AFIRE Podcast 2025.06: Jim Costello on how the Trump Administration will affect CRE in 2025

In 2024 commercial real estate investors were confronted with tremendous changes. What’s the biggest change that will surprise us in 2025—and how should the investment community adjust to those changes? That’s just one of the topics we tackle in the latest episode of our podcast series talking with commercial real estate experts about the year ahead.

Jim Costello is the Chief Economist for MSCI Real Assets—and someone who always has a measured and data-driven forecast of what’s going to happen in the US real estate market, especially as it pertains to cross-border investment.

“If people are not taking a dispassionate point of view…and taking a full look at the range of potential changes, they’re going to be shocked and surprised,” explains Costello. How will the new administration’s policies affect trade? Tariffs? Tax policies? Will they decrease regulatory burdens? And how will that affect inflation? “Those are real concerns,” says Costello. “But any policy change can cut two ways… there are other things that other types of investors are excited about”—and both Branson and Costello describe them in detail in this special mini-episode of the AFIRE podcast.

Other themes: 

  • What are the surprising bets Jim Costello would make in 2025?
  • Why office could surprise us in the year ahead
  • How will migration patterns change in the US in 2025?

Watch the video or listen to the audio episode for answers.


DISCLAIMER

The publisher of the AFIRE Podcast is not engaged in providing tax, accounting, or legal advice through this publication. No content published in the AFIRE Podcast is to be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell any asset. Some information included in the AFIRE Podcast has been obtained from third-party sources considered to be reliable, though the publisher is not responsible for guaranteeing the accuracy of third-party information. The opinions expressed in the AFIRE Podcast are those of its respective contributors and sources and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher.

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The AFIRE Podcast with Gunnar Branson is the official, multiple-award-winning podcast of AFIRE, the association for international real estate investors focused on commercial property in the United States.

Hosted by AFIRE CEO Gunnar Branson, the podcast features informative and in-depth conversations with experts across the full spectrum of real estate, investment, sustainability, economics, geopolitics, and urbanism with a focus on helping each other become Better Investors, Better Leaders, and Better Global Citizens. To learn more, visit afire.org/podcast

QUESTIONS?

Benjamin van Loon, Communications Director
bvanloon@afire.org | +1 202 312 1405

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