Office Visits Surge in June: What It Signals for Commercial Real Estate

June 2025 was a breakout month for the return-to-office movement, with office visits across the country jumping 8.3% year-over-year. According to Placer.ai, that makes June one of the top four busiest months for in-office foot traffic since the pandemic began—despite having just 20 working days.

This isn’t just a blip. It’s a signal.

After a soft May that saw visits dip 1.1%, June’s rebound brings momentum back to a market many investors and developers have been watching closely. Office real estate is still under pressure, but the latest numbers hint at a stabilization trend—and potential upside in key markets.

Where Office Activity Is Picking Up

Miami and New York City continue to lead the return-to-office charge. Foot traffic in both cities is now within 5% of pre-pandemic levels:

• Miami: down just 4.2% vs. June 2019

• New York City: down 5.3%

• San Francisco: still down 44.6%, but improving

• Los Angeles: down 42.5%

• Chicago: down 39.5%

• Boston and DC: both hovering around 34% below 2019 levels

  
  

It’s worth noting that San Francisco saw an 11.3% year-over-year improvement in June, second only to Houston’s 17.2% gain. Even lagging metros are starting to show signs of life.

What’s Driving the Surge?

Tighter return-to-office mandates are clearly a factor. Companies are reassessing their hybrid strategies, and in many cases, requiring more in-person collaboration. Employers are also feeling the pressure to justify long-term office leases and large real estate footprints.

June’s spike in visits came despite having fewer working days than April, July, or October—three months that have previously posted strong foot traffic numbers. That makes the June surge even more significant.

Why This Matters to Developers and Investors

If you're holding office assets in Miami or New York, you're likely already seeing the effects of the rebound. But even in cities like San Francisco and Chicago, the gap from 2019 levels is starting to narrow. This isn’t happening overnight, but the trend line is finally pointing up.

This matters for value recovery. For leasing strategies. For repositioning plays. And for investors trying to time their entry—or exit.

Office isn’t out of the woods, but it's evolving. And momentum like this suggests there’s room for strategic opportunities, especially in markets that are ahead of the curve.

Looking Ahead

Expect more employers to revise their return-to-office strategies in the second half of 2025. We’re entering a new phase of experimentation—balancing employee preferences, productivity, and bottom-line costs. Markets like Atlanta, Dallas, and Houston still lag far behind, but that gap creates potential for creative reuse, discounted entry points, and long-term turnaround strategies.

We’ll continue watching the data, especially as more companies decide how committed they really are to hybrid work—and what kind of spaces they’ll need to support it.