Market Reports

Population Growth Will Continue to Fuel Austin Industrial Market in Coming Years

by Taylor Williams February 14, 2020

When real estate professionals contemplate the nation’s top industrial markets, Austin is not the first market to come to mind. Bigger and more established markets like Dallas, California’s Inland Empire, Chicago and Houston are often the newsmakers with tens of millions of square feet of industrial product under construction and tenants routinely signing deals for million square foot-plus deals. Austin has been mostly known and admired for its office market and tech-forward economy, gaining notoriety circa 2000 with the tech boom and exploding in growth over the last five years with expansions and commitments from Apple, Google, Facebook, Indeed, Amazon, Oracle, Charles Schwab and Expedia. However, Austin’s emergence as one of the nation’s best cities to live in with ample opportunities for high-paying employment has resulted in astounding population growth — one of the biggest drivers for industrial real estate. As the population expands so does demand for goods and materials that are stored in warehouse buildings, and the Austin industrial market will certainly benefit from this trend for the foreseeable future. Per the Texas Demographic Center, the Austin metro population stood at roughly 1.25 million people in 2000. It is anticipated that the metro area will be home to …

February 14, 2020

Colorado Market Reports Multifamily Western Western Market Reports

Colorado Is Experiencing Residential Growth, But Uncertainty Could Temper That

by Taylor Williams February 14, 2020

The past 10 years has brought population growth to Colorado, which many associate with Amendment 64, or the legalization of marijuana, along with an overall flat interest rate. The new issue is whether Colorado can sustain this growth, despite the heavy focus on affordability. So far, however, the state has experienced continued growth in population, income and multifamily sales volume, according to CoStar. Tapestry Segmentation also reports a median household income in the Greater Denver area of $76,094, which is 28 percent higher than the national figure reported by the U.S. Census. The Denver multifamily market is enticing to tenants as many view the option to lease as an easier path than purchasing a home. This, in turn, has enticed investors and developers to build due to demand. Investors also see opportunity in converting apartments to condos when the market shifts. At the same time, there are concerns that the Federal Reserve’s Interest on Excess Reserves (IOER) policy could present uncertainty to the overarching environment. The intention of the IOER policy is to allow banks to have a lower reserve, which is intended to remove the volatility of interest rates. However, many experts are questioning if …

February 14, 2020

Indiana Market Reports Midwest Midwest Market Reports Retail

Commercial Real Estate’s Sphere of Influence Grows in the Circle City

by Kristin Harlow February 13, 2020

Indianapolis is a humble midwestern city that often seems to fly under the radar, but for those willing to take a closer look, they will find more than just a famous racetrack and cornfields. Indianapolis is a dynamic city with a thriving commercial real estate market. Sitting as the 14th-largest city in the U.S., Indianapolis is the economic heart of the region and has experienced steady growth over the past decade — and with true Hoosier hospitality. Here’s a look at what’s happening and what’s to come in the Indianapolis market. Downtown Indianapolis has rapidly evolved over the last few years. The “Circle City” gained momentum through the emergence of a thriving technology sector and steady employment gains in an already economically diverse business landscape. Those influences added to the convenience and tourism that make downtown a desirable destination for retailers. Increased interest from brands has spurred new development and better amenities. An additional 1 million square feet of first-floor commercial space has been added in downtown Indianapolis over the last eight years, and an additional 400,000 square feet is expected over the next few years — a firm foundation that tells an incredible story of growth and investment. Mass …

