Confused About the Commercial Real Estate Market? You’re Not Alone.

June 19, 2025 by

Navigating Today’s Commercial Real Estate Market

It’s no secret—the commercial real estate landscape has been through a whirlwind over the past few years.

I’m Scott Elkins, a veteran of 37 years in commercial real estate brokerage throughout Northern Virginia and the greater DC metro area. My background also includes senior executive experience in corporate banking at Sovran Bank, giving me a unique perspective on both sides of the deal—real estate and finance.

While headlines often spotlight struggling high-rise towers, there are still vibrant opportunities in today’s market.


The CRE Market Snapshot

  • Retail: Resilient in well-located submarkets.

  • Medical & Warehouse: Surging demand and low vacancy.

  • High-Rise Office: Facing serious headwinds with refinancing rates jumping from 4% to 8%, slashing property values up to 40%.

Where the Smart Money Is Moving

Even in a volatile market, there are bright spots. Here are three commercial sectors gaining real traction:


  1. Boutique Medical & Dental Suites – Fairfax & Loudoun County
    Smaller practices are shifting toward ownership, especially with SBA financing making it surprisingly affordable.
  2. Flex Warehouse Condos – Prince William & Manassas Corridor
    Hybrid office-warehouse spaces are ideal for contractors and last-mile logistics. High demand is being seen from both investors and users.
  3. Office-to-Residential Conversions – Arlington & Alexandria
    Class B office buildings near Metro stations are now being targeted for mixed-use or residential transformations, driven by zoning changes and urban migration trends.

Why Small Buildings Still Shine

Small commercial buildings continue to offer:

  • Stable and predictable investment returns
  • Flexibility for owner-users and niche operators
  • Growing seller negotiability and easing interest rates

Commercial real estate is cyclical. The winners are those who stay informed, nimble, and ready for the next wave of opportunity.

2853 Duke Street, Alexandria Virginia

April 24, 2024 by






Click Here to see the 360 Tour of this office.


  • Built out Medical/Office condo for sale
  • 2853 and 2855 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
  • 1191-2394 square feet
  • 2 units currently combined into one (may be sold separately or together)
  • Unit 2853—1203 square feet
  • Unit 2855—1191 square feet
  • Combined: 2394 square feet
  • Price Unit 2853: $360,900
  • Price Unit 2855: $357,300
  • Former gynecologist office
  • 6 exam rooms, 2 bathrooms (one with shower), lab, doctor’s office, two entrances, breakroom/conference room, large reception area/intake
  • Built: 1984
  • Free surface parking
  • Alexandria Medical and Professional Plaza
  • Easy access from Old Town Alexandria and Beltway
  • All one level—no steps.
  • Furniture and equipment available
  • Move-in ready
  • Zoned: “Commercial Low”
  • Low Condo Fees ($250/unit)


5 Mistakes Commercial Leasing

December 5, 2023 by

Advisors have a deep understanding of the local market conditions. They can provide valuable insights into the current real estate landscape, helping you identify suitable properties and negotiate favorable lease terms. Negotiation Skills: Commercial lease negotiations can be complex. Advisors are skilled negotiators who can secure favorable terms on your behalf, including rent rates, lease duration, and other crucial clauses. Time and Resource Savings: Searching for commercial properties, analyzing lease agreements, and navigating negotiations can be time-consuming. A real estate advisor can streamline the process, saving you time and allowing you to focus on your core business operations.

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Leveraging Virtual Tours for Commercial Real Estate Marketing

September 6, 2023 by



Leveraging Virtual Tours for Commercial Real Estate Marketing


Virtual Tours

In today’s competitive commercial real estate market, standing out and effectively showcasing properties to potential clients is crucial. Traditional methods of presenting properties through static images and descriptions have their limitations. However, virtual tours are a powerful tool that can revolutionize your marketing efforts. In this blog post, we’ll explore how commercial real estate advisors can harness the potential of virtual tours, with a special mention of 360toursofnova.com.

The Power of Virtual Tours in Commercial Real Estate Marketing

As a commercial real estate advisor, your primary goal is to help clients find the perfect property for their business needs. To do this effectively, you must provide them with immersive, engaging experiences beyond simple property listings. Virtual tours offer precisely that.

Virtual tours provide an interactive 360-degree view of a property, allowing potential tenants or buyers to explore every nook and cranny from their computer or mobile device. Here’s why they’re a game-changer:

  • Immersive Experience: Virtual tours provide a more immersive experience than static images or written descriptions. Prospective clients can walk through the property virtually, getting a feel for the space and layout.
  • Time and Cost Efficiency: Virtual tours save you and your clients time. Instead of physically visiting numerous properties, clients can narrow down their options through virtual tours, reducing the need for unnecessary site visits.
  • Broader Reach: Virtual tours can be easily shared online, reaching a global audience of potential buyers or tenants. This broadens your marketing reach and increases the chances of finding the right client.

