From Insights to Trends: Best Publications in Commercial Real Estate

As a CRE professional, there are a lot of advantages to staying up to date on the latest news and trends posted in publications. CRE publications give insights into investment trends, movement among the big players, and other information that can guide your business decisions. You can even find insights into specific markets and niches depending on which publication you choose.

On the flip side, there are a lot of publications out there that may not be relevant to you. Some publications require subscriptions to view their articles and insights, while others are free. We’ll list some of the best publications in commercial real estate, how frequently they post, and what their specialty may be.

Best Commercial Real Estate Magazines

Commercial Real Estate Insight Journal

What it is: A magazine-style CRE journal, CRE Insight publishes magazines about a variety of topics like design, engineering, industrial real estate, and more. They also dive into more niche interest subjects. While they aren’t as focused on investment and market reports, they do have insight pieces highlighting certain markets and trends to watch.

Cost: CRE Insight is $149 a year to subscribe, but digital versions of the journal are free to view online. Subscription includes the CRE Insight Journal (published once per year) and several special issues published throughout the year.

Where to find it: Past CRE Insight publications, CRE Insight Member Sign Up

Commercial Property Executive

What it is: A magazine focused on ownership of various property asset classes like office, retail, industrial, data centers, and more. This magazine provides up-to-date information on markets, trends, and even delivers research reports to its readers. While this is a magazine, their digital media includes webinars and podcasts related to the CRE industry.

Cost: The CPE magazine is available for free online. It publishes a new magazine once per month, with 12 magazines over the year.

Where to find it: CPE Podcast, CPE Newsletter, CPE Digital Magazines

Top Commercial Real Estate Publications Online

GlobeSt

What it is: An ALM media company, GlobeSt covers a wide range of topics in the CRE industry intended for CRE owners, investors, developers, and other professionals. CRE covers featured markets in major U.S. cities as well as several sectors like office, industrial, retail, and more. Creating a GlobeSt account, you can also subscribe to one of their newsletters.

Cost: GlobeSt’s articles are available through a free ALM digital reader account. Some premium content may be excluded; however we found that most articles are available for free once you set up an account.

Where to find it: globest.com

Bisnow

What it is: Bisnow specializes in B2B CRE with stories related to special insights, asset classes, cities, investments, and more. Bisnow focuses on CRE by organizing articles by the categories relevant to real estate, as well as the top commercial real estate markets in the U.S. Especially focused on improving ROIs and improving your business, Bisnow’s services include advertising solutions, a newsletter, morning briefs, a podcast, and job boards related to CRE. Bisnow is SelectLeaders’ sister company.

Cost: Bisnow’s articles are readable with a free account. New articles are posted every few days, with Bisnow’s daily newsletter coming to you in the morning.

Where to find it: Bisnow

The Business Journals

What it is: Although not entirely focused on CRE, The Business Journals does have a Commercial Real Estate news section that includes frequent updates and insights into the CRE industry. Their CRE news focuses on Construction, LEED, CRE Brokerages, CRE Developers, Retail Development, and CRE sales. For this reason, The Business Journal may be considered more niche than some of the other publications we’ve mentioned.

Cost: $90 for 52 weeks. Alternatively, The Business Journal offers digital access for just $4 to try for 4 weeks. These low-cost plans do automatically renew for the annual cost, however, so this plan is more of a “pay-to-try.”

Where to find it: Bizjournal CRE, Bizjournal subscription

Best Sources for CRE News

Bisnow

What it is: For up-to-date information on national and local CRE news, Bisnow is always publishing new stories about movements in the CRE industry. It includes subjects about several asset classes across most major U.S. metropolitan areas. CRE News includes coverage from the latest press releases and how they can impact you.

Cost: Free to sign up and get reading! Bisnow also offers daily newsletters with round-ups of the latest in CRE news.

Where to find it: Bisnow

CREDaily

What it is: This newsletter-style magazine sends you the latest stories, reports, and market movement daily every morning. When you subscribe to CRE Daily, you choose which newsletters that are most relevant to your business. Their topics include different markets, sectors, reports, and more. CREDaily also has a podcast.

Cost: CREDaily’s newsletter is free to join. It offers brief, bite-sized updates that are designed to be read in 5 minutes or less.

Best Trade Journals for Commercial Real Estate

Trade journals are journals or magazines designed for a specific industry like CRE. Unlike a business journal, a trade journal would be more specific in its purpose and the type of content that it publishes. A CRE trade journal example would be the CRE Insight Journal we listed above or Development Magazine. Here two excellent CRE trade journals:

BOMA International

What it is: An active repository for articles on a variety of topics pertaining to building owners, operators and managers. BOMA is an acronym for Building Owners and Managers Association International. Their library includes articles “deep dives,” research and videos. BOMA is a national trade organization with local chapters that offer memberships.

Cost: Much of their articles, research and video content are free.

Where to find it: BOMA Knowledge Center BOMA International YouTube channel

CCIM Connections

What it is: Published by the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) institute, CCIM Connections provides real estate insights. Many of these insights are focused on multifamily housing, but this trade journal also has CRE feature stories, CRE tech spotlights, and more pieces valuable to all CRE professionals.

Cost: CCIM Connections hosts its articles for free online. However, they encourage readers to join their CCIM designation program, which varies in cost and involves classes and membership. Becoming a member will put you on the mailing list for their quarterly print magazines.

Where to find it: CCIM Connections Podcast, CCIM Institute Blog

Niche Commercial Real Estate Resources

Depending on your niche, you may find CRE magazines, newsletters, and other online resources that are more specific to your industry or specialization.

Property Manager Magazines

Property Manager Insider

What it is: For property managers, facility managers, and other professionals in the property management field, Property Manager Insider posts articles about the latest in property management news. Articles are categorized by specialization and asset class like commercial, multifamily, and more. They also include job postings and guides on finding contractors.

Cost: Property Manager Inside is free to read articles. Their website includes posting and reviewing jobs.

Where to find it: Property Manager News

Real Estate Investing Magazines

REIT Magazine

What it is: Published by Nareit, the real estate investment trust magazine publishes articles about owning and financing income-producing real estate. Articles are relevant to investing as much as commercial real estate with pieces on capital markets, key movers, and strategies for REITs.

Cost: Some articles are available online, but magazine subscriptions come with Nareit membership, which is $935 for a professional working at a for-profit company.

Where to find it: Nareit Subscription, REIT Magazine articles

Property Development Magazine

Development Magazine

What it is: The Development Magazine includes lots of valuable CRE insights from business trends, to finance and other perspectives into the industry. Development Magazine is published by NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association. It includes information about several sectors like office, retail, industrial, and more.

Cost: A print subscription to Development Magazine is $60 per year, which includes four issues. You can save by purchasing a subscription for two years, which is $100.

Where to find it: Development subscription, NAIOP Membership

CRE Retail Magazines

Real Estate Business Magazines

What they are: The France Media group publishes three magazines related to retail asset classes:

1. Shopping Center Business — Articles, profiles, and topics related to shopping centers in the U.S. Provides data and recent reports on shopping center prospects. Published 12 times per year, free weekly newsletter.
2. California Centers — Data and reports related to shopping centers, shopping center developers, and certain retailers within California. Published five times per year.
3. Retail & Restaurant Facility Business — Feature articles about chain restaurant real estate, retail spaces, and other news about construction and people within the retail & restaurant industry. Published 11 times per year, free weekly newsletter.