MOHAVE COUNTY AZ RETAIL MARKET as analyzed by Muller and Chacon in their Q1 26 Real Estate Market Cycle Monitor:
Small Satellite, Big Regional Tailwinds in Q1 2026 about nails it!
As a #MohaveCountyAZCommercialRealEstateBroker, I'm looking at both hyperlocal dynamics and zooming out to the bigger Sunbelt markets that influence us. 
We’re a classic small satellite market — Bullhead City, Fort Mohave, Lake Havasu City, Kingman, and the surrounding areas — tucked between the powerhouse metros of Las Vegas to the north and Phoenix to the south, and what goes on in those two metro areas are likely what our market will look like in 6-12 months. 
So GOOD NEWS -- the latest national data shows the retail sector is in solid shape, and our neighbors’ strength is translating into real opportunities for us. 
According to the Retail Market Cycle Analysis for 1st Quarter 2026 from Mueller, national retail occupancy was essentially flat in Q1 but still up 0.2% year-over-year, sitting very close to the historic all-time peak. 
A massive 54 million square feet were leased nationwide, and lease-up times hit multi-decade lows. Asking rents rose 0.4% for the quarter and 2.3% year-over-year. 
The clear winners? Midwest and especially Sunbelt markets. 
Las Vegas and Phoenix are both positioned firmly in that healthy green Phase 2 - Expansion zone. The national average sits right around the equilibrium point. This isn’t overheated hypersupply territory — it’s steady, demand-driven growth. 
Why This Matters for #mohavecountycommercialrealestate : Because we’re a smaller satellite market, we don’t always show up on the big national lists of 56 monitored metros, but we absolutely feel the ripple effects.
Las Vegas retail is holding its own, with vacancy hovering around 5.4% and average asking rents near $36.90/SF (Strip locations commanding much more). Phoenix is stable at 4.5% year-over-year, positive net absorption, and strong rent growth — up nearly 7% year-over-year in recent reporting. (via kidder.com)
So we have front row center to that momentum without the same intensity of competition or pricing, benefitting from both the “drive-to” tourism and the affordability factor. 
#MohaveCountyRetail is heavily tourism/lifestyle-driven — and that’s a strength we enjoy, especially right now: Lake Havasu City’s retail corridors thrive on boating, events, and the London Bridge experience; Laughlin’s casino crowd crosses the River into Bullhead City regularly for services and shopping. And Kingman benefits from its I-40/Route 66 gateway position to the Grand Canyon and beyond. 
Recent indicators are encouraging: Mohave County retail sales hit a record $2.87 billion in 2025, up 2.6% year-over-year.
In key spots like Lake Havasu City, retail lease rates are running $18–$32 per square foot NNN annually, with the market clearly favoring landlords. 
And new housing growth — especially in Bullhead City — is adding permanent residents who support everyday retail needs and create demand for more available services. 
We may not see the massive leasing volumes of Phoenix or Las Vegas, but the fundamentals are well-aligned. 
BOTTOM LINE: The #MohaveCountyRetail small satellite market is rollin' right along, like our Beautiful Colorado River, riding the coattails of strong Sunbelt performance in Las Vegas and Phoenix while offering our own unique appeal — affordable living, river recreation, and a relaxed vibe that complements the bigger metros. National trends toward lower construction and strong tenant demand are supportive, and our tourism + housing tailwinds add local resilience. 
These bigger-picture trends are real, but the best opportunities are ALWAYS hyper-local. 
And that's where I come in . . . 
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