AI Prompts for Commercial Real Estate: Market Analysis, Leasing, Investment

Published: July 2026 | 8 min read

Commercial real estate is a data-intensive industry where professionals juggle market reports, lease abstracts, investment models, and tenant negotiations. AI can compress underwriting analysis, generate lease summaries, and draft marketing materials — but only when prompts define the asset type, market, deal structure, and required output format. Structured prompts turn AI into a CRE analyst that works at 3 AM.

Below are production-ready AI prompts, organized by workflow. These are adapted from Skillent's AI Prompt Library.

Market Analysis & Research

1. Market Report Generator

Role: Commercial real estate market analyst
Task: Create a market overview report for [asset type] in [market/MSA].
Report sections:
1. Market summary (supply, demand, vacancy, rent trends)
2. Key metrics (vacancy rate, average rent $/SF, absorption, under construction)
3. Submarket analysis (3-5 submarkets with comparative data)
4. Major transactions (top 5 leases/sales in last 12 months)
5. Outlook (12-18 month forecast based on pipeline and demand drivers)
6. Investment implications (what this means for buyers/sellers/lessees)
Format: 1,500-word report with data tables.
Include: Sources to verify (CoStar, CBRE, JLL, local reports).

2. Comparable Property Analysis

Role: CRE investment analyst
Task: Analyze comparable properties for [subject property].
Subject: [address, asset type, size, year built, occupancy]
Comps (5-10): [list addresses, sale prices, cap rates, SF, $/SF]
For each comp:
1. Sale price and date
2. Price per SF
3. Cap rate at sale
4. Building age and condition
5. Occupancy at sale
6. Notable terms (sale-leaseback, vacant possession, etc.)
Adjustment analysis:
- Time adjustment (market movement since comp sale)
- Location adjustment (superior/inferior submarket)
- Condition adjustment (renovation needed vs. turnkey)
- Size adjustment (economies of scale)
Output: Adjusted comp analysis with indicated value range for subject.

3. Submarket Competitor Survey

Role: CRE leasing analyst
Task: Create a competitor survey for [asset type] in [submarket].
Competitor properties (10-15): [list addresses]
For each property:
1. Property name and address
2. Building size (RSF)
3. Year built / renovated
4. Current vacancy (% and RSF available)
5. Asking rents ($/SF NNN or gross)
6. Tenant amenities (parking ratio, fitness, lounge, etc.)
7. Key tenants (anchor tenants if retail, major tenants if office)
8. Concessions being offered (free rent, TI allowance)
Summary: Average asking rent, average vacancy, concession trends, competitive positioning of our property
Output: Competitor survey table + narrative analysis.

Lease Analysis & Drafting

4. Lease Abstract Generator

Role: CRE lease analyst
Task: Abstract this commercial lease into a standardized summary.
Lease: [paste full lease text]
Extract:
1. Parties (landlord, tenant, guarantors)
2. Premises (address, suite, RSF)
3. Term (start, end, duration)
4. Base rent (schedule with increases — $/SF and monthly amount)
5. Rent escalations (fixed/CPI/percentage — with schedule)
6. Security deposit (amount, letter of credit?)
7. TI allowance ($/SF or total)
8. Free rent (months)
9. Expense structure (NNN, gross, modified gross)
10. Operating expense pass-throughs (which expenses are recoverable)
11. Percentage rent (if retail — breakpoint, rate)
12. Co-tenancy clauses (if retail)
13. Exclusive use clauses
14. Renewal options (terms, rent determination method)
15. Expansion/contraction rights
16. Assignment and subletting rights
17. Termination rights (early termination, kick-out clauses)
18. Notice requirements
19. Insurance requirements
20. Restoration obligations
Output: Structured lease abstract, 2-3 pages, ready for deal team review.

