Baker Katz acquired Lakewood Forest Shopping Center, a 108,016-square-foot retail property located at the intersection of Highway 249 and Louetta Road in Northwest Houston. 

Situated alongside Target on 11.26 acres, the center offers a highly visible location within one of Northwest Houston’s most active retail corridors. 

Baker Katz plans to build on the Lakewood Forest Shopping Center’s strong foundation through strategic updates and continued investment in attracting best-in class retailers that complement existing tenants.  

The purchase was spearheaded by the Baker Katz team of Jason Baker, Kenneth Katz, Ben Brown and Jack Moody. 

Retail sales are expected to grow 3.5% to 4% this holiday season, bringing the total expected spend in excess of $1.7 trillion, according to ICSC’s 2025 holiday shopping forecast.

ICSC also released the results of its annual Holiday Shopping Intentions Survey exploring consumer expectations for the season, finding that 243 million consumers (91%) plan to shop this year, an increase from last year.

“Despite economic concerns, our survey shows that consumers are committed to their holiday traditions and plan to shop,” said ICSC President and chief executive officer Tom McGee. “Our forecast reflects that resilience, but our data also signals a selective shopper, putting pressure on retailers to connect with shoppers in new ways and offer memorable shopping experiences that entice them to spend.”

Amid the uncertain economic environment, 65% of consumers agree that it’s more important than ever to celebrate holiday traditions. In line with this, many holiday shoppers are turning to activities and experiences. Respondents that plan to gift activities like tickets to movies and events increased by five percentage points to 21% year-over-year. One in three also plan to spend more on experiences this holiday season compared to last year.

The survey found that 92% of shoppers plan to spend in a physical store, led by younger generations. Omnichannel shopping continues to grow in popularity, with 52% of consumers indicating they plan to take advantage of buy-online, pick-up-in-store options. Discount department stores (63%) and traditional department stores (29%) remain the most popular types of retailers consumers plan to visit. In a sign of opportunity for emerging retailers, 80% of consumers are open to visiting new stores or trying new brands.

Gift cards continue to be the most popular item this holiday season, with 64% of respondents planning to buy them, up six percentage points since 2024. Sixty-three percent of holiday shoppers agree that giving gift cards enables them to stick to a budget and avoid higher prices on individual items. Apparel (55%), toys and games (54%), and food and beverages (43%) rounded out the top categories.

Tariffs are a significant factor shaping consumer attitudes this season – and consumers indicated that they will also impact where they plan to shop. Seventy-one percent of respondents plan to be more selective when making holiday-related purchases due to perceived price increases from tariffs; further, 63% would avoid buying from retailers that raise prices significantly.  

Shoppers plan to use many different tactics to find lower prices. Sixty-four percent plan to spend more time looking for deals this year, and 67% believe the search for discounts or exclusive offers will encourage them to take more trips to stores. Thirty-two percent plan to use AI tools to help them with their holiday shopping and gift ideas, an increase over 25% in 2024.

“It’s clear from our research that economic factors aren’t just shaping consumer sentiment – they’re directly impacting where and how consumers shop,” said McGee. “Convenience, competitive pricing, and attentive service are table stakes in this environment. Retailers that truly listen to consumer signals have ample opportunity to capture consumer dollars this season.”  

Wells Fargo celebrated the grand opening of its new campus in the Las Colinas neighborhood of Irving, Texas, marking a milestone that underscores the company’s investment in the economic growth of the Dallas-Fort Worth area and the state of Texas.

Wells Fargo’s presence is felt across the state with approximately 460 branches, 1,500 ATMs, and 17,000 employees serving customers and clients statewide. The new Las Colinas campus will bring together 4,500 employees in a modern, collaborative environment designed to support company growth and community engagement.

As part of its ongoing support for Texas communities, Wells Fargo also announced today a $1 million donation to OneStar Foundation for the Central Texas Flood Recovery Fund to further help communities across Texas Hill Country rebuild, bringing the company’s year-to-date total donations towards flood relief and recovery efforts across the state to $2 million. Since 2020, Wells Fargo and Wells Fargo Foundation have donated a total of roughly $90 million in support of housing, small business, financial health, and other community needs in Texas, and employees volunteered more than 235,000 hours statewide.

The Las Colinas campus features state-of-the-art amenities including a dining pavilion, fitness center, walking trails, and direct access to public transit, and is intended to be the company’s first energy net-positive campus. The 22-acre campus incorporates cutting-edge technology that is designed to promote energy efficiency and sustainability, with new buildings that are equipped with solar power, smart irrigation systems, and dynamic glass that responds to sunlight and weather for optimal heating, cooling and lighting conditions.

