Could McDonald's sell its real estate?

McDonald's routinely sells property throughout the United States. The company's property development department handles sales and places properties for sale that it considers excess holdings. Excess holdings include franchise locations needing new owners and properties available for sale to the general public for any use.

As of the company's January 2015 excess property listing, the company offered more than 100 properties for sale nationwide, as well as others available for lease. The company owns real estate worth between an estimated $16 to $18 billion in the United States. In the fall of 2015, company executives discussed changing McDonald's business model away from the company's traditional strategy of holding on to properties.