Market Reports

(Strength + Firmness + Stability) X 10 Years = New Orleans Apartment Market

by John Nelson October 27, 2014

This word problem title easily portrays the current state of the New Orleans metropolitan multifamily market. The past decade can be recorded as positive in asset appreciation, sales, rent and occupancy growth. Unlike the majority of multifamily markets in other cities, metro New Orleans has numerous barriers to entry. The market has a trifecta of sorts in that we have an ever-rising demand with a restrained supply due to the city’s geography, socio-economic factors and neighborhood resistance. All of these factors are contributing to the stability and positive outlook for the multifamily market going forward. The proof is in the numbers; overall occupancy for the seven submarkets in the New Orleans Metro is a firm 94 percent, with the majority of these markets reporting 95 to 97 percent occupancy levels. In the past 12 months, the market has experienced 2 to 4 percent rent growth even in submarkets that have seen the introduction of new inventory. The barriers to entry in the market provide owners with a “franchise” of sorts in that the introduction of significant new inventory is highly unlikely. Average rents in metro New Orleans are $1.05 per square foot. Newer suburban developments are averaging rents in the …

October 27, 2014

Boston’s Steady Industrial Market Adds a Few New Wrinkles

by Jaime Lackey October 23, 2014

Boston is known for its top-notch universities that spawn world-class technology, pharmaceutical and bio firms, not to mention its leading money management and financial services base. These factors support one of the most vibrant office, residential and retail markets in the nation. Often overlooked, Boston’s industrial market may not be as glamorous as gleaming new office and multifamily projects rising along the waterfront, but its steady performance and strong recovery are impressive nonetheless. Vacancy in Boston’s 117 million-square-foot industrial market declined 1 percent between the second quarter of 2013 and mid-2014, from 13.2 percent to 12.1 percent. A paucity of new construction and deliveries suggests further vacancy declines. Only 41,000 square feet of industrial product has been delivered through midyear, and 76,000 square feet was under construction at that point. Looking ahead slightly, the industrial market is on track to absorb approximately 1.4 million square feet in 2014, with 680,000 square feet of absorption recorded through June. This total would exceed 2011 and 2012 totals but trail 2013’s 1.8 million square feet of net absorption. Boston’s Bread & Butter and E-commerce High land values and competition from markets such as Central and Northern New Jersey, which can serve broader populations …

October 23, 2014

California Industrial Market Reports Western Western Market Reports

Demand for Industrial Product in LA Continues to Rise

by Nellie Day October 21, 2014

The Los Angeles industrial market continues to lead the country with the lowest vacancy of any industrial market. The combination of the overall market’s size and lack of inventory continues to put upward pressure on rents. Not only is there limited inventory, but a lack of quality product puts top economical facilities in high demand. The inability to build new product readily, combined with increasing demand, changes the focus of the marketplace going forward. As rents for high-quality properties continue to rise, developers and land owners are looking for ways to redevelop existing product to take advantage of this need. A number of redevelopment projects have recently commenced construction, and many of those properties are already pre-leased prior to completion. This increased demand also gives owners of older, less functional properties the ability to spend the necessary funds to upgrade their facilities with the anticipation of receiving higher rents and a return on their investment. The increase in demand from international commerce through the Port of Los Angeles, combined with growth in the manufacturing, aerospace and healthcare sectors, have all assisted in this overall increase in demand. The need for third-party logistics companies to acquire large chunks of space to …

October 21, 2014

Market Reports Retail Southeast Market Reports

New Developments Put New Orleans Among Hottest Retail Markets in the Country

by John Nelson October 20, 2014

As New Orleans-area residents and businesses can attest, The Big Easy is currently experiencing a dynamic period of growth and development. With projects coming out of the ground, fierce competition for limited commercial space downtown and a number of new retailers entering the market, there is more reason for optimism than at any time in recent history. New Orleans is a hot market right now — hotter than at any time in the past 25 years, which is a remarkable feat given the significant momentum shifts over the years. Retail activity is especially significant, with brokers observing that the last 24 months constitute an unprecedented level of activity. What is particularly noteworthy about the strength of the market is that the growth appears to be spread across all categories — from urban core development to suburban and peripheral activity, and from ground-up projects to redevelopments. Newcomers and Returnees The list of major national retailers that have either recently opened their first store in the market, or that have just now re-established a presence in New Orleans almost 10 years after Hurricane Katrina, is eye-catching and speaks to the market momentum that has been building over the last two years. Big …

