In 2025, there’s a good chance either you or someone close to you works remotely—about 26% of remote-capable jobs in the United States are exclusively remote. This notable shift in work habits is changing daily routines and molding the commercial real estate market as we know it.
The way we use office space is changing right before our eyes, thanks to the rise of remote work. This trend is opening new doors for investors to convert traditional offices into adaptable workspaces that meet modern flexible work demands.
Here, we’ll examine how the future of office space with remote work will impact property values, office layouts, and overall investment plans. We’ll also break down the statistics about remote work and its conceivable impact on real estate investment strategies.
Exploring these trends can help you spot promising investments in markets impacted by remote work, flexible work arrangements, and evolving work-life balance preferences.
Remote Work and Real Estate Investments
As remote work becomes more common, companies are rethinking how they use physical space. Offices filled with static desks are being reconfigured to meet the demands of flexible work arrangements.
This trend is creating a new opportunity in commercial real estate, where investors can acquire and repurpose buildings into dynamic coworking spaces, mixed-use areas, or innovative collaboration centers.
Let’s take a closer look at the impact of these changes, including how they affect commutes, the environment, economics, mental health and well-being, and much more.
Impact of Commute and Environmental Changes
With remote work comes either the reduction or elimination of commuting.
Reducing daily commutes frees up time and contributes to environmental sustainability—a fundamental consideration for investors interested in green, future-proof properties.
According to data from Axios, U.S. remote workers save an average of 55 minutes each day (72 minutes globally), and about 40% report using that extra time to do more work.
Reduced commuting benefits workers and frees up time, which could translate into higher productivity and better work-life balance for remote workers.
The environment benefits from reduced commuting, too—research from PNAS found that eliminating daily commutes reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 54% for full-time remote work.
The research also found that even a single day of remote work can cut emissions by 2%, and working remotely for two to four days can lower emissions by as much as 29%.
These factors make properties in regions focused on sustainability even more appealing for green investments and community redevelopment projects.
Financial Benefits for Companies and Employees
Financial incentives are driving many companies and employees toward remote work, which in turn influences property values and lease structures.
In fact, companies can save up to $10,600 per employee annually by cutting down on office-related expenses, reports Lemon.io.
Remote work also benefits employees financially—they may save as much as $12,000 per year (hybrid workers around $6,000) by avoiding costs such as gas, office attire, and meals.
Investors can leverage these shifts by focusing on properties that support flexible work arrangements and attract remote job postings.
These savings influence corporate lease structure and make a persuasive argument for rethinking traditional office buildings.
Properties with adaptable spaces are increasingly attractive as businesses shift toward remote or hybrid work environments. The result? Often, higher occupancy rates and increased asset values.
Health and Well-Being
Remote work has also been linked to improvements in personal health and overall well-being.
You might be wondering how this relates to real estate investment strategies, but improved mental and physical health among remote workers is not just a personal benefit.
In fact, it is also a factor that enhances productivity and retention—elements that can indirectly boost property demand.
Data from FlexJobs notes that a remarkable 93% of remote workers report a positive impact on their mental health, while 90% note improvements in their physical health.
Further, nearly half (48%) list decreased stress as the top benefit, with overall stress increases reported by only 36% of remote workers compared to 55–59% for hybrid and in-office setups.
Influential Demographics and Geographic Trends
Clearly identifying who works remotely and where these individuals live can help guide investment decisions.
Demographic data and local trends help investors identify markets with growing demand for modern office spaces and adaptable work arrangements.
For example, areas with a high concentration of remote workers—especially younger professionals and tech enthusiasts—often become hotspots for renovated office buildings repurposed as collaboration hubs or mixed-use developments.
Based on this data, investors can choose to focus on regions where converting traditional office environments into remote-friendly spaces could yield higher returns.
Here are a few other noteworthy insights for real estate investors as they relate to demographic and geographic trends and remote work:
- About 49.6% of U.S. remote workers are male, and 46.4% are female, reports data from SelectSoftware Reviews.
- Millennials are the largest group (36.5% aged 25–39) of remote workers. This is indicative of a younger, tech-savvy workforce that’s driving remote work trends.
- States such as Colorado and Maryland lead in remote work participation— approximately 37% of workers engaged in remote work at least one day per week. On the other end of the spectrum, Mississippi lags at roughly 12%.
- Forbes ranks Miami as the top city for remote workers thanks to favorable lifestyle factors.
For real estate investors, these trends underscore markets where demand for alternative office space or mixed-use properties might be strongest.
How Are Shifting Employee Preferences Influencing Property Usage?
Workers’ priorities influence how companies use their office spaces. With many preferring flexible work arrangements, some companies are reimagining offices as collaboration hubs rather than just rows of desks.
This change opens up new opportunities for investors as companies adjust their spaces for a mix of remote and in-office work.
If they pay attention to what employees value—flexibility, improved work-life balance, and modern amenities—investors can find properties well-suited to this new work style.
Here’s what data from FlexJobs shows:
- More than 95% of workers want some form of remote work; 54% prefer full-time remote; 41% favor hybrid arrangements. Just 5% want full-time office work.
- Nearly two-thirds say remote work is the most consequential job feature, surpassing salary and traditional benefits.
- Approximately 14% of employees would quit if forced back to on-site work, and 58% of hybrid workers engage in “coffee badging” (making brief in-office appearances).
Employer Perspectives
Employers are also adapting to the benefits and challenges of remote or hybrid work models.
The data listed below from FlexJobs delves into how management attitudes and future projections are reshaping lease agreements, office space requirements, and, ultimately, investment strategies in the real estate sector.
- Approximately 79% of managers believe their teams are more productive when working remotely, with fully remote employees feeling more trusted (79% vs. 64% for hybrid workers).
- On average, employers allow about 2.2 remote work days per week, though nearly one-third offer no remote work options at all.
Properties that support flexible work arrangements, such as remote or hybrid work environments, are likely to become more valuable investments as companies seek to cut costs and improve their employees’ work-life balance.
What Else Can Market Insights and Trends Tell Us?
Beyond the immediate benefits of remote work, broader market trends influence salary structures and lifestyle habits.
Take a look at these additional data points that can further guide investors in identifying high-potential markets and properties:
- The average remote work salary in the U.S. is approximately $61,178 per year, with sectors like tech, finance, and professional services leading the way.
- Around 75 million U.S. employees have jobs that can be performed remotely, and about 16% of U.S. companies are now fully remote.
For investors, these insights suggest a market ripe for properties that can be adapted for multiple uses.
Namely, co-living spaces, coworking centers, or mixed-use developments that cater to the needs of remote workers and support flexible work arrangements.
Real Estate Investment Opportunities in a Changing Market
Real estate investment is responding to these shifts in work culture.
Here are three primary ways we’re seeing this play out:
- Repurposing Office Buildings: Traditional office buildings can become flexible workspaces, coworking centers, or mixed-use developments that suit professional and personal needs.
- Sustainability and Green Buildings: Amind growing environmental concerns, properties that cut commuting emissions and embrace green practices are earning more attention.
- Geographic Hotspots: Markets with a vibrant remote work community, including cities like Miami, Colorado, and Maryland, show strong potential for investors looking to benefit from the new work trends.
Last Words
What does all of this mean for those involved or interested in real estate investment?
It means the market is ripe for reinvention and reuse. Investors can transform underused office buildings into coworking hubs, mixed-use centers, or flexible spaces that meet today’s demand for sustainability and work-life balance.
