The commercial real estate (CRE) market is evolving, and Winston-Salem is quietly becoming one of the most attractive cities in the Southeast for smart, strategic investment. Whether you’re a business owner looking to expand, a developer exploring growth opportunities, or an investor seeking solid returns, Winston-Salem’s commercial landscape offers exceptional potential.
📈 Growing Market, Competitive Value
Unlike major metro areas with sky-high prices and oversaturated markets, Winston-Salem offers competitive pricing on properties. According to Cash (2025), North Carolina’s real estate market is buoyed by strong population growth and business immigration, trends that are particularly visible in the Triad region.
Winston-Salem is seeing increasing demand for:
- Medical and professional office space
- Industrial and warehouse facilities
- Retail in high-traffic corridors
- Mixed-use and multi-tenant developments
This upward trajectory is driven by favorable market fundamentals. In 2024 alone, 631 new jobs were created locally, supported by $137 million in capital investment, according to the 2024 Year-in-Review by Greater Winston-Salem, Inc. Additionally, 61% of investors in 2024 favored existing buildings, up from 51% in 2023, a signal that investors see immediate value in Winston-Salem’s built environment.
🏙 Downtown Revival & Mixed-Use Momentum
From Innovation Quarter to Liberty Street, Winston-Salem’s downtown is experiencing a modern renaissance. Developers are increasingly investing in adaptive reuse projects, transforming historic buildings into vibrant, multi-use spaces.
“For my construction team, hands down, Winston-Salem is their favorite market in the country…Winston-Salem is very accommodating,” stated a Winston Salem stakeholder, highlighted in the Brookings report. This sentiment underscores the city’s supportive approach to growth and development.
That sentiment is echoed by investment volume: in 2024 alone, 70,000 SF of new office space was delivered in the Central Business District, demonstrating strong momentum.
🚚 Industrial Boom in the Triad
Industrial and logistics real estate continues to thrive in Winston-Salem. Strategically located in the Piedmont Triad, the city offers quick access to:
- I-40, I-85, and I-77
- Piedmont Triad International Airport
- A deep labor pool and competitive wage environment
These advantages contributed to the delivery of 810,000 SF of industrial space in 2024. The industrial sector maintained a 7.9% vacancy rate, according to CoStar, with the strongest rent growth in flex spaces and properties near transportation nodes.
Winston-Salem’s CRE landscape is evolving. The city is adapting its built environment to meet the demands of a modern economy, offering opportunities for long-term value and community impact.
Whether you’re buying, selling, leasing, or developing, we’re here to help you navigate Winston-Salem’s CRE landscape with data-driven insights and local know-how.
🔗 Sources
Brookings Institution. (2025, March 26). Adapting the built environment to an ever‑changing economy in Winston‑Salem, North Carolina. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/adapting-the-built-environment-to-an-ever-changing-economy-in-winston-salem-north-carolina/ Cash, A.
Cash, A. (2025, August 1). NC’s real estate market: Key trends shaping 2025 and beyond. The Carolina Journal. https://www.carolinajournal.com/opinion/ncs-real-estate-market-key-trends-shaping-2025-and-beyond/
CoStar (2024). Industrial sector report-Winston‑Salem market data.
Greater Winston‑Salem, Inc.
Greater Winston‑Salem, Inc. (2024, December 12). 2024 year‑in‑review. https://www.winstonsalem.com/2024/12/2024-year-in-review