Forbesยท2025-08-01 11:50Core Insights - The concept of "return to the office" is misleading as many returning workers are not the same individuals who left during COVID, indicating a significant shift in the workforce [2] - Major cities are experiencing a resurgence in office attendance, with June being the fourth-best month for in-office visits since COVID, although visits are still down about 27% compared to June 2019 [4] Company Analysis - Many companies that are mandating a return to the office lack sufficient space due to lease cancellations in 2021, such as Pinterest and Meta Platforms [3] - Easterly Government Properties REIT (DEA) is identified as a poor investment choice due to its high long-term debt of $1.6 billion, which exceeds its market cap by approximately $600 million, and a recent 32% dividend cut [6][8] - SL Green Realty (SLG) is a more appealing option, with a 5.1% dividend yield and a well-covered payout at 53% of the forecasted funds from operations for 2025, although its focus on New York and occupancy rate of around 91% raise some concerns [9][11] - Equity Residential (EQR) is highlighted as a top investment choice, yielding 4.1% and managing nearly 85,000 units in major markets, with a strong occupancy rate of 96.2% and rising rental rates expected to increase by 2% to 3% this year [12][15] - EQR has effectively reduced its long-term debt to $7.85 billion, which is only 31% of its market cap, and is strategically upgrading its portfolio by selling older properties and acquiring newer ones [16][17]