11:30 AM: Registration, Networking, Exhibitors
12:25 PM: Welcome & Introductions
12:30 PM: Chicagoland’s Commercial Real Estate State of the Market
Marcia K. Owens, Honigman LLP
Todd Stofflet, Lument
Natalie Cico, Newmark
The Chicagoland commercial real estate market is undergoing a fundamental reset—and the decisions made now will define investment performance for years to come. Market conditions are increasingly being shaped by shifting demand patterns, evolving workplace and consumer behaviors, constrained and changing supply, economic uncertainty, and a growing divergence between submarkets and property quality. While certain areas are showing meaningful signs of stabilization and renewed activity, capital and tenants are becoming more selective, making location, asset quality, pricing, and market timing more important than ever. This session will provide investors, developers, and owners with a comprehensive view of where the Chicagoland market stands today, where it is heading, and what the data means for future decisions. The objective is clear: cut through the noise, identify where momentum is building and risk is emerging, and give market participants the intelligence they need to make smarter acquisition, development, disposition, leasing, and investment decisions in an increasingly selective market.
- Current vacancy trends and hybrid work impacts
- Demand drivers and supply pipeline outlook
- Leasing momentum across asset classes
- Suburban versus urban market performance comparisons
- Capital flows and pricing trends across property sectors
- Key economic indicators shaping Chicagoland CRE conditions
- Expert forecast for the future Chicagoland’s future
1:30 PM: Capital Markets & CRE Finance Strategies: Financing Your Projects in 2027
Kimberly Jung, Old National Bank
The State of Chicagoland Commercial Real Estate Finance is entering a critical new phase, and every investor, developer, and owner needs to understand what is coming in 2027. With debt capital becoming more available—but lenders remaining highly selective—success will depend less on simply finding financing and more on structuring the right capital stack, managing interest-rate risk, and positioning assets for lender scrutiny. This session will deliver a practical, market-driven view of 2027 debt availability, interest-rate and hedging strategies, CMBS and bank lending conditions, equity and leverage expectations, alternative financing sources, and proven approaches for refinancing maturing debt. With commercial loan maturities and credit pressure continuing to shape the market, understanding how lenders are evaluating risk—and where capital is actually available—could be the difference between getting a deal done, restructuring on unfavorable terms, or missing an opportunity altogether.
- Debt availability and favorable lending terms forecast
- Interest rate outlook and effective hedging approaches
- CMBS and bank financing market conditions
- Equity requirements and optimal leverage expectations
- Alternative financing sources for competitive CRE deals
- Refinancing strategies for maturing loans
- Credit trends and their impact on transactions
2:30 PM: Developing Chicagoland for the Next Generation
Steve Eskildsen, Mortenson
Chicagoland is entering an important period of redevelopment and reinvestment as developers and property owners navigate changing tenant demands, demographics, construction, financing conditions and evolving consumer preferences. From major urban developments to suburban redevelopment and repositioning opportunities, owners are looking for the next places and property types where capital can create long-term value. This panel will bring together leading developers and owners to discuss where they are investing, what they are developing and how they are positioning their portfolios for the next generation of Chicagoland growth.
- Where are developers putting capital today?
- Development opportunities across Greater Chicago region.
- Major projects driving future growth
- Redeveloping aging and underutilized properties
- Unlocking value through adaptive reuse
- Redevelop, reposition or repurpose?
- What makes a development site compelling today?
- Construction costs, financing and project feasibility
3:30 PM: Industry Sector Update - Office
- Rental rate growth projections and pricing trends for 2027
- Vacancy levels and proven tenant retention strategies
- Leasing activity and absorption forecasts across major submarkets
- Hybrid work trends shaping future office demand and space requirements
- Strong investment appetite for Class A versus value-add opportunities
- Flight-to-quality trends creating compelling repositioning and growth opportunities
- Cap rate trends and yield expectations for 2027
3:30 PM: Industry Sector Update - Regional Economic Development
- Chicagoland’s Economic Development Outlook
- Competing for New Investment & Jobs
- Infrastructure, Transportation & Connectivity
- The Race for Industrial, Manufacturing & Data Center Development
- Redevelopment & Adaptive Reuse
- Incentives, Taxes & Public-Private Partnerships
- Building a Stronger Regional Economy
3:30 PM: Industry Sector Update - Retail
- Rental rate growth projections and pricing trends for 2027
- Vacancy levels and proven tenant retention strategies
- Leasing activity and absorption forecasts across major submarkets
- Consumer spending trends shaping future retail demand and opportunities
- Strong investment appetite for necessity-based versus discretionary retail
- Changing tenant preferences creating compelling repositioning opportunities
- Cap rate trends and yield expectations for 2027
3:30 PM: Industry Sector Update - Mulltifamily
Gail Lissner, Integra Realty Resources
Maxwell Jacobson, S.R. Jacobson Development Corp.
Moderator: Gail Lissner
- Rental rate growth projections for apartment sector
- Occupancy levels and proven tenant retention strategies
- New supply deliveries and absorption forecasts
- Affordable housing policy effects on future development opportunities
- Strong investment appetite for Class A versus value-add assets
- Demographic trends shaping multifamily demand and exciting growth opportunities
- Cap rate compression and yield expectations for 2027
3:30 PM: Industry Sector Update - Industrial
- Industrial rent growth projections and pricing trends for 2027
- Vacancy levels and proven tenant retention strategies
- New supply deliveries and absorption forecasts across major submarkets
- Logistics, manufacturing and reshoring trends shaping future demand
- Strong investment appetite for Class A versus value-add opportunities
- Occupier demand, location strategy and exciting growth opportunities
- Cap rate trends and yield expectations for 2027
4:30 PM: Happy Hour: Networking, Exhibitors, Cocktails & Appetizers