TUCSON, AZ (Sept. 22, 2026) — A 3,892-square-foot childcare property at 8425 E. Old Spanish Trail in Tucson sold for $2.3 million, or approximately $590.96 per square foot, in an investment sale that closed September 3, 2026.

The buyer was KC Tucson LLC, with a mailing address in Kaysville, Utah. The seller was Tucson AZ (8425 E Old Spanish) LLC, an entity affiliated with InSite Real Estate of Oak Brook, Illinois. The property sits on approximately 0.48 acres and is identified by Pima County as parcel 134-09-015H.

The property is occupied by Skyrise School on Old Spanish Trail, part of the KinderCare family of early education centers. KinderCare’s current site information identifies the location as serving children from six weeks through age 12 and lists Sharon Johnson as center director.

The investment was marketed with a new 15-year triple-net lease to KinderCare, backed by a corporate guaranty, with 2 percent annual rent increases throughout the primary term and options. Marketing materials also noted that the childcare operation has been at the site for more than two decades.

The property was marketed by Putnam Daily, Managing Partner, and Lindsey Snider, Senior Partner, of Fisher James Capital, in association with Scott Reid of ParaSell, Inc., the Arizona-licensed broker on the offering. Daily can be reached at 510.289.1166; Snider at 831.566.6270; and Reid at 949.942.6578.

Marketing materials highlighted the property’s location just south of Broadway Boulevard, approximately six miles from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and nine miles from the University of Arizona, with an estimated population of more than 200,000 residents within five miles.

Source: RED Comp #12703

(September 22, 2026) — Small businesses continue to seek financing, but fewer lenders are participating in the U.S. Small Business Administration’s primary loan program as tighter underwriting standards, elevated borrowing costs and new eligibility rules reshape the lending environment.

Lenders approved approximately 27,000 SBA 7(a) loans nationwide between Jan. 1 and June 30, down about 18 percent from more than 33,000 during the same period in 2025, according to SBA data analyzed by The Business Journals.

The value of approved loans also declined, falling to slightly more than $15 billion during the first half of 2026 from approximately $16.2 billion one year earlier.

The 7(a) program is the SBA’s largest and most flexible business lending program. Loans can be used for working capital, equipment, inventory, business acquisitions, debt refinancing and commercial real estate. Most 7(a) loans are limited to $5 million and are issued by participating lenders with a partial federal guarantee.

Industry experts say the decline does not necessarily indicate weakening demand among small businesses. Instead, fewer financial institutions are participating as lenders adjust to stricter underwriting requirements and reassess the performance of loans originated during the period of rapid lending growth following the pandemic.

Rohit Arora, CEO of small business financing platform Biz2Credit, told The Business Journals that lenders have been dealing with stressed loan portfolios and historically high default rates. Those conditions have made some institutions more cautious about issuing additional SBA-backed loans.

Smaller lenders may also find the program less attractive because SBA lending requires specialized staff, regulatory knowledge and significant administrative resources. Without a substantial volume of small business lending, institutions may determine that the financial return does not justify the investment required to participate.

Eligibility changes have contributed to the reduction as well. The SBA announced in March that businesses partially or fully owned by lawful permanent residents would no longer qualify for new SBA-backed loans. Applicants must now be entirely owned by U.S. citizens or nationals whose principal residence is within the United States.

Higher borrowing costs remain another obstacle. Although SBA guarantees can make financing available to businesses that might not qualify for conventional credit, borrowers remain responsible for repaying the loans with interest. Rates on variable 7(a) loans are generally tied to the prime rate, subject to SBA-established maximums.

Despite the year-over-year decline, SBA lending activity remains above the levels recorded during several earlier post-pandemic years. Restaurants, bars, amusement businesses and gambling establishments were among the industries receiving more 7(a) approvals than their five-year averages.

Geographically, the Midwest experienced some of the steepest reductions. Ohio recorded approximately 1,000 approvals through June, about 39 percent below its five-year average. Michigan and Minnesota also reported substantial declines. Connecticut, Maryland and Washington, D.C., meanwhile, exceeded their five-year averages by at least 20 percent.

The trucking and logistics industry experienced the largest sector-specific contraction. Approximately 500 SBA loans were approved for trucking and logistics companies during the first half of 2026, compared with an average of more than 1,000 during the same six-month period over the previous five years.

Industry observers attributed the pullback to rising fuel costs, driver shortages, tariff uncertainty and continued consolidation throughout the logistics sector. Lenders may also be approaching trucking applications more cautiously following financial difficulties among carriers during the prolonged freight downturn.

