Several Carolinas markets continue to top national lists for job and population growth, particularly Charlotte and the Triangle. The quality of living and strong fundamentals draw both millennial renters and empty nesters, with no slowdown in demand in sight. In turn, capital continues to pour into the region’s multifamily sector as investors chase higher yields and lower supply pressure while cap rates linger near historical lows. Multifamily Momentum With the record-setting pace of single-family pricing in these markets, renting remains a more attractive option. Developers are responding accordingly and now build product squarely aimed at specific renter demographics. Specifically, developers have raised the level of quality and amenities in the suburban product similar to that of the urban infill movement earlier in the cycle. Strong demographics in these locations produce a renter accustomed to a high level of quality in the unit interiors while also placing value on the convenience and quality of onsite amenities. That’s because empty-nesters are challenging a singular focus on millennials. To many developers’ surprise, the active-adult demographic has shown up to rent much of the luxury product in both the urban core and suburban locations. Steady Inventory Most data providers that track new supply do …
The Federal Reserve met during the second week of June, and as expected, the nation’s central bank opted to raise short-term interest rates for the second time this year. In short order, this means that borrowing costs for banks are going up, which means that increased borrowing costs for consumers will follow close behind. At least one more rate hike is anticipated to occur before year’s end as part of the Fed’s stated goal of increasing the federal funds rate from its current range of 1.75 percent to 2 percent to 2.5 percent by year’s end. In addition, the Fed has pledged to continue its rate hikes through 2019 and potentially into 2020 as it pursues a tighter monetary policy. The capital markets behind commercial real estate in Texas have long seen these rate hikes coming — necessary measures to choke off inflation brought on by tax cuts, a ballooning stock market, an 18-year low unemployment rate and near-3-percent annual growth in GDP (2.9 percent in the first quarter). Some borrowers have been able to refinance existing debt and lock in favorable rates in advance of the Fed’s hikes. Those who didn’t, perhaps because their loans were too far removed …
In a series of citywide events on June 13, the city of Cedar Rapids celebrated the recovery efforts from the historic flood of 2008 that crested that day 10 years ago. The events also remembered those that lost so much in the residential and business community. Many are still impacted by this natural disaster. As I have previously noted in past articles, the city’s recovery efforts have been nationally recognized, including: • All-America City Award in 2014 from the National Civic League, which recognizes communities where citizens work to identify and overcome citywide challenges and achieve uncommon results. • Phoenix Award in 2018 from the American Planning Association for outstanding achievement and innovation relating to environmental and community issues in the NewBo District redevelopment after the 2008 flood. • In July, Cedar Rapids ranked No. 13 on WalletHub’s list of the “Best-Run Cities in America.” The study compared the operating efficiency of 150 of the largest U.S. cities. But more than the above recognition, Cedar Rapids city government, businesses and citizens joined together to use temporary flood projection of earthen berms and sand filled defensive (Hesco) barriers to hold back a major flood event in September 2016, limiting damage to …
Single-tenant, net leased (STNL) retail properties continue to be among the most highly sought-after real estate investments. This is particularly true in Colorado and California where supply and demand constraints have created sales with significant premiums. Investors are accustomed to paying low cap rates for single-tenant assets within California as these properties have historically traded for a significant premium in comparison to the rest of the nation. However, the premium associated with Colorado STNL retail properties is a fairly new phenomenon. This Colorado premium can be attributed to a considerable supply and demand imbalance. There are very few available STNL properties within Colorado, and substantial capital actively chases this product type. California-based 1031 exchange investors seeking higher yields and Colorado-based 1031 exchange investors selling multifamily properties at historic pricing (due to significant appreciation in rents and historically low cap rates) are spurring the increased demand. Colorado’s strong economy and recent population growth has also led to a lot of new development. This has impacted the quality of available properties, many of which are new construction with long-term leases. The median sold cap rate for a STNL retail property in Colorado was 6.02 percent in 2017. This represented a 38 basis …
As demand for e-commerce and corporate distribution space continues to drive supply chain expansion in the Southeast, many developers are designing facilities to accommodate the truck-dependent, labor-driven operations present today and for the near-term. While robotics and automated vehicles are exciting to dream about, the reality is that these innovations are not expected to impact industrial building design any time soon in the Southeast. Modern industrial buildings that can support heavier than average employee parking needs while also providing abundant trailer storage are the standard for new projects. At the same time, these buildings need to support advanced technology, automation and extensive stacking and sorting operations. By building with an eye toward long-term tenant needs, developers are working to differentiate themselves in this highly competitive environment. These trends are particularly apparent in the Charlotte market, where developers have added 4.5 million square feet of industrial space over the past year. With a 5.3 percent vacancy rate in the first quarter of 2018, the market is well positioned to absorb the additional 4.7 million square feet of projects in the pipeline. Of that total, 62 percent is either preleased or set to be owner-occupied. Modern Design Demands At the core of …
