Capital rotation, real assets, and a new era for CRE deals

Capital is rotating, the line between real estate and infrastructure is blurring, and the deals getting done today look different from those of even three years ago. In this episode of CRE Exchange, Omar Eltorai sits down with Tim Bodner, who leads PwC's US and global real estate deals practice, to discuss the firm's 2026 midyear CRE outlook. They cover the real assets convergence thesis, why operational prowess is replacing cap rate compression as the primary value driver, where REIT consolidation goes from here, and how private capital is redefining the dealmaking landscape.

Key moments

02:10 Midyear outlook key shifts03:35 Real assets convergence07:18 Operating prowess and AI09:07 VCs owning hard assets10:56 Where AI gets used today13:50 Industry bifurcation and new entrants18:09 REIT discounts and consolidation24:26 Private capital and capital solutions28:27 Themes for the back half of 202629:51 Policy uncertainty and data centers31:06 Lightning round and wrap

Resources mentioned

Tim Bodner - https://www.linkedin.com/in/timbodner/

Navigating the capital rotation and AI-driven convergence reshaping real estate and real assets dealmaking - https://www.pwc.com/us/en/industries/financial-services/library/asset-wealth-management-real-estate-deals-outlook.html