The current lending environment presents mixed implications for commercial real estate. Fewer SBA approvals could make it more difficult for entrepreneurs to purchase owner-occupied buildings, acquire existing businesses or finance expansions. However, continued demand for capital suggests that lending activity could recover if borrowing costs ease and more financial institutions return to the SBA market.

TUCSON, AZ (Sept. 21, 2026) — Tucson lease report recorded transactions totaling 22,063 square feet during the week of Sept. 14–18. Industrial activity led by transaction count with six leases totaling 9,125 square feet, while retail tenants accounted for four leases totaling 7,984 square feet. The week’s largest transaction was AZ AANHPI Advocates’ lease of 4,072 square feet of office space on West Ajo Way, followed by Celebrate Dental & Braces’ 3,231-square-foot lease at Tucson Place Shopping Center.

NEW LEASES

OFFICE — 301 W. AJO WAY, TUCSON, 85713 | SOUTH
AZ AANHPI Advocates leased 4,072 square feet of office space from N&R Capital Ventures, LLC. Rob Tomlinson, principal and retail specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord.

RETAIL — 301 E. WETMORE RD., SUITES G-101 AND G-103, TUCSON, 85705 | CENTRAL
Celebrate Dental & Braces leased 3,231 square feet at Tucson Place Shopping Center. The space will be used as a dental and orthodontic office. Isaac Figueroa, CCIM, SIOR, with Larsen Baker represented the landlord. Shawn Allard with CARR represented the tenant.

RETAIL — 745 N. FOURTH AVE., TUCSON, 85705 | CENTRAL
1989 Bake House LLC leased 2,521 square feet of retail space from Western American Investments, LLC. Rob Tomlinson, principal and retail specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented both parties.

INDUSTRIAL — 3860 S. PALO VERDE RD., SUITE 314, TUCSON, 85714 | SOUTH
Pioneer Equipment, Inc. leased 2,330 square feet of industrial space at Palo Verde Business Center from Pegasus Tucson Owner LLC. Paul Hooker, SIOR, principal, and Andrew Keim, industrial specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord.

INDUSTRIAL — 3819 S. EVANS BLVD., SUITES 304 AND 305, TUCSON, 85714 | SOUTH
Velociti Services leased 1,802 square feet of industrial space at Ajo/Evans Business Park from FJM Merced Associates, LP. Andrew Keim, industrial specialist, and Kameron Norwood, investment sales and leasing specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord.

INDUSTRIAL — 3240 S. DODGE BLVD., SUITE 9, TUCSON, 85713 | SOUTH
Desert Fun Foods, LLC leased 1,400 square feet of industrial space at South Dodge Business Center from Pegasus Tucson Owner LLC. Paul Hooker, SIOR, principal, and Andrew Keim, industrial specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord.

RETAIL — 60 N. HARRISON RD., SUITE A140, TUCSON, 85710 | EAST
Nimbus Cards & Games LLC leased 1,300 square feet of retail space at Broadway Albertsons Center from Dave Grabbert Ranch Inc. Greg Furrier and Rob Tomlinson with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR represented both parties.

INDUSTRIAL — 3220 S. DODGE BLVD., SUITE 3, TUCSON, 85713 | SOUTH
Nomo Pest Solutions leased 1,200 square feet of industrial space at South Dodge Business Center from Pegasus Tucson Owner LLC. Paul Hooker, SIOR, principal, and Andrew Keim, industrial specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord.

INDUSTRIAL — 4500 E. SPEEDWAY BLVD., SUITE 57, TUCSON, 85712 | EAST
Watertime, Inc. leased 1,200 square feet of industrial space at Midway Business Park from Pegasus Tucson Owner LLC. Paul Hooker, SIOR, principal, and Andrew Keim, industrial specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord.

INDUSTRIAL — 4903 E. 29TH ST., TUCSON, 85711 | NORTHEAST
Meso1 LLC leased 1,193 square feet of industrial space at Town Central Business Park from Pegasus Tucson Owner LLC. Paul Hooker, SIOR, principal, and Andrew Keim, industrial specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord.

RETAIL — 549 N. FOURTH AVE., TUCSON, 85705 | CENTRAL
AC Studio LLC leased 932 square feet of retail space from Western American Investments, LLC. Rob Tomlinson, principal and retail specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord.

OFFICE — 1955 W. GRANT RD., SUITE 118, TUCSON, 85745 | WEST
Los Cascabeles Explorer Mining LLC leased 882 square feet of office space from WestGrant Investors, LLC. Molly Mary Gilbert, CCIM, office specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord.

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