Peter Quinn-Commercial Real Estate Broker

Peter Quinn-Commercial Real Estate Broker Peter has over 35 years of experience in commercial real estate brokerage, development, investment, and consulting.

After five successful years at CBRE in Newport Beach, he began developing and investing in commercial real estate opportunities in 1985. Pursuit of joint venture development opportunities led to corporate real estate assignments with Eastman Kodak, Texaco USA, and Eli Lilly. These relationships and experiences led him to create Parkstone Companies, a provider of corporate real estate services to F

ortune 500 companies, investors, and major financial institutions, including Security Pacific Bank, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Sumitomo Bank. Peter led Southern California-based Voit Development Company’s efforts in San Diego from 2003 to 2007, becoming the third most active real estate development company in the region while developing or acquiring nearly 1,000,000 square feet of office and industrial product. During the last 5 years, Peter has executed a business plan assisting owners and operators of medical care facilities and non-profit organizations, including Mental Health Systems, Noah Homes, The San Diego Food Bank and Kipp Charter Schools.

Rising Treasury yields are becoming impossible to ignore — and the implications for commercial real estate are significa...
05/19/2026

Rising Treasury yields are becoming impossible to ignore — and the implications for commercial real estate are significant. As bond markets react to persistent inflation concerns, geopolitical instability, and higher energy prices, borrowing costs across the board are moving higher.
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For office occupiers, investors, and landlords, this environment reinforces the importance of strategic planning around financing, lease timing, and capital deployment. The days of inexpensive debt are clearly behind us for now, and volatility in the bond market could continue to pressure both acquisition activity and refinancing opportunities.
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In San Diego’s office market, well-capitalized tenants and owners will likely remain active, but underwriting assumptions and deal structures are evolving quickly. Watching the bond market may now be just as important as watching vacancy trends.
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Concerns surround inflation and the lack of progress in peace talks around the Iran war, although it's not a complete catastrophe yet.

AI was supposed to shrink office demand. Instead, it’s doing the opposite—at least in the markets that matter most.-Desp...
05/07/2026

AI was supposed to shrink office demand. Instead, it’s doing the opposite—at least in the markets that matter most.
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Despite continued tech layoffs, leasing activity is accelerating, with AI-driven companies and financial services firms actively taking space to bring teams together and scale. JLL’s latest numbers reinforce what many of us are seeing on the ground: demand isn’t disappearing—it’s evolving.
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In San Diego and other coastal markets, this trend is especially relevant. The flight to quality is real, with tenants prioritizing top-tier, amenitized, and sustainable buildings. The gap between commodity space and premium product continues to widen, and that’s where the opportunity—and competition—sits.
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AI isn’t eliminating the office. It’s reshaping how, where, and why it’s used.
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The question isn’t whether companies need space—it’s what kind of space they’re willing to commit to.
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JLL reports strong leasing growth driven by AI firms and financial services.

The narrative just shifted—and the market is paying attention.-For months, CRE has been underwriting deals around the as...
05/05/2026

The narrative just shifted—and the market is paying attention.
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For months, CRE has been underwriting deals around the assumption of rate stability or gradual cuts. But with officials at the Federal Reserve now openly signaling that rate hikes are back on the table, that playbook may need a reset.
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In a market like San Diego, where pricing, cap rates, and debt structures are already finely balanced, even the possibility of higher rates introduces a new layer of complexity:

• Debt costs may stay elevated longer than expected

• Deal velocity could slow as buyers recalibrate underwriting

• Sellers may need to adjust expectations to meet the market
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What stands out isn’t just the potential for hikes—it’s the uncertainty. As Jerome Powell and other policymakers pointed out, inflation isn’t cooperating, and global dynamics are adding pressure.
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For occupiers, investors, and developers, this reinforces a key theme for 2026: flexibility wins. The groups that stay nimble on timing, structure, and strategy will be best positioned to navigate what’s shaping up to be a far less predictable rate environment.
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If you’re evaluating office acquisitions, renewals, or capital strategy in this window, now’s the time to pressure-test assumptions.
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New statements highlight concern over inflation staying above target.

