Office Loan Defaults Rise Amid Renewed Stress in Downtown Areas

BiggerPockets Blog
Published: November 21, 2025
Pricing & Profitability

Summary

The commercial real estate market is facing rising loan defaults, particularly in office spaces, due to factors like high interest rates and expiring leases. This shift indicates a potential downturn that could impact the value and stability of investment properties. Hosts should be aware of broader market trends and the risks involved with traditional real estate investments.

Key Insights

  • The pattern of recent delinquencies shows that office spaces relying on long-term, single-occupant leases have suffered the most significant value losses.
  • Office mortgage delinquency rates are the highest since the 2008 Financial Crisis, with an 11.8% delinquency rate reported in October 2025 for commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS).

Action Items

  • Consider investing in shorter-duration real estate debt, such as 6- or 12-month notes, to adjust faster to market conditions and limit exposure to long-tail risks.
    Effort: medium
    Impact: medium

Tools & Resources

  • Connect Invest: Connect Invest's Short Notes are mentioned as a potential investment option, offering diversified, collateral-backed real estate loans.(connectinvest.com)

Common Mistakes

  • Relying on traditional investment models and long-term property loans can lead to significant financial risks in the current market, including default and difficulties with refinancing or selling the property.

Related Videos

More from Pricing & Profitability

KC has ‘highest occupancy’ of World Cup cities. Is effort to add rentals working? - Kansas City Star

This article discusses Kansas City's high occupancy rates compared to other World Cup host cities, raising questions about the effectiveness of efforts to increase short-term rental availability. It implicitly touches on market trends and the impact of major events on the STR market. The article likely explores whether increased rental supply can meet demand while analyzing the city's approach to STRs.

about 20 hours agoKansas City, MO75
Best Mountain Towns Where Homes Deliver the Strongest Airbnb Returns - Realtor.com

Realtor.com's report on best mountain towns for Airbnb returns reveals key locations for STR investment. The analysis likely includes data on occupancy rates, ADR, and RevPAR to identify profitable markets. Understanding these trends helps hosts optimize pricing strategies and choose lucrative destinations.

about 22 hours ago85
Airbnb offers $750 incentive for some Ga. hosts during FIFA World Cup - WRDW

Airbnb is offering a $750 incentive for some hosts in Georgia during the FIFA World Cup, potentially boosting occupancy and profitability. This program seeks to capitalize on increased demand from the international event, offering financial benefits to participating hosts. Learn how to qualify and leverage this incentive for your STR.

3 days agoGeorgia85

Curated by Learn STR by GoStudioM