Wells Fargo partnered with KDC Real Estate Development & Investments to develop the $570 million campus, which was designed by Corgan and built by Austin Commercial.

The NRP Group celebrated the grand opening of Diamond Flats, a 331-unit luxury community with 5,000 square feet of ground-floor retail in Carrollton, Texas.

The project addresses rising demand for high-quality housing across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, pairing modern design with convenient access to major employment and entertainment centers.

Designed by Davies Architects with interiors by SJL Design Group, Diamond Flats was envisioned as a residential community inspired by art. From light-filled spaces to gallery-style corridors filled with curated artwork, the community’s aesthetic embraces modern interpretations of classical art, creating an atmosphere that is both refined and approachable.

Located at 1402 Carrollton Parkway, the site offers access to the Sam Rayburn Tollway and President George Bush Turnpike, connecting residents to key business and retail districts, including Legacy West, The Star in Frisco and Grandscape. Its central location is a short driving distance from major employers such as JP Morgan, Toyota, Ericsson and Frito Lay, while downtown Dallas is less than 25 minutes away.

Residents of Diamond Flats will enjoy a premium amenities package anchored by a state-of-the-art fitness center, outfitted with a Pilates reformer, free weights, squat racks, spin bikes and HIIT training equipment. Residents will also have access to a resort-style pool with outdoor game areas and TVs, three landscaped courtyards, grilling stations and a coworking hub with a podcast space. Pet-friendly features include a dog park, spa and washing station.

Apartment interiors combine elevated finishes with functionality. Each home includes stainless steel appliances, in-unit washer and dryer, keyless entry, luxury vinyl plank flooring and ceiling fans. Two distinct finish packages are available, giving residents a choice of quartz countertops, cabinetry and kitchen backsplashes. Select homes feature private balconies.

The Dallas-Fort Worth metro area remains a priority market for The NRP Group. The firm has developed over 7,000 units across more than 30 properties in the region, and recently broke ground on the following new housing developments in the area: Jackson Road, a luxury 370-Unit multifamily community; Cora, a 340-unit mixed-income housing community in Anna, Texas; Sutton Flats, a 300-unit market-rate multifamily community in Howe, Texas; The Whitley, an upscale 330-unit multifamily community in Princeton, Texas.

Cresa acquired Fischer, a Dallas-based advisory firm specializing in national and global strategic portfolio management.

Fischer’s executive leadership team—Chairman and Founder Cliff Fischer, along with Ted Uzelac and Chris Joyner—join Cresa as Managing Principals. Cliff Fischer will also serve on Cresa’s Board of Directors.

The merger is a major milestone in Cresa’s evolution and brings together two firms dedicated to occupier-focused advocacy, a culture of innovation, and a shared commitment to client success. It also positions Cresa for long-term growth and leadership in the ever-evolving CRE landscape.

In addition, Fischer brings its best-in-class integrated technology platforms, ManagePath and Visual Manager, which have set the industry standard for corporate accounts across all service lines. Cresa plans to invest and scale these proprietary systems, which will serve as a key differentiator for the firm and significantly enhance the advisor and client experience. 

In all, Cresa gains 110 new professionals across multiple offices, and new locations in Pittsburgh and Memphis. 

This is just the latest in a series of acquisitions Cresa has made in the past 18 months to bolster its service delivery across the U.S., including PPM, a premier project management firm; Vogel Advisors, a tenant-focused advisory firm in Detroit; NorthStar, a Philadelphia-based project management company; Fritsche Anderson Realty Partners, Houston’s leading occupier advisory firm; and Axis Tenant Advisors, a boutique commercial real estate services firm also based in Houston.

Fischer founded his eponymous company in 1985 and was among the first to couple brokerage services for tenants with software development services for corporate real estate executives. By combining sophisticated transaction expertise with transformative, leading-edge technology, the firm quickly grew into one of North America’s leading tenant advisory firms with offices throughout the U.S.

Marcus & Millichap brokered the sale of 13053 Gateway Alliance Drive, a five-building industrial outdoor storage property in Fort Worth, Texas. 

Davis Cagle and Adam Abushagur, investment specialists in Marcus & Millichap’s Dallas office, had the exclusive listing to market the property on behalf of the seller, North Texas Contracting Inc. Cagle and Abushagur, along with Cole Collins and Tyler Ranft from the firm’s Dallas and Austin offices, secured the buyer, Trailspur Capital Partners.  

The property totals 27,910 square feet of warehouse and office space across five buildings. It sits on 19.56 acres with approximately nine acres of industrial outdoor storage. The property offers close proximity to major highways and Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport, a key logistics hub for FedEx and Amazon.