360toursofnova.com: Your Virtual Tour Solution

When it comes to implementing virtual tours for your commercial real estate listings, 360toursofnova.com is your trusted partner. Here’s why their services are worth considering:

  • High-Quality 360-Degree Tours: 360toursofnova.com specializes in creating high-quality virtual tours. Their technology captures every property detail, ensuring clients get a true sense of the space.
  • Customization: Their virtual tours can match your branding and specific property requirements. This ensures a seamless integration with your existing marketing materials.
  • Ease of Use: The platform is user-friendly, making it easy for you and your clients to navigate virtual tours. Clients can explore properties at their own pace, enhancing their experience.
  • Analytics: 360toursofnova.com provides valuable analytics data, allowing you to track how potential clients engage with your virtual tours. This insight can help you refine your marketing strategy.

Conclusion

In the competitive world of commercial real estate, staying ahead requires innovative marketing strategies. Virtual tours have become a powerful tool for commercial real estate advisors, offering immersive experiences, time and cost efficiency, and a wider reach.

To harness the full potential of virtual tours, consider partnering with 360toursofnova.com. Their expertise in creating high-quality, customizable virtual tours can elevate your marketing efforts and help you find the perfect tenants or buyers for your commercial properties.

So, why wait? Embrace the future of commercial real estate marketing with virtual tours and give your clients the desired experience.

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405 N. Henry Street, Alexandria, Virginia

November 29, 2021 by
405 North Henry

Website news Nov. 24, 2021

Weichert Realtors, Commercial/Elkins Lane Realty Advisors is pleased to announce the successful sale of 405 N. Henry Street, Alexandria, Virginia on behalf of the owner, PMK Associates.

The buyer, the Naval Submarine League, will use the property as its national headquarters. The NSL promotes a strong undersea arm of the U.S. Navy and provides a resource to assist Naval leadership in confronting the challenges of undersea warfare. 

The property is well situated in the north end of Old Town Alexandria surrounded by new development spurred by access to the Braddock Road Metro station and the future Amazon HQ and the Virginia Tech Technology campus. Interest rates are still low and commercial properties are starting to move again-- shaking off the effects of the pandemic. 

Does your business need to buy or sell commercial real estate? 

For a review, contact us....

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CLOSED – 43800 Clemens Terrace, Ashburn VA

November 22, 2021 by
43800 Clemens Terrace, Ashburn VA

The Mystique of 1031’s

November 15, 2021 by
The Mystique of 1031's

Mention tax exchanges or 1031’s and most people feel like they must be from another planet, or at least a complex financial animal to be deciphered by a tax accountant or lawyer. In fact, on the surface at least, a tax exchange is merely selling property, usually real estate, and replacing with another according to a simple set of guidelines.

This is not to say the IRS regulation can’t get complicated, because it can in some cases, but for a novice to have a mind-freeze at the very thought of a 1031 exchange should not be necessary. This article from the Realtor Magazine goes even further to explain why exchanges on balance are actually revenue positive, rather than an evil vehicle shorting the US Treasury coffers.

Scott Elkins is a commercial real estate practitioner with a combined  57-years of financial and real estate experience.

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2700 S. Quincy Street in Arlington, Virginia.

November 15, 2021 by
2700 South Quincy

Weichert Realtors, Commercial Division-Elkins Lane Realty Advisors is pleased to announce that it represented Hammes Healthcare in a successful lease renewal at 2700 S. Quincy Street in Arlington, Virginia. Hammes is a national healthcare real estate consulting, development, investment and management firm with headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Covid has made it difficult for people and businesses, but it has also created opportunities. Now is one of the best times in recent memory for commercial office tenants to reduce occupancy costs on lease renewals and relocations. For details please contact us at:

Weichert Realtors-Commercial Division

Elkins Lane Realty Advisors

121 N. Pitt Street, 1st Floor

Alexandria, VA 22314

Richard Lane, Esq. Scott Elkins

Direct: 703.626.6691 Direct: 703.725.8901

Email: ricklane@elkins-lane.com Email: scott@elkins-lane.com

O) 703.549.8700 O) 703.549.8700

Commercial-Land-Off-I95-for-Sale

November 9, 2018 by

Love to get your Google feedback - Click here

Lane-for-sale-i95

321-Walker-Drive

October 26, 2018 by

321 Walker Drive, Warrenton, VA 20186

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