Lithium-ion batteries have quietly become one of the most widespread pieces of technology in modern buildings. They power everything from phones and laptops to e-bikes, scooters, and electric vehicles. But as their use has expanded, so has a growing safety concern. Fire incidents linked to lithium-ion batteries have surged in many cities, including Toronto, where related fires have increased dramatically in recent years. These events are rarely small. Lithium-ion battery fires burn intensely, spread quickly, and produce toxic smoke, making them difficult to extinguish and potentially devastating in residential or commercial buildings.

The surge in incidents is being driven largely by the rapid adoption of micromobility devices like e-bikes and e-scooters, whose batteries are frequently charged indoors or modified improperly. While lithium-ion batteries are generally safe when manufactured and used correctly, damage, overcharging, improper disposal, or the use of uncertified batteries can trigger dangerous thermal runaway events. The challenge for property owners is that the technology’s adoption has moved faster than safety awareness or building policies, leaving many tenants unaware of the risks associated with charging or storing these devices inside buildings.

For property owners and managers, the response increasingly lies in proactive risk management rather than prohibition. Strategies include tenant education, requiring certified batteries, creating designated charging areas away from living spaces, upgrading sprinkler and fire protection systems, and implementing clearer policies around storage and charging. As lithium-powered devices continue to proliferate, managing their fire risk will become an essential part of building operations, particularly in multifamily housing and mixed-use properties where the consequences of a single battery failure can quickly escalate.

Deutsche Bank is warning that commercial real estate remains one of the most significant risks on its balance sheet, even as many investors begin to talk about a recovery in property markets. In its latest annual report, the bank said its exposure to U.S. commercial property still carries meaningful downside risk. The report stated that the sector remains vulnerable to refinancing pressure and uncertain valuations, particularly in segments like office.

The warning reflects the lingering effects of the downturn that began when interest rates surged and office demand weakened after the pandemic. Banks across the U.S. and Europe have spent the past two years dealing with falling property values and loans coming due in a much higher rate environment. Deutsche Bank said “significant impairment risk remains depending on property types and regions,” with particular concern about U.S. office markets, including West Coast cities. The bank added that this could lead to “loan loss provisions higher than expected” if conditions deteriorate further.

Those risks are tied to a broader refinancing challenge facing the industry. Hundreds of billions of dollars in commercial real estate loans are maturing over the next few years. Many properties were financed when interest rates were near historic lows. Refinancing those loans today often requires new equity or a restructuring of the debt. If property values remain uncertain, lenders may be forced to recognize additional losses or renegotiate loan terms.

The warning from one of Europe’s largest banks is a reminder that, despite the lower interest rates, the real estate downturn has not fully worked its way through the financial system. Property transaction activity has started to recover in some markets, but the debt tied to those assets still sits on bank balance sheets. Until refinancing pressures ease and valuations stabilize, commercial real estate will continue to be viewed as a risk factor for lenders and investors alike.

Savills has agreed to acquire Eastdil Secured in a deal valued at about $1.1 billion including debt, one of the largest acquisitions in the history of the London-based brokerage. The transaction is designed to significantly expand Savills’ presence in the United States and strengthen its capital markets advisory business at a time when many in the industry expect deal activity to rebound.

The two firms come into the deal from very different positions in the real estate services ecosystem. Savills is a global brokerage with roughly £2.55 billion in annual revenue and operations spanning Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Eastdil, by contrast, operates more like a specialized investment bank focused on advising on large property sales, recapitalizations, and debt placements. The firm generated about $633 million in revenue in 2025 and has advised on roughly $3 trillion in real estate transactions since 2011. Over the past several years, Eastdil alone handled £251 billion ($335 billion) in transaction volume, roughly on par with major brokerage capital markets teams.

Combined, the firms are positioning themselves as a much larger capital markets platform. Savills said the tie-up would make the combined business the number one advisor in the U.S. for commercial real estate transactions over $100 million and the number two advisor globally in that category. That still leaves the enlarged firm smaller than the largest global brokerage platforms, but the gap narrows in capital markets advisory. Savills currently has a market capitalization around $1.8 billion compared with roughly $39 billion for CBRE Group, $13.6 billion for JLL, and about $2.8 billion for Cushman & Wakefield.

What the deal really reflects is how important capital markets advisory has become to the brokerage industry. Large sales, recapitalizations, and debt placements are expected to accelerate as hundreds of billions of dollars in commercial real estate loans come due over the next several years. Firms that can combine brokerage networks with advisory are likely to capture a larger share of those transactions. With Eastdil’s dealmaking platform inside Savills, the company is positioning itself to compete more directly with the capital markets machines built by the industry’s biggest players.

Propmodo Daily is written and edited by Franco Faraudo with contributions from readers like you and the Propmodo team.

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