In early 2017, real estate professionals in West Texas began to see a noticeable boost in demand for industrial properties across the Permian Basin. In keeping with economic tradition, demand for space in the Midland office market is now catching up to the industrial sector after a 12- to 18-month lag period. The beginning of 2018 is when Midland’s office market really began to gain steam, riding not only a surge in oil prices but also a 2.4 percent unemployment rate, which is more than a full percentage point below both the state and national averages. Several larger users entered the market at this time while some existing tenants, including Cimarex and Southwest Royalties, began looking for larger spaces. As of May 2018, the office occupancy rate had reached approximately 92 percent after wavering between 80 and 85 percent for much of the oil downturn. Average rents for office space are currently standing at about $22 per square foot for Class A space and $19 per square foot for Class B space. With approximately 6 million square feet of product, Midland’s office market is the unquestionable hub of the downstream side of the West Texas energy business. Any company with …
America’s $3.5 trillion retail sector is going through tough times. E-commerce has cut into the conventional brick-and-mortar market by roughly 12 percent, an impact that has decreased rents, increased retail vacan- cies and left landlords increasingly anxious. But even in this period of widespread adjustment, the number of store openings nationwide has outpaced closings. We see this in Fairfield County, Connecticut, with first-quarter vacancy rates in 2018 totaling 3.7 percent, 30 basis points lower than one year ago, according to CoStar Group. The retailers that aren’t surviving are those that aren’t adapting to con- temporary market dynamics. Techno- logical and social disintermediation create the chaotic decision-making process of adapt or perish. Still, amid today’s anxieties, here are three examples of adaptation that offer promise. Selling an Experience Stores that are succeeding today are often the ones that have realized that retail is now less about selling goods and more about selling an experience. Below we offer two examples in Fairfield County, both designed to add a stimulating overlay of experience into typically more tepid retail settings. The first illustration of a retail experience is the indoor adventure ropes course located within furniture and mattress retailer Jordan’s 150,000-square-foot showroom along New Haven’s Long Wharf. Touted …
Denver industrial assets are achieving record pricing as cap rates compress well below 5 percent for Class A product. As this is happening, developers are taking on hefty projects, signaling that Denver’s industrial real estate cycle is stretching its legs instead of winding down. Among the headlines: • Denver’s single largest investment transaction on record occurred in the first quarter of 2018. The Pauls Corporation sold 14 Class A, highly functional assets totaling 1.9 million square feet to Clarion Partners in the Airport submarket. • The largest speculative build of 701,900 square feet is underway by Majestic Realty. Prologis is building more than 500,000 square feet in the Central submarket, while Hyde Development kicked off the 1.8-million-square-foot 76 Commerce Center project in the “less than proven” I-76 Corridor. • Industrial land pricing has doubled in recent years to now double-digit pricing as triple-net asking lease rates approach $8 per square foot. Despite these impressive headlines, here are three reasons we expect further expansion in Denver’s industrial sector into 2019. Investor Preferences Align CBRE’s 2018 Americas Investor Intentions Survey revealed a dramatic increase in the popularity of industrial investments compared to years prior. Half of investors in the Americas are seeking …
Growing up in Lubbock in the 1990s, cotton fields were everywhere. No growth existed in the southwest part of town, and few new apartments were built. Today those same cotton fields are housing developments; the southwest part of town is filled with high-quality retail and more than 2,000 apartment units have been delivered since 2015. Lubbock is thriving behind its sub-3 percent unemployment rate, strong agricultural sector, university with 40,000 students and a very strong healthcare sector. Available capital and financing options are plentiful. Many have taken notice, however, which has affected rent growth and vacancy in the market. Economic Overview One of the biggest misconceptions of the Lubbock economy involves the role of the oil and gas industry. A myriad of investors often incorrectly tie Lubbock with Midland/Odessa in this regard, ascribing to Lubbock the historical swings of an energy-based economy. But the comparison is pure apples to oranges. Although energy does have an impact, Lubbock boasts more economic diversity than many of its West Texas neighbors. A direct result of Lubbock’s diversity is the unemployment rate, which is one of the lowest in the state at 2.7 percent. This strong performance in the job market stems from an …
Healthcare properties present a tremendous opportunity for real estate developers in the Milwaukee market and the upper Midwest. The national and regional healthcare real estate sectors remain on solid footing, according to the 2018 Healthcare Marketplace Report from Colliers International. The sector remains attractive in terms of both stability and diversification. There will always be a demand for healthcare services as the U.S. population continues to age at an unprecedented rate. A growing number of Milwaukee-based health systems have announced plans to expand in bids to gain or maintain market share. The merger of Aurora Healthcare with Advocate Health Care Network to create a single health system known as Advocate Aurora Health is a recent example. There’s been a significant expansion of and increased focus on the outpatient ambulatory environment. Health systems face significant capital expenditures in order to maintain aging hospitals. Alternative developments such as specialty outpatient facilities and micro hospitals have gained momentum and allow for expansion to remain competitive while efficient. With the emerging trend toward population health management, hospitals and health systems take on the financial risk of providing care for a certain population across a certain geography. Having to take on the additional risk of …