February 13, 2020

Civic New York Northeast Northeast Market Reports

Passive House Construction Can Help NYC Developers Save on Emissions Costs

by Alex Patton February 12, 2020

Recently, New York City passed the Climate Mobilization Act bill as a way to counter climate change. If passed into law, the bill’s foundation would require buildings that are larger than 25,000 square feet to cut climate emissions by 40 percent by 2030 and by more than 80 percent by 2050. The legislation also requires certain buildings to cover roofs with plants, solar panels, small wind turbines or a combination of those elements. Rent-regulated housing, as well as structures of worship, won’t be subject to the emissions cap. However, building owners whose properties are subject to the new law will be fined $268 for every ton of emission beyond an individual building’s limit. To make the necessary changes to avoid these massive penalties — such as replacing outdated heating, cooling and lighting systems — owners will need to retrofit older buildings with updated energy-efficient technology. The legislation demonstrates what a metropolitan version of the Green New Deal, the national movement for a multi-trillion dollar, climate-friendly plan, might look like. The legislation is expected to create thousands of blue collar jobs and make it easier for the city to take advantage of future state and federal funding for clean energy projects …

February 12, 2020

Market Reports Office Texas Texas Market Reports

As Core Rents Rise, Austin Office Market Welcomes Adaptive Reuse in Suburbs

by Taylor Williams February 11, 2020

It’s no secret that Austin has exploded with jobs and people over the last 10 years, and evidence of the growth has perhaps been most visible in the asking rents for office space. Rental rates in Austin’s most sought-after neighborhoods have essentially doubled since 2010, when major tech firms really began eyeing the state capital for its pro-business climate and supply of educated workers, as well as its high quality of living. Today, we see full-service office rates well above $50 per square foot in the hottest submarkets. According to our data, the average full-service rent in downtown Austin typically ranges from $65 to $69 per square foot. Submarkets like The Domain and East Austin command rates that typically average about $55 and $50 per square foot, respectively, on a full-service basis. These rates include operating expenses which can be between $15 to $25 per foot depending on location, mainly due to property tax increases found in these higher density areas of Austin. While these rates appear to be a smaller issue for the tech giants that drive significant growth among office-using industries in Austin, the rapid rate of appreciation is unquestionably pricing out some users that also need to …

February 11, 2020

Market Reports Multifamily Southeast Southeast Market Reports Tennessee

Nashville Apartments Remain a Hot Ticket for Core, Value-Add Investors

by Alex Tostado February 10, 2020

Nashville has experienced record multifamily demand in recent years, largely driven by an influx of young professionals and the growing presence of high-earning jobs within the urban core. With investment activity flourishing at more than $2 billion in sales volume year-over-year as of the third quarter, Nashville remains poised as a city on the rise. Nashville investors have continued to aggressively pursue the value-add and suburban submarkets in search of higher yield transactions, as the market’s average price per unit increased by over 15 percent year-over-year. Momentum continues to build in Nashville, making it an attractive destination for national investors looking to maximize their investment potential. Migration expansion One of Nashville’s greatest strengths remains its ability to attract and retain its highly educated, millennial workforce. Nashville is among the fastest growing markets in the United States, with over 58,500 people projected to enter the workforce between 2019 and 2024. The market consists of a highly educated resident pool, with 33.1 percent having earned a bachelor’s degree or higher. That number is expected to increase by 13.4 percent through 2024, with four major universities producing college graduates who enter the Nashville workforce. With such a sophisticated talent pool to occupy the …

February 10, 2020

Colorado Market Reports Office Western Western Market Reports

Is Class B Office the Big Play for Denver in 2020?

by Taylor Williams February 8, 2020

The Denver office market remains strong. Vacancy continued to compress in 2019 as rental rates and sale prices forged ahead to the highest levels in history, allowing landlords and sellers to remain in control of the market. Class A office transactions accounted for $1.7 billion in office sales in Denver Metro over the past year, versus $1.2 billion of Class B office sales, with average market cap rates of 6.6 percent and 7 percent, respectively. Interestingly enough, vacancy rates are higher in Class A product at 11.7 percent versus 10.1 percent in Class B. Sale prices and rental rates continued to grow in both classes. However, there was a significant difference in rental rate and sale price numbers as Class B lagged by about 20 percent to 25 percent in both categories. With a potential downturn looming, it begs the question, is Class A or Class B office a better long-term value? Considering rental rates and income are a direct derivative of what investors will pay for office buildings, investors must ask themselves whether rental rates are sustainable. It is apparent that the “chase” for the cool, hip, new Class A office is real, but the question is whether Class …