AI was supposed to weaken the case for the office. Instead, it may be strengthening it.-New data shows that the heaviest...
04/29/2026

AI was supposed to weaken the case for the office. Instead, it may be strengthening it.
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New data shows that the heaviest AI users aren’t isolating—they’re collaborating more, building stronger networks, and showing up to the office more consistently than their peers.
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That’s a meaningful shift in the narrative.
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What stands out:

• AI power users are more engaged, not less

• Collaboration is becoming real-time and AI-assisted—not something that happens before or after meetings

• The office is evolving into a hub for mentorship, creativity, and relationship-building—not just task ex*****on
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For tenants and occupiers, this reinforces a trend we’re seeing across San Diego: the quality of space matters more than ever. Static layouts built for individual work are giving way to environments designed for fluid, tech-enabled collaboration.
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For landlords and investors, the implication is clear—spaces that support how people actually work today (and with AI) will outperform.
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AI isn’t replacing the office. It’s redefining its purpose.
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Gensler's 2026 Global Workplace Survey of more than 16,400 workers across 16 countries finds that employees who use AI the most are also the most collaborative, the most connected to their teams, and the most likely to come into the office.

Banks may be cleaning up their CRE balance sheets—but for borrowers, the real work is just beginning.-Write-downs aren’t...
04/27/2026

Banks may be cleaning up their CRE balance sheets—but for borrowers, the real work is just beginning.
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Write-downs aren’t forgiveness. They’re a signal that lenders are resetting expectations and preparing for more active resolution strategies—whether that’s restructuring, note sales, or enforcement. And increasingly, those loans are being transferred to new players with a very different mindset.
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In today’s environment, borrowers are navigating:

• More complex negotiations across the capital stack

• Tighter timelines and reduced flexibility

• Counterparties focused on maximizing recovery, not relationships
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For office and multifamily owners alike, especially in challenged segments, the takeaway is clear: proactive asset and debt strategy has never been more critical.
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The landscape isn’t just shifting—it’s becoming more transactional, more legal, and more nuanced.
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If you’re facing loan maturity or distress, now is the time to get ahead of it—not react to it.
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My team is spending a fair amount of time in this arena. Call me if you want to know more about re-negotiating your loan or acquiring distressed debt.
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Write-downs shift the process into restructurings, distressed sales and potential litigation.

Geopolitics is back in the driver’s seat—and CRE capital markets are feeling it.-Rising Treasury yields tied to the Iran...
04/22/2026

Geopolitics is back in the driver’s seat—and CRE capital markets are feeling it.
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Rising Treasury yields tied to the Iran conflict are putting fresh pressure on borrowing costs, just as many in our industry were underwriting a path to rate relief. While the moves may seem incremental, the baseline has shifted—and that’s what matters.
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We’re already seeing the impact:

• Sellers hitting pause, waiting for clarity

• Lenders becoming more selective (or stepping back entirely)

• Credit spreads widening—especially on the risk spectrum

• Construction and operating costs climbing alongside energy prices
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For office and broader CRE in markets like San Diego, this reinforces a reality we’ve been navigating: underwriting today requires more discipline, more flexibility, and a sharper eye on macro risk than ever before.
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The takeaway?
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Volatility isn’t going away anytime soon—but opportunities will favor those who can move decisively within it.
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Sellers pause and lenders pull back amid volatile conditions.

2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for commercial real estate—and not just because of improving fundamentals.-AI is...
04/20/2026

2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for commercial real estate—and not just because of improving fundamentals.
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AI is moving fast from “nice-to-have” to “must-have,” and while many firms are still in the pilot phase, the real opportunity lies in ex*****on. The brokers and owners who figure out how to operationalize AI—across underwriting, data management, and leasing—will have a meaningful edge.
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At the same time, the market is quietly turning a corner. Capital is starting to re-engage, key sectors like industrial and retail remain resilient, and even office—especially Class A—shows signs of renewed confidence as return-to-office trends solidify.
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From a San Diego perspective, this is where things get interesting. Innovation + improving capital markets = opportunity. The past few years forced discipline, but they also created a gap for those ready to step in as the cycle shifts.
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There won’t be a clear “all clear” signal—but the early movers typically win in CRE.
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2026 could very well reward those willing to lean in.
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With AI tools making progress in CRE and multiple sectors showing signs of thawing, 2026 is shaping up to be an exciting year for investment.

