Last year ended on a sour note; what will 2019 hold in store for commercial real estate? : Through the third quarter of 2018, U.S. investment markets were exhibiting a relative calm. Jobs reports churned out steady employment increases. GDP growth delivered in line with analysts’ estimates, and the stock market enjoyed a steady ascent. Volatility in equities was notably absent, as it had been for most of the preceding 10 quarters. It was all enough to leave investors feeling that the markets were behaving rationally and predictably.