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Green Street News' Real Estate Alert has released its “Mid-Year Broker Rankings,” showing a sharp increase in commercial property sales through the first six months of the year.

One Orchard has launched as an investment firm and holding company designed to concentrate capital into fully integrated, proprietary real asset platforms. One Orchard, based in New York City, is co-founded by David Elliott and Bradley Guz.

Institutional investors are navigating a housing market shaped by affordability pressures, limited supply and a changing policy environment. In an IREI interview, George Ratiu, vice president of research, National Apartment Association (NAA), examines how the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act could affect institutional investment in housing, including whether more capital could shift toward build-to-rent and other newly constructed rental communities. It also explores the role of BTR in adding new housing stock, the potential impact of restrictions on institutional ownership of existing single-family homes, and how higher interest rates, construction costs and broader macroeconomic volatility are influencing investment strategies. Looking ahead, the interview considers what could drive the next phase of growth for build-to-rent and newly constructed rental housing.

Landsec is reportedly close to agreeing to acquire the Metrocentre shopping center in Gateshead, England, in a deal valued at around £500 million ($677 million), according to The Times.

Franklin Templeton and its real estate investment manager, Clarion Partners, have announced Clarion Partners Real Estate Income Fund Inc.’s (Nasdaq: CPREX) acquisition of four industrial outdoor storage (IOS) properties totaling approximately 26 acres and 219,000 square feet across four major U.S. markets: Atlanta, central New Jersey, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Houston. The acquisitions further expand the fund’s strategic allocation to the growing IOS sector.

The Virginia Retirement System (VRS) has committed $725 million to real estate funds, including funds managed by Apollo, Blue Owl, Kayne Anderson, and Meadow Partners.

The Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS) has committed $100 million to EQT Exeter Industrial Core-Plus Fund V, a vehicle of EQT Real Estate.

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP) has committed €600 million ($695 million) to European real estate funds, including Aermont Capital Real Estate Fund VI and Southern European Opportunities III.

The Board of Trustees of the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System (SRPS) has announced a net investment return of 13.2 percent for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2026, exceeding the 6.8 percent actuarial target by 6.39 percentage points and outperforming the policy benchmark by three basis points.

According to Savills’ latest research, professional and business services accounted for 24 percent of European office take-up in first half 2026, down from 26 percent in 2025, as lawyers, accountants, and consultants remained active. The tech sector rose from 14 percent to 22 percent of total activity, an increase driven by both expanding AI firms and traditional tech firms resuming activity.

Sam Walsh has joined Cliffwater as managing director on the Cascade Real Assets Fund team.

PRP Real Assets has hired Liat Cherkes-Bishko as managing director, head of capital formation.

Realterm, alongside Starwood Property Trust, has closed a $672 million industrial outdoor storage (IOS) portfolio financing, the largest of its kind, according to the release.

Urban Partners has announced the first close of Urban Partners Credit II (UPC II), its latest real estate credit fund, marking a significant milestone for the firm’s expanding credit platform.

ESR has appointed Dalmar Sheikh as CEO of ESR Data Centers, effective Sept. 1.

Bain Capital has sold a 5.64 percent stake in Bengaluru, India-based Embassy Office Parks REIT for INR 23.25 billion ($243 million) through open-market transactions, according to ETRealty.

Alpaca Real Estate combines a technology-enabled investment platform with institutional real estate judgment. The firm uses standardized data and agentic AI to accelerate sourcing, underwriting, research and asset management—while keeping accountability and final investment decisions with its investment professionals.

Demand for artificial intelligence (AI)-ready data center capacity continues to accelerate across Europe, with emerging AI infrastructure providers, often referred to as neoclouds, securing record levels of capacity as they expand to meet growing AI compute requirements.

Aviva Investors, the global asset management business of Aviva plc, announced it has completed work at its heritage-led redevelopment at Pegasus Mayfair in central London.

Rexford Industrial Realty has entered into a definitive agreement to sell an industrial portfolio to an affiliate of EQT Real Estate for approximately $1.2 billion.