AI is creating a real (and measurable) bump in office demand—but it’s not a free pass for the sector.-Recent reports hig...
04/16/2026

AI is creating a real (and measurable) bump in office demand—but it’s not a free pass for the sector.
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Recent reports highlight a dynamic we’re already starting to see play out: short-term tailwinds from AI-driven industries, paired with longer-term pressure on office demand as automation reshapes the workforce.
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Here’s the reality:

In markets like San Diego, we’re likely to benefit from the near-term growth tied to AI, cloud, and advanced tech. But zoom out, and the bigger story is efficiency—companies doing more with fewer people, and ultimately, less space.
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That doesn’t mean the office is going away. It means the bar is going up.

➡️ Commodity space will continue to struggle

➡️ Collaboration-driven, experience-focused environments will outperform

➡️ Talent strategy will matter just as much as real estate strategy
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The most interesting takeaway? The risk isn’t just space reduction—it’s how companies manage their talent pipeline. Overcorrecting in the name of efficiency today could create real gaps tomorrow.
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For owners and occupiers alike, this is a moment to think long-term: What kind of workplace actually earns the commute in an AI-enabled world?
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Newmark projects vacancies to rise as automation reshapes employment patterns by decade's end.

Flashy amenities used to be a leasing hook—now they’re becoming a liability.-Across the office sector, we’re seeing a cl...
04/13/2026

Flashy amenities used to be a leasing hook—now they’re becoming a liability.
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Across the office sector, we’re seeing a clear shift: spaces designed to impress on a tour aren’t the same ones that drive daily tenant engagement. Empty lounges, oversized conference centers, and outdated fitness areas are quietly turning into expensive dead weight for landlords.
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The takeaway is simple but important—utilization beats aesthetics.
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In today’s market, the amenities that actually move the needle are:
🔹 Wellness-driven spaces that support the full workday (not just before/after hours)
🔹 Social, hospitality-style environments with strong F&B components
🔹 Flexible, multi-use areas that adapt to how tenants actually work
🔹 Outdoor spaces that enhance day-to-day experience
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or owners and investors in markets like San Diego, this is more than a design conversation—it’s a capital allocation decision. When you’re spending hundreds per square foot, every inch needs to justify itself through tenant engagement, retention, and ultimately rent performance.
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The future of office amenities isn’t about what looks good—it’s about what gets used.
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Once a leasing draw, unused gyms and lounges now drain resources for building owners.

Signs of stabilization are becoming more tangible across Southern California’s office markets—and the next chapter may b...
04/09/2026

Signs of stabilization are becoming more tangible across Southern California’s office markets—and the next chapter may be driven less by leasing and more by capital markets.
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Leasing activity in LA remains above long-term averages, Class A rents continue to climb in premier submarkets, and sublease availability is steadily being absorbed. At the same time, tenants are still prioritizing efficiency, keeping pressure on landlords to stay competitive with concessions.
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But the real catalyst? The wave of upcoming loan maturities.
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With a significant volume of office debt coming due in 2026–2027, we’re likely to see increased sales activity, repricing, and a broader reset across both LA and Orange County. For investors and owner-users, this could open the door to opportunities that haven’t been available in years.
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From a San Diego perspective, these trends are worth watching closely—what happens in LA and Orange County often sets the tone for capital flows and pricing expectations across Southern California.
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The office market isn’t fully “back”—but it’s clearly evolving, and the next 12–24 months could be pivotal.
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Leasing slowed in the first quarter in LA, but remains strong, while Orange County activity is steady.

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San Diego, CA
92130

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