Key Takeaway
Hiring activity in commercial real estate is beginning to rebound as deal flow returns, signaling renewed demand for talent across investment, development, and asset management roles.
RCLCO Leadership Quote
“The fundamentals to be able to do deals are improving. People are finally seeing better demand, whereas development has been all but dead in the water for a long time.”
Ellen Klasson
Managing Director
What Is Happening
Job postings in commercial real estate are increasing after a period of slowdown, driven by improving capital markets conditions and a pickup in transaction activity. Firms are selectively adding headcount, particularly in acquisitions, asset management, and development roles, while also expanding leadership teams to support investment strategy and fundraising efforts.
RCLCO Perspective
Talent cycles in commercial real estate tend to lag capital markets activity, with hiring accelerating as confidence in deal flow returns. This includes an increase in strategic hiring, particularly at the senior level, as firms position themselves for renewed growth. As Ellen Klasson, Managing Director of RCLCO’s management consulting practice, noted, “The fundamentals to be able to do deals are improving. People are finally seeing better demand, whereas development has been all but dead in the water for a long time.”
Implications for Employees and Investors
Firms should expect increasing competition for talent as hiring activity accelerates, particularly in roles tied to capital formation, investment strategy, and execution. Organizations are prioritizing hires such as heads of capital markets, chief investment officers, and chief operating officers to strengthen fundraising capabilities and guide financial strategy. Companies that align hiring with anticipated deal flow will be better positioned to scale efficiently through the next cycle.
RCLCO Talent Advisory Relevance
RCLCO advises real estate firms on organizational strategy, executive search, and compensation benchmarking. Our work helps clients align talent strategy with market conditions, ensuring they can attract and structure leadership teams effectively as industry conditions evolve.
Source
Patrick Sisson, Bisnow, “CRE Job Listings Rebound Amid Revived Dealmaking”, published February 10, 2026: https://www.bisnow.com/national/news/top-talent/job-listings-in-commercial-real-estate-rebound-amid-revived-dealmaking-133158https://www.savannahnow.com/story/news/local/2026/03/01/savannah-considering-new-development-within-its-historic-railroad-district/88905414007/
About RCLCO
Since 1967, RCLCO has been the “first call” for real estate developers, investors, the public sector, and non-real estate companies and organizations seeking strategic and tactical advice regarding property investment, planning, and development. RCLCO leverages quantitative analytics and a strategic planning framework to provide end-to-end business planning and implementation solutions at an entity, portfolio, or project level. With the insights and experience gained almost six decades and thousands of projects, RCLCO brings success to all product types across the United States and around the world. RCLCO is organized into three service areas: real estate economics, management consulting, and advisory services for institutional investors through RCLCO Fund Advisors. RCLCO is headquartered in Bethesda, MD and has offices in Austin, TX, Denver, CO, Los Angeles, CA, San Francisco, CA, New York, NY and Orlando, FL.