5. Lease vs. Buy Analysis

Role: CRE financial analyst
Task: Perform a lease vs. buy analysis for [company] considering [property].
Property: [address, size, asset type]
Lease terms: [rent $/SF, term, increases, TI, free rent]
Purchase price: $[X] ($/SF)
Financing: [LTV, rate, amortization, term]
Company info: [tax rate, discount rate, holding period]
Analyze over [10/15/20]-year period:
1. Total cost of leasing (rent + escalations + operating costs, present value)
2. Total cost of buying (down payment + mortgage + operating + maintenance - tax benefits - appreciation - residual value, present value)
3. Net present value comparison
4. Break-even analysis (at what point does buying become cheaper?)
5. Sensitivity analysis (what if rent growth is higher? What if property values decline?)
Output: Lease vs. buy financial model with recommendation.
Format: Summary table + narrative analysis.

6. LOI Draft for Commercial Lease

Role: Commercial leasing broker
Task: Draft a Letter of Intent for [tenant/landlord] for [property].
Property: [address, suite, RSF]
Deal terms:
- Tenant: [company name]
- Landlord: [owner name]
- Premises: [description, RSF]
- Term: [X] years
- Commencement: [date]
- Base rent: $[X]/SF/year ($[monthly] monthly), escalating [X]%/year
- Free rent: [X] months
- TI allowance: $[X]/SF
- Security deposit: [amount or LC]
- Use: [permitted use]
- Parking: [X spaces, $/month]
- Renewal options: [X options at [market rate]]
- Assignment/subletting: [consent standard]
- Brokers: [listing broker, tenant broker]
Format: Formal LOI with non-binding language
Output: Ready-to-send LOI, 2-3 pages.

Investment & Underwriting

7. Investment Underwriting Model Brief

Role: CRE investment underwriter
Task: Create an underwriting brief for [property type] acquisition.
Property: [address, type, RSF, year built]
Purchase price: $[X] ($/SF)
Income:
- Gross potential rent: $[X] (based on current leases + market)
- Other income: $[X] (parking, storage, late fees)
- Vacancy loss: [X]% (market + specific rollover)
Expenses:
- Operating expenses: $[X] (detail by category)
- Management fee: [X]% of EGI
- Replacement reserves: $[X]/SF
Net Operating Income (NOI): $[X]
Cap rate: [X]%  (NOI / price)
Debt service: $[X] (based on financing terms)
Cash flow: $[X] (NOI - debt service)
Cash-on-cash return: [X]%
DSCR: [X]
Metrics to analyze:
1. Going-in cap rate vs. market cap rate
2. Stabilized cap rate (after lease-up/renovation)
3. IRR over [5/10]-year hold
4. Equity multiple
5. Break-even occupancy
6. Sensitivity: What if rents drop 10%? What if cap rates expand 100bps?
Output: Underwriting summary with go/no-go recommendation.

8. Due Diligence Checklist Generator

Role: CRE due diligence manager
Task: Create a due diligence checklist for [asset type] acquisition.
Property: [address, type, RSF]
Purchase price: $[X]
DD period: [X] days
Categories:
1. Financial (rent roll, CAM reconciliations, T-12, operating budgets, security deposits)
2. Physical (PCA, environmental Phase I/II, roof, structural, MEP, ADA)
3. Legal (title commitment, survey, leases, estoppels, SNDAs, judgments)
4. Tenant (estoppel certificates, lease abstracts, tenant interviews, rollover schedule)
5. Market (demographic study, traffic counts, competitor survey)
6. Entitlements (zoning, permits, COOs, code compliance)
7. Environmental (Phase I ESA, Phase II if needed, wetlands, endangered species)
8. Insurance (loss runs, replacement cost, flood zone, earthquake)
9. Tax (property tax assessment, abatements, reassessment risk)
For each item: Required document, who provides it, deadline (within DD period), red flags
Output: Due diligence checklist with daily schedule for [X]-day period.

