Spotlight On: Tiffany Johnson, Executive Managing Director & Charlotte Market Leader, Colliers

Key points:

• • Charlotte’s commercial real estate growth is being driven by industrial, retail, and multifamily demand.
• • Investor confidence is rising as the city continues to attract people, jobs, and capital.
• • Office space is evolving to focus more on employee experience and talent attraction.

June 2026 — In an interview with Invest:, Tiffany Johnson, executive managing director and Charlotte market leader for Colliers, discussed the evolution of Charlotte’s commercial real estate market, Colliers’ rapid expansion across asset classes, and how workplace experience is reshaping office demand. “We help clients think through the experience of the space. It’s not only about location. It’s also about what happens inside the space and how you attract talent into the office,” Johnson said.

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What market conditions or client behaviors are shaping your strategy in Charlotte right now?

As we look at Charlotte in 2026, there’s significant opportunity across industrial, retail, and multifamily. That said, 2025 was a robust year for us. We doubled our local revenue and performed well across most asset classes, with industrial leading the way.

That sentiment mirrors broader market trends. Charlotte continues to attract logistics, manufacturing, and distribution users, fueling industrial demand. Retail fundamentals are sustaining national levels, supported by its population growth, and multifamily continues to benefit from in-migration and job creation.

The office market remains challenged, but we saw improved activity in the second half of last year, particularly for high-quality assets. Our newfound focus is strategic repositioning and targeted recruiting to strengthen that platform.

We are noticing client behavior varies by asset class. While some are moving quickly, others remain selective. Our strategy is staying close to the data and highly responsive to what clients need in each segment of the market.

What have been your biggest takeaways since stepping into your role about a year ago, and how has your perspective evolved?

Coming into the role, I knew Charlotte had real growth momentum in the form of population growth, corporate presence, and strong business fundamentals. That gave me confidence that there was meaningful runway to expand our platform.

One of my priorities was broadening our brand beyond the showcasing of the industrial sector. While industrial remains a strength, over the past year we’ve hired seven brokers across five asset classes and added multifamily for the first time in Charlotte. Expanding our capabilities locally has been one of the most important outcomes.

Colliers’ well-known culture continues to shine. Our company combines global scale with an entrepreneurial, broker-centered mindset. That balance allows brokers to grow their business while feeling supported, and it’s a key differentiator for us.

How would you describe investor sentiment toward the Charlotte market?

Investor sentiment is increasingly positive. We’re seeing more confidence across capital markets, with expectations for steady growth in 2026 as pricing stabilizes and uncertainty continues to ease.

Charlotte’s core fundamentals, such as population growth, job creation, and economic diversification, continue to resonate. Having Colliers’ debt and equity leadership based here further strengthens our ability to serve clients in this market.

How are you advising clients to think about the future of office space, especially as companies move to the region and hybrid models continue to evolve?

We work closely with economic development partners to position Charlotte as a headquarters or second-headquarters destination. The fundamentals remain compelling as Charlotte has business-friendly policies, sought-after universities, a growing and relatively young workforce, and a high quality of life.

Beyond location, we help clients think about the experience of the space. Office strategy today is about people and how space supports collaboration, culture, mentoring, and connection. It’s not one distinct amenity that brings people back. It’s the overall environment and the relationships built inside it.

In a market like Charlotte, with strong in-migration and job growth, what commercial real estate opportunities are still underappreciated?

Office capital markets remain underappreciated. While the sector has its challenges, there are compelling opportunities for investors willing to think creatively about repositioning.

As mentioned, industrial remains strong, retail continues to grow in well-located areas, and healthcare is another sector we see opportunity in. We’re also focused on distressed and value-add opportunities across asset classes, helping clients identify value where others may hesitate.

How are you approaching recruitment and team building at the same time, especially when expertise is a differentiator?

My mantra is recruit, retain, and develop. As we expand asset class coverage, the priority is ensuring teams have the right support to grow.

Recruiting is about bringing in top players who fit our culture and see opportunity in the market. Development is just as important. Colliers’ global platform creates real-time opportunities for mentorship and advancement, and we’re intentional about helping people build long-term careers, not just transactions.

As we look toward 2030, what gives you confidence in Charlotte’s long-term commercial real estate story?

Charlotte’s long-term fundamentals are extremely strong. We continue to see population and job growth, along with transformative projects, including The Pearl and the North Tryon Tech Hub, reshaping the city.

Across asset classes, interest from tenants and capital remains solid. For Colliers, our focus is continuing to build a broader, deeper platform locally. With the team we’ve assembled and the momentum we have, we’re confident in our ability to keep gaining ground in the Charlotte market.

Want more? Read the Invest: Charlotte report.