We Surveyed Over 600 BiggerPockets Members—Here’s What They Said About Investing in 2026
Summary
According to a BiggerPockets survey, retail real estate investors are optimistic about 2026, citing lower mortgage rates and better inventory. However, challenges like rising expenses and lack of capital remain. While STR enthusiasm has waned, new investors still show some interest. Hosts should be aware of shifting market sentiment and consider long-term strategies for portfolio growth.
Key Insights
- •The vast majority of retail real estate investors are planning for an active year in 2026, prioritizing growth and optimization.
- •Investor sentiment increased modestly in 2025, with the Pulse Index measuring 108 (100 is neutral, and anything over 100 is positive).
- •More than 50% of investors believe long-term rentals are the best option going forward, while 1 in 5 investors believe owner-occupied tactics like house hacking and live-in-flips will work best.
- •Investor enthusiasm for tactics that have shown success in recent years, such as short-term rentals (STRs) and mid-term rentals (MTRs), has waned significantly, though newer investors still show some interest—likely due to their increased cash flow potential.
Action Items
- ✓For experienced hosts, focus on optimizing your portfolio to account for rising expenses.Effort: lowImpact: medium
- ✓Consider long-term rental strategies as opposed to short-term rentals.Effort: lowImpact: medium
Common Mistakes
- ⚠Relying solely on short-term rental strategies might not be the most effective approach in the coming year, given the waning interest of investors.
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