Tenant Representation & Marketing

9. Tenant Needs Analysis

Role: Tenant representation broker
Task: Create a tenant needs analysis for [company] seeking [asset type] space.
Company: [industry, employee count, growth trajectory]
Current space: [address, RSF, lease expiration]
Requirements:
- Size needed: [RSF or range]
- Growth projection: [X% over 3 years]
- Budget: $[X]-$[X]/SF/year
- Location preferences: [submarkets, transit, amenities]
- Timeline: [need to be in by date]
- Special requirements: [labs, data center, loading, power, ceiling height]
Analysis:
1. Space program (how RSF is allocated — offices, open, conference, support)
2. Efficiency ratio (USF vs. RSF — what's the loss factor?)
3. Submarket comparison (3-5 submarkets ranked by fit)
4. Build-to-suit vs. existing options
5. Lease vs. buy (high-level)
6. Timeline plan (site selection → LOI → lease → build-out → move)
Output: Tenant representation strategy document.

10. Property Marketing Package Outline

Role: CRE marketing specialist
Task: Create an offering memorandum outline for [property].
Property: [address, type, RSF, occupancy]
Investment thesis: [describe in 2-3 sentences]
OM sections:
1. Cover page (photo, property name, key stats)
2. Investment highlights (3-5 bullet points)
3. Location overview (submarket, demographics, access, map)
4. Property description (building specs, year built, renovation, systems)
5. Rent roll summary (top 5 tenants, occupancy, WALT, rollover schedule)
6. Lease summary (weighted average lease term, expiration ladder)
7. Financial summary (T-12, NOI, cap rate, pro forma)
8. Operating expenses (detailed breakdown)
9. Competitive set analysis (3-5 comparable properties)
10. Market overview (supply/demand, pipeline, rent trends)
11. Environmental and physical condition summary
12. Brokerage terms (commission, co-broke)
Output: Full OM outline with section descriptions and data needed for each.

Portfolio Management

11. Portfolio Rolllover Risk Analysis

Role: CRE portfolio manager
Task: Analyze lease rollover risk for this [number]-property portfolio.
Portfolio: [list properties with lease expiration dates, tenant credit, SF]
For each year (next 5 years):
1. Total RSF expiring
2. As % of portfolio
3. Tenant credit quality of expiring leases (investment grade vs. non-IG)
4. Below-market vs. above-market rents expiring
5. Renewal probability (based on tenant type, market, relationship)
Risk scoring:
- High risk: >30% of portfolio expiring in a single year with non-IG tenants in declining markets
- Medium risk: 15-30% expiring
- Low risk: <15% expiring
Output: Rollover risk matrix by year with mitigation recommendations.
Include: Tenant retention plan for top 5 at-risk tenants.

12. Cap Rate Analysis & Valuation

Role: CRE valuation analyst
Task: Determine the appropriate cap rate and valuation for [property].
Property: [address, type, RSF, NOI]
Market cap rates (from recent sales): [list 5-8 comps with cap rate, type, location, date]
Adjustments needed:
1. Property quality (A/B/C class adjustment ±25-75 bps)
2. Location (prime vs. secondary submarket ±25-50 bps)
3. Tenant credit (IG tenants lower cap rate, non-IG higher ±25-50 bps)
4. Lease term (long-term WALT lower, short-term higher ±25-50 bps)
5. Market trend (cap rates compressing or expanding? ±25 bps)
6. Property age/condition (new/recently renovated lower ±50 bps)
Indicated cap rate range: [X]% to [Y]%
Valuation at [X]%: $[value]
Valuation at [Y]%: $[value]
Output: Cap rate analysis with supportable valuation range.
Format: Sales comparison grid + conclusion.

Best Practices

1. Always define the role and context — professional prompts produce professional output

2. Specify output format — table, checklist, narrative, or structured document

3. Include industry-specific parameters — regulations, market conditions, jurisdiction

4. Set constraints — what to avoid, word limits, prohibited content

5. Always human-review — AI output is a first draft, not a final product.

Related: Check out our guides on ChatGPT prompts for property managers and AI prompts for real estate brokers.