05/29/2026
Some real estate risk does not show up as a bad location.
It shows up as a building that no longer fits how people use space.
That is called functional obsolescence.
It happens when an asset is still standing, still usable, and sometimes even well located, but the layout, systems, parking, ceiling heights, access, or design no longer match current demand.
This matters because value is not only about what a property is today.
It is about how easily it can adapt tomorrow.
A building with flexible bones can be repositioned, re-leased, or upgraded with a clearer path. A building with rigid limitations may need more capital, more time, and more risk to stay competitive.
From an investor’s point of view, this is why physical diligence matters as much as market diligence.
The market may support the use.
But the asset still has to support the plan.
What do you think gets overlooked more often, location risk or building functionality?