Why Strip Centers Outperform Malls in 2025’s Commercial Real Estate Market | Rethink Real Estate S4E38

In this unique episode of Rethink Real Estate, host Ben Brady is joined by Cameron Hastings, Principal of Landtheory, to dive into a niche yet high-potential sector of commercial real estate—Unanchored Strip Centers. From the outside, they may look like ordinary smoke shop-laden retail strips, but Cameron unpacks why these assets are quickly becoming a favorite among forward-thinking investors.Cameron shares his path from high-rise architecture in New York to acquiring undervalued retail centers in Southern California and Dallas-Fort Worth. He breaks down why unanchored centers—those without big box tenants like Target or Costco—offer stronger leasing flexibility, faster turnover, and often higher cap rates than their anchored counterparts. Plus, Ben and Cameron discuss the future of retail, the role of e-commerce resistance, and how work-from-home trends are driving local strip mall traffic like never before.Whether you're a residential agent looking to level up your investment game or an investor exploring diversification, this episode is packed with insights into overlooked retail real estate strategies.Timestamps & Key Topics:[00:00:00] - Introducing Cameron Hastings & the Strip Center Strategy[00:01:56] - What Is an Unanchored Strip Center, Really?[00:05:36] - Why Institutional Investors Are Just Catching On[00:07:46] - Debunking the Volatility Myth of Unanchored Retail[00:11:01] - Buying Below Replacement Cost: What Cameron Looks For[00:12:19] - The Benjamin Button of Commercial Real Estate[00:14:25] - E-Commerce Resistance and Pandemic-Proof Retail[00:16:10] - Will the "Unsexy Business" Crisis Hurt the Model?[00:18:19] - A Real Acquisition Example: Cathedral City Case Study[00:23:25] - Landtheory's Vision: Building a Sellable Portfolio🔗 Related Resources Below:🌐 For more information on Harcourts Auctions our non-distressed auction platform feel free to visit https://www.harcourtsauctions.com🔗 Connect with Cameron Hastings and Landtheory:https://www.landtheory.co/https://www.linkedin.com/company/landtheory/https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-hastings-landtheory/🔗 Connect with Ben Brady and Harcourts Auctions: ⁣https://www.facebook.com/Benbradyharcourts⁣https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-brady-0b223517⁣https://www.instagram.com/harcourtsauctions⁣https://www.facebook.com/HarcourtsAuctions📩 Subscribe for more real estate insights, and don’t forget to drop a comment with your take on strip centers. Is this the future of retail investment?