February 8, 2020

Colorado Hospitality Market Reports Western Western Market Reports

Colorado Hotel Market Fundamentals Remain Stable Despite Increased Construction Activity

by Taylor Williams February 7, 2020

Strong gains in population and travel spending highlight Colorado as an increasingly popular place to work and visit, boosting demand for hotel rooms in the state. Leisure travel spending has climbed by 28.9 percent over the past five years, surpassing $22 billion in 2018. More than half of those funds were spent on commercial lodging. Business travel is also bolstered by companies either entering or expanding in the state. These demand factors translate to hotel occupancy and revenue metrics that have consistently exceeded the national average since 2014. Colorado’s November annual average occupancy rate rose 90 basis points year over year to 68.1 percent, compared with the national metric that held flat at about 66.2 percent. Colorado’s annual average RevPAR grew 3.8 percent over that same span, more than triple the U.S. pace, to $98.48. Robust gains in both occupancy and RevPAR demonstrate how demand for Colorado hotel rooms has outpaced numerous supply additions. The state’s inventory of hotel rooms has expanded by about 13 percent over the past five years, with 4,226 hotel rooms under construction. More than half of the keys underway will be delivered in Denver and Colorado Springs. Notable new projects in the Denver metro include …

February 7, 2020

Market Reports Retail Texas Texas Market Reports

Entertainment Users in Texas Embrace Flexibility

by Taylor Williams February 7, 2020

Retail landlords want to fill space, especially given that large gluts of it have been returned to market as store closures have accelerated, a move that has coincided with entertainment users that want to expand their footprints. But the logistics of bringing entertainment concepts into retail spaces — particularly vacated junior or big box spaces — are very complicated. This holds particularly true for entertainment concepts that involve movies and bowling. Ceiling heights and column spacing, for example, prevent many spaces from being repurposed cost-effectively for entertainment uses like bowling alleys and theaters. In addition, lease terms for these deals are often based on traditional retail metrics like sales per square foot. According to Howard Samuels, president of California-based advisory and brokerage firm Samuels & Co., there is a strong disconnect between entertainment uses and conventional retail real estate that has yet to fully integrate experiential uses or “location-based entertainment (LBE).” “Entertainment retail as a backfiller of boxes is a misnomer,” says Samuels, whose firm specializes in entertainment transactions. “Those users typically don’t want fixed walls and need higher ceiling heights. Most location-based entertainment concepts are very challenging to design, develop, open and operate. These concepts have very specific criteria …

February 7, 2020

Indiana Industrial Market Reports Midwest Midwest Market Reports

Indianapolis Caps Off Record-Setting 2019 in Industrial Market

by Kristin Harlow February 6, 2020

The Indianapolis industrial market somehow heated up even more throughout 2019, setting several all-time records along the way and setting the table for another strong year in 2020. Landlords and tenants showed just how strong the market remained throughout 2019, with absorption across all industrial property types besting its previous record by nearly a third. A total of 11.4 million square feet was absorbed throughout the market in 2019. That blew away what was a record at the time — 8.9 million square feet absorbed in 2018. Tenants were active all throughout the market, with 17.3 million square feet of space leased over the course of the year. That’s up from just under 14 million square feet that had been leased in 2018. While all sectors of the market attracted plenty of attention, the southwest and northwest Indianapolis markets saw the most action, with 5.3 million square feet leased in the southwest, and another 5 million square feet leased in the northwest. The activity applied to both small and large tenants, with new projects all over the metro leasing up quickly. The city’s largest deal was a 933,000-square-foot lease to Energizer at Franklin Tech Park within a year of Sunbeam …

February 6, 2020

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