Schedule

Palm Foyer

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The Commercial/Multifamily Future Leaders class of 2025 attends their final session of the program to deliver their final presentations in front of a panel of judges.

Catch the big game on the big screen, with plentiful food and drinks all night at the CREF26 Super Bowl Watch Party. Connect with other attendees between the action. The night kicks off with a special guest appearance and football signing. Sponsored by KeyBank.

Sponsored by: KeyBank

Sign up for a 15-minute LinkedIn Profile Consultation with an expert coach. Find out what your profile says about you and learn strategies to build and engage your network. Sponsored by Goldman Sachs Sign up to come.

Grand Hall

Sponsored by Resilience Insurance Analytics.

Grand Hall

Because work doesn’t stop while you’re in San Diego, we’re making Wi-Fi available in THE HUB EXPO. Reconnect and re-engage when you visit THE HOT SPOT. Sponsored by Grandbridge Real Estate Capital

THE HUB EXPO, Grand Hall

Grand Hall

Sponsored by PGIM

Gain new perspective on the economy from internationally recognized economist and former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh. With deep experience in U.S. monetary policy and international financial diplomacy, Warsh breaks down how Fed decisions and global market forces are shaping the economy and the commercial real estate landscape. Drawing from his time at the center of financial policymaking, Warsh offers timely, practical insights to help business leaders navigate their next strategic moves based on economic headlines. The session opens with MBA’s President and CEO Bob Broeksmit and 2026 MBA Chair Christine Chandler, who will offer industry updates, present the Distinguished Service Award and announce this year’s CRI designees and Future Leaders.

Grand Hall

Join the industry’s best deep-dive into the economy and commercial and multifamily real estate finance (CREF) markets– including the latest on originations, servicing, loan maturities, MBA’s forecast, and more.

As private credit continues to scale in the commercial real estate sector, established lenders are reevaluating their strategies. This session explores how life companies, banks, and intermediaries are adapting their origination models, partnering with funds, and exploring innovative structures to capture new business opportunities. Gain a clearer understanding of how private credit is influencing capital allocation and reshaping the competitive landscape.

In an environment defined by shifting rates, capital constraints, and evolving investor expectations, short-term structures have become increasingly common. This session examines how lenders and borrowers are adapting their deal strategies, managing maturities, and developing flexible structures to facilitate ongoing transactions. Gain insight into how market players are balancing caution with opportunity in a rapidly changing landscape.

Grand Hall

Market uncertainty has compelled many participants to reassess their portfolio management strategies, loan resolution approaches, and identification of new opportunities. This session highlights how experienced dealmakers, legal advisors, and capital providers collaborate to navigate complexity and transform potential problems into performance. Gain insight into how today’s challenges are creating tomorrow’s investment and lending opportunities.

From tighter credit conditions to an evolving regulatory landscape, banks are facing a new set of challenges in commercial real estate finance. Join a candid discussion with leading bank executives and others as they share how they are navigating shifting capital ratios, loan concentration limits, and shifting portfolio strategies. Learn how internal and external pressures are influencing banks’ appetites, loan terms, pricing, and borrower relationships in 2026.

Sign up for a 15-minute LinkedIn Profile Consultation with an expert coach. Find out what your profile says about you and learn strategies to build and engage your network. Sponsored by Goldman Sachs. Sign up to come.

Grand Hall

Sponsored by Resilience Insurance Analytics.

Grand Hall

Because work doesn’t stop while you’re in San Diego, we’re making Wi-Fi available in THE HUB EXPO. Reconnect and re-engage when you visit THE HOT SPOT. Sponsored by Sponsor: Grandbridge Real Estate Capital

THE HUB EXPO, Grand Hall

Grand Hall

Sponsored by Arbor Realty Trust, Inc.

Top voices from industry-leading firms offer their insight on what’s shaping the market today and what lies ahead. These executives bring decades of experience and distinct vantage points to a conversation that spans capital markets, lending trends, investor sentiment, technology, and the future of real estate finance. Whether you’re navigating today’s challenges or planning for tomorrow’s opportunities, this is your chance to hear how the industry’s top decision-makers are positioning their firms—and the market—for success. This exclusive session will also be broadcast to the Walker Webcast’s 19M+ global viewers—but only at MBA CREF26 can you be in the room to experience it live.

Grand Hall

Borrower behavior drives the market — but the story is more nuanced than it appears. In this session, leading commercial real estate borrowers share what’s truly shaping their borrowing decisions: why they choose certain loan products, what makes them move quickly (or pause) on a loan offer, and how they’re evaluating risk and opportunity in today’s market. Gain direct insight from the borrower’s side of the table.

The session brings together standout leaders from across the Commercial and Multifamily landscape to share the pivotal experiences, lessons, and defining moments that shaped their leadership journeys. In a market marked by volatility, shifting priorities, and constant change, these executives will offer candid insight into how they’ve navigated uncertainty, led teams with clarity and conviction, and continued to deliver strong results. Through personal stories and practical guidance, participants will leave inspired and better equipped to lead with resilience, purpose, and vision in today’s CRE evolving environment.

The growth in AI and demand for processing have pushed data centers to the front of the line for many CRE investors and lenders. But data centers have a number of characteristics that make them distinct from other forms of commercial real estate, including the importance of power supply, the speed with which the technology is changing, and the sheer size of many deals. Panelists share their insight on this sector, including the opportunities and challenges in getting data center deals done.

Gain insight on potential changes to working with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Grand Hall

Build-to-Rent communities are attracting growing interest from institutional investors, yet the financing landscape for this emerging asset class continues to take shape. This session explores how lenders and capital providers are structuring debt and equity for BTR projects, addressing challenges such as lease-up risk, takeout financing, and securitization. Panelists also discuss how federal policy can support scalable Build-to-Rent development within the broader multifamily market.

Life companies are redefining their role in commercial real estate with new business models, updated investment strategies, and a sharper focus on long-term performance. Join senior leaders as they discuss how their platforms are evolving, what influences portfolio decisions today, and how they are positioning themselves for opportunities in a shifting market. This session offers a rare glimpse into the priorities, pressures, and perspectives that shape modern life and company activity.

Seaport Ballroom A