 80,000 new residents.

Why it matters:
Population growth continues to fuel housing demand, retail activity, workforce expansion, and long-term investor confidence.

2. Manufacturing remains Greenville’s economic backbone

• Manufacturing remains the region’s largest economic engine, generating over $17 billion in GRP.
• The I-85 corridor continues to be the critical economic artery, supporting logistics, industrial growth, and supply chain connectivity.
• Greenville’s strategic location remains a major draw for both domestic and international businesses.

Why it matters:
Industrial, logistics, and supporting service sectors should continue to see opportunity.

3. Capital is returning to commercial real estate

• Lending activity has increased materially across all asset classes:
  • Office: +90%
  • Retail: +88%
  • Multifamily: +66%
  • Industrial: +45%
• Institutional capital is becoming more active again.
• Large loans are returning, signaling improving liquidity.

Why it matters:
Transaction activity should continue picking up as financing becomes more accessible.

4. CRE is entering a new investment cycle
   JLL’s position:

• Repricing is 70–80% complete
• Market fundamentals are stabilizing
• Capital is repositioning toward strong markets
• Distressed opportunities may emerge
• Development may begin penciling again between 2026–2028

Why it matters:
Many investors may view today’s market as an attractive entry point before a longer recovery cycle gains momentum.

5. Greenville’s workforce pipeline is a competitive advantage

• Higher education institutions including Clemson, Furman, USC Upstate, Converse, Wofford, and technical colleges continue supplying talent.
• Approximately 32% of Greenville-Spartanburg residents hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.
• The region continues attracting younger educated professionals.

Why it matters:
Talent attraction supports office demand, innovation, and economic diversification.

6. Alternative sectors remain hot
   Strong investor interest continues in:

• Data centers
• Seniors housing
• Medical outpatient
• Manufactured housing
• Single-family rentals
• Self-storage

Why it matters:
Investors may continue looking beyond traditional office/retail/industrial plays.

7. AI is becoming a competitive differentiator in CRE
   Blake emphasized AI as a tool for:

• Faster underwriting
• Real-time pricing analysis
• Market scenario modeling
• Processing large data sets quickly

Why it matters:
The competitive advantage may increasingly belong to professionals who adopt AI-driven decision tools.