2026 Spring Preview: Neil Cohen, Barsh and Cohen, P.C.

What trends or market activity are you seeing as we move into the spring season? As we head into the spring, we’re seeing a noticeable increase in activity year over year. Interest rates have begun trending downward, which is encouraging many investors and developers who have been sitting on the sidelines to reengage in the market. From a capital markets perspective, the reset in commercial mortgage rates is creating new opportunities for deals to move forward as lenders and borrowers begin to find more alignment on pricing and risk.

What projects, initiatives, or types of work are currently keeping your team busiest? Much of our current work is centered on helping clients navigate creative financing solutions. With traditional lending still adjusting to market conditions, we’re seeing increased use of alternative capital sources, including private and hard money lenders. At the same time, regulatory changes from agencies like the DOR and FinCEN are impacting real estate transactions, so our role often involves advising investors and lenders on compliance while structuring deals that remain viable in this evolving environment.

What opportunities or challenges do you see shaping the commercial real estate landscape over the next several months? One of the biggest dynamics shaping the market is the interest rate reset following the historically low rates seen between 2021 and 2023. As those loans begin to mature, many borrowers will need to refinance in a very different rate environment. While that presents challenges, it also creates opportunity. We expect this transition to stimulate more lending activity through conventional channels as lenders and borrowers work through restructurings and new financing strategies.