Marcus & Millichap (NYSE: MMI), a commercial real estate brokerage firm specializing in investment sales, financing, research and advisory services, has published its 2026 Atlanta Retail Investment Forecast Report which predicts continued strong retail demand in the Gainesville, Buford areas.
“Atlanta continues to stand out as a market where population growth and job creation are sustaining retail demand, even as some retailers adjust their footprints,” said John M. Leonard, Senior Managing Director, Market Leader, Atlanta.
Key findings include:
- Employment growth remains a key demand driver. Atlanta is projected to add approximately 17,000 jobs in 2026, one of the larger employment increases among major U.S. metros.
- Retail development remains limited. For the first time since at least 2007, Atlanta’s retail construction pipeline will be below one million square feet, expanding inventory by roughly 0.2 percent.
- Vacancy is forecast to rise modestly but remain historically healthy. Continued net relinquishment is expected to lift vacancy to about 5.1 percent, still roughly 70 basis points below the 2015–2019 average.
- Average asking rent is projected to soften slightly. The metro’s average asking rent is forecast to adjust to approximately $20.97 per square foot in 2026 following several years of gains.
- Suburban nodes continue to show strong retail demand. Areas near Buford and Gainesville recorded nearly 500,000 square feet of absorption last year, supported by population growth and limited incoming supply.