​🚦The Hard Corner 

Presented by Marhilus Ventures 

Happy Thursday!

We’re your go-to source for the latest news in the retail and finance sector of commercial real estate. Every other week, we’ll provide you with a concise and insightful roundup of the key stories shaping our markets.

On this week’s edition: Retail remains resilient despite economic shifts, with declining vacancies in high-growth Sun Belt states and a focus on affordability-driven brands like Dollar General, TJX, and Chipotle. Mixed-use developments and experiential retail continue to gain traction. Meanwhile, the U.S. construction industry faces a 439K worker shortage in 2025, compounded by rising wages and immigration shifts. In CRE, strong job growth fuels optimism, but interest rate volatility and inflation concerns persist, with the Fed holding rates steady. New trade tariffs could drive up costs and disrupt supply chains, while multi-family investments see a surge in core capital. As cap rates rise, net lease investors turn to value-add opportunities to stay ahead in an evolving market.

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📉 Market Spotlight

*Data from 02/06/2025

 📰 Featured News

 🚦 The Hard Corner Picks

• Building the Future: Can the U.S. Construction Industry Overcome Its Workforce Crisis? With a projected shortage of 439K workers in 2025, rising wages, and shifting immigration policies, the construction sector faces mounting challenges—and urgent solutions are needed.

• Market Momentum vs. Inflation Risks: What Lies Ahead for CRE in 2025: Strong Job Growth and Consumer Optimism Drive Economic Gains, but Interest Rate Volatility and Inflation Loom Over Investment Strategy

• The Fed Holds Steady: Interest Rates Pause Amid Economic Uncertainty: With inflation concerns lingering and policy shifts on the horizon, the Federal Reserve signals a cautious approach—leaving borrowers and investors in wait-and-see mode.

• Tariff Turmoil: Trump’s New Trade Levies Shake Markets and Real Estate: With fresh tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China, the U.S. braces for rising construction costs, inflationary pressures, and shifting commercial real estate dynamics.

• Core Capital’s Resurgence: A Bellwether for CRE Markets: Multi-family’s strong performance signals a broader shift as core capital fundraising triples, setting the stage for future value-add and opportunistic investments.

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🛒 The Retail Corridor

• Advance Auto Parts Restructures: A Leaner Future Ahead: Over 200 Store Closures Mark the Start of a Turnaround Plan Focused on Profitability and Operational Efficiency

• Retail in 2025: Navigating Change in a Tight Market: From Grocery-Anchored Stability to Suburban Growth—Key Trends Shaping the Future of Retail

• Retail in the Crosshairs: How Trump’s Tariff Plans Could Reshape the Industry: With sweeping tariff proposals on the horizon, retailers brace for supply chain shifts, rising costs, and shifting consumer behavior

• Navigating Net Lease Retail: Trends, Challenges & Opportunities in 2025: Rising Cap Rates, Shifting Investor Strategies, and the Search for Value-Add Opportunities in a Changing Market

Editor’s Note

We dedicate significant effort into crafting a newsletter that balances information with engagement, but let’s be honest – newsletters aren’t our day job. Marhilus Ventures is a diversified investment firm, involved in real estate, finance, and business investments. Our niche? Retail assets, hence “The Hard Corner.” Specializing in middle-market value-add properties, both single and multi-tenant, we strategically invest capital through direct equity, joint venture equity, and debt structures across the United States.

Go Check out our investment criteria, if you have anything that may be of interest, shoot it over. We appreciate it!