Q1 2026 Quarterly Report | Cushman & Wakefield Waterloo Region
Q1 2026 Video Update
In this video, Matt Dickson and Stewart Campbell share their first-hand perspectives on what’s driving demand, and where the market is headed next.
Watch the video below to hear their conversation in full.
Video highlights:
-
-
Retail Market Sentiment is Cautious: The retail sector is currently defined by caution due to economic “push and pull” factors. While location remains critical for high-performing products, overall listings are sitting on the market longer as buyers and tenants take more time to avoid costly mistakes.
-
-
- Retail Tenant-Landlord Imbalance: There is a notable disconnect between parties; tenants are feeling economic shifts first through declining sales—particularly in restaurants—and are seeking smaller spaces or lower costs. It is taking time for landlords to align their high expectations with these new tenant realities.
-
- Consumer Spending Shifts: A broader trend of “dialing back” is emerging as families and younger people become more careful with spending due to concerns regarding savings accounts and the general economy.
-
- Land Discipline and Expansion: The land market remains active but has become more disciplined over the last 12 to 18 months. Activity is being driven by population growth and infrastructure investment, pushing developers beyond traditional cores into fringe and rural areas for residential and industrial repositioning.
-
- Emerging Niche Land Uses: While residential (low and medium density) and industrial demand remains strong, there is growing interest in niche uses such as data infrastructure and logistics, especially in areas with robust power access and transportation links.
-
- Land Execution Hurdles: The biggest challenges in the land sector are conservative buyer underwriting and sellers who are still anchored to pricing from previous market cycles. Additionally, longer planning and approval timelines, combined with servicing constraints, require a high level of due diligence and patience.
Watch the full video to gain deeper insights from our experts and see how these trends could impact your next move.
Matt Dickson and Stewart Campbell share insights
on the evolving commercial real estate landscape in Waterloo Region.
