This week, we’re joined by our very own Kari Knoedler—now officially the office AI expert (yes, she took a class, so it’s legit).

We dive into how AI is actually being used every day in commercial real estate—from cranking out marketing content and building better spreadsheets (seriously… better spreadsheets) to leveling up research and efficiency across the board.

But it’s not just about convenience—AI is already shaping the industry in bigger ways. Think data centers, energy consumption, and how site selection is evolving right in front of us.

We also tackle the big question: Should we be worried about our jobs? Short answer—relationships still win. CRE is still a people business.

Of course, we keep it real—talking about using AI responsibly, protecting confidential information, and how this all feels a lot like the early internet days (shoutout to AOL dial-up… no off switch then, no off switch now).

Bottom line: the more you use AI, the better it gets to know you—and the more powerful it becomes as a tool in your day-to-day business.

Tune in for insights, laughs, and maybe a few prompts you’ll want to steal.

In this episode, we crack open our annual Lincoln CRE Market Report—the one we obsessively track all year so you don’t have to. We dig into the trends behind absorption, sale prices, and what’s really happening in office, industrial, and retail.

Joining the conversation:

• Jared Froehlich, SIOR, CCIM breaks down the industrial market (spoiler: it’s still been on a tear since 2020).
• Tim Dornbos dives into retail, which turns out is less “retail apocalypse” and more “people still like stores.”
• Mike tackles office and the ongoing flight to quality—because apparently everyone wants the nice office now.

We also talk about our annual State of the Market event where we share this report with the community and discuss what’s happening in Lincoln’s commercial real estate market.

Key takeaways:

• Industrial: still the overachiever of the group.
• Office: upgrading is the name of the game.
• Retail: surprisingly stable… maybe even a little boring (but in a good way).

And in true Lincoln fashion, local businesses continue to get plenty of love from the community.

If you want the real story behind the numbers—and a few laughs along the way—this episode is for you.

Mike and Marc just got back from the NAI Global Convention in Las Vegas, and this episode of In the CRE Vault is a recap of what they learned—and maybe a little of what happened after the sessions ended.

They dive into how being part of NAI Global gives them a unique perspective on the market. One thing they consistently see: trends that hit major markets often show up in smaller markets like Lincoln about six months later.

At the convention, Mike attended a standout medical office breakout session and shares key takeaways from that sector, while Marc spent time in the industrial sessions, where the big message was that vacancy rates may finally be stabilizing. Another topic that kept coming up? Data centers—and the massive demand being driven by artificial intelligence.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Vegas trip without a little fun. There may have been some craps played, some dancing, and plenty of conversations with brokers from across the country.

The episode also explores the growing role of AI in commercial real estate. With technology moving fast and no real “off switch,” Mike and Marc ask the question a lot of people are starting to wonder: Are we becoming too dependent on tech?

A little Vegas, a lot of CRE insight, and a few stories from the convention floor—this one’s a fun one.