'Agility is the Name of the Game': What One Woman of Influence Will Be Watching as 2022 Unfolds

Dianne Crocker, a self-described economist and data analyst at heart, has been in the CRE industry for more than two decades. “But I prefer to think of it as guiding our clients through the uncertainty of three cyclical downturns,” says Crocker, principal analyst at LightBox, the leading real estate information and technology platform for environmental consultants, brokers, developers, investors, lenders, and valuation professionals. “And now, we’re facing what looks to potentially be a fourth downturn. That’s why I think Women Of Influence comes at such a perfect time for our community to reconnect – not only as female professionals, but also at this time of great uncertainty. We all have that inherent need to process what’s unfolding, share our experiences, and strategize together.”

Crocker will provide insights on market shifts, macro and micro trends from 2021, and a forecast for 2022 in the opening keynote at this year’s Elite Women Of Influence conference in Deer Valley. 

In advance of the conference, Crocker tells GlobeSt that “all predictions that started our happy new year became obsolete by midyear,” but notes that before the pandemic, the US markets were enjoying a record expansionary period.  Despite the health crisis, the “economic engines came roaring back,” with 2021 standing out as a record year for transactions and loan originations.

“Back in January, virtually everyone expected that 2022 would be strong – maybe not as strong as 2021, but strong nonetheless,” Crocker says. “Now, after several interest rate hikes, with more ahead, along with intensifying geopolitical uncertainties, the numbers matter more than they did during the record-long economic expansion. It’s forcing commercial real estate investors to scrutinize assumptions about a property’s return on investment, rents, and whether value will appreciate over time. These are things we used to take for granted, but with growing uncertainty, predictions about the fundamentals of a deal come with more caveats. In this rising rate environment, as access to capital becomes more expensive, it’s changing the dynamics of every deal.”

Ultimately, Crocker says, CRE leaders will be pushed to rethink their strategies as the year goes on – but she says decision makers should also consider that there are “plenty of new exciting areas of opportunities” across asset classes and metros.

“We are midway through 2022, and it’s a really important time for commercial real estate leaders to assess their strategy in light of a market that’s really changing by the month,” Crocker says. “This word is used a lot, but agility really is the name of the game. Leaders in our industry will need to be ready to shift gears as the next few quarters unfold.”

 Check back for more insights from Dianne Crocker on economic trends at this year’s Women Of Influence conference.