# Office Market 2026: Prime Space Scarcity as U.S. Completions Fall 75%

> JLL expects U.S. office completions to fall 75% in 2026; CBRE sees leasing surpass 2019 levels with a prime/secondary split.

- Section: News › Commercial Real Estate
- Author: Uassist.ME Editorial Team
- Publisher: Published by Uassist.ME (https://uassistme.com)
- Published: 2026-10-17
- Last updated: 2026-10-18
- Canonical: https://leasingsignal.com/commercial-real-estate/office-market-2026-prime-scarcity/

## Key takeaways

- U.S. office completions are set to fall 75% in 2026, with three-quarters of the pipeline pre-leased (JLL).
- CBRE expects office leasing to surpass 2019 levels and prime space to grow scarcer.
- Older secondary space offers room for creative deals and adaptive reuse.

## Why is prime office getting scarce?

JLL reports U.S. office construction at an all-time low, with completions falling 75% in 2026 and most of the remaining pipeline pre-leased.

## What about older buildings?

CBRE expects spillover demand to lift next-tier space, while non-prime assets offer room for creative deal structures and adaptive reuse, with tenant-favorable renewal terms.

## Frequently asked questions

### Why is prime office space getting scarce?

JLL reports U.S. office construction at an all-time low, with completions falling 75% in 2026 and most of the remaining pipeline pre-leased.

### What happens to older office buildings?

CBRE expects spillover demand to lift next-tier space, while non-prime assets offer room for creative deal structures and adaptive reuse, with tenant-favorable renewal terms.

### Where do these figures come from?

Every figure is attributed in the text and linked in the numbered Sources list (2 sources, with publication dates where available). Vendor figures are labeled vendor-reported.

## Sources

1. [JLL Global Outlook 2026](https://www.jll.com/content/dam/jllcom/en/global/documents/reports/research-reports/25-insights-global-real-estate-2026.pdf) (2025-12)
2. [CBRE Outlook 2026](https://www.cbre.com/insights/books/us-real-estate-market-outlook-2026) (2026-01-14)