October 20, 2014

Industrial Market Reports Midwest Market Reports

Strong Absorption Spurs Speculative Industrial Construction in Columbus

by Danielle Everson October 16, 2014

Historically low vacancy combined with pent-up demand in the Columbus industrial real estate market is driving new speculative construction for the first time since the Great Recession. In fact, we expect delivery of 1.8 million square feet of spec construction by the end of this year. After a six-year drought, several speculative and build-to-suit buildings, ranging from 300,000 square feet to 700,000 square feet, are in the works. More than 1 million square feet of space already has been absorbed this year — the highest amount since before the recession. The vacancy rate stands at 7.4 percent, 320 basis points lower than the historical average. Average asking rents for modern bulk buildings have risen 7 percent since last year. Cargo Air Service Advantage Rickenbacker International Airport, one of the only cargo-dedicated airports in the world, is a huge growth driver. As an important part of the global, multi-modal logistics hub, Rickenbacker Inland Port moves air cargo to, from and within the United States and has routes to Singapore, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Shannon, Ireland. FedEx Air, FedEx Ground and UPS regional hubs also are on-site. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA), Columbus was among the …

October 16, 2014

Industrial Market Reports New York Northeast Northeast Market Reports

New York’s Tech Valley Expects Continued Industrial Growth

by Jaime Lackey October 15, 2014

The New York Capital Region’s industrial market has experienced strong growth over the past 24 months, and promises a continued pattern of growth for the next 12 to 24 months. As the office market in the central business district struggles to right itself fueled by the State’s tenuous occupancy of numerous privately held properties, the industrial marketplace has flourished with extended commitments from existing users and the entrance of new users. Upstate New York is making a name for itself in the nanotech industry, and a great deal of national and international attention has been drawn to the region. In addition to activity driven by high-tech companies, national distribution and manufacturing groups have committed to the region or have focused their site searches in the Capital District. The most significant job creation mechanism in the region has been the nanotech industry. Billions of private and public sector money has been invested since 2010 into Luther Forest Technology Campus in Malta, N.Y., as well as SUNY Polytechnic Institute (also known as the Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering). These facilities have placed our region firmly on the international map and have transformed the appearance of New York’s Capital Region. The strongest …

October 15, 2014

California Market Reports Multifamily Western Western Market Reports

Strong OC Fundamentals Accelerate Multifamily Construction

by Nellie Day October 14, 2014

Multifamily remains the most desirable asset class in Orange County due to a steady increase in apartment rental demand, strong sector fundamentals and the county’s emergence as a Southern California leader in the economic recovery. These factors have become a catalyst for a surge in multifamily asset construction. Apartment rental demand continues to grow in Orange County due to the high barriers to entry in the housing market and recent memories of the Great Recession. Median home values, which now exceed $580,000, place home ownership out of reach for many households. Orange County’s population also grew 4.31 percent from 2010 through 2014, according to Census data. This growth pattern is predicted to hold through 2019, with an expected increase in population of 5.17 percent, or an average of 32,478 residents annually. Orange County’s emergence as a leader in Southern California’s economic recovery is evidenced by superior employment rates in comparison to competing markets. Orange County experienced a high unemployment rate of 10.2 percent in January 2012. That rate has now declined 4.89 percent, as of May 2014. Orange County’s employment figures have increased investor confidence in the region, especially when compared to the national average of 6.3 percent, California’s 7.8 …

October 14, 2014

Georgia Market Reports Office Southeast Southeast Market Reports

Continued Job Growth, Limited Development Boost Atlanta Office Market’s Fundamentals

by John Nelson October 13, 2014

Atlanta is the economic engine of the Southeast, which is the fastest growing region in the country. With a population of 5.5 million across the 28-county metro area, the city is the ninth-largest metro nationally and is projected to be the sixth most populated by 2020. Atlanta’s high quality of life and low cost of living make it an ideal destination for young and educated talent around the region, as well as growing companies. Atlanta is home to 16 Fortune 500 companies and the busiest airport in the world — the recipe for a business boom and hot office real estate sector. According to Georgia State University’s Economic Forecasting Center, Atlanta is projected to add 305,000 new jobs between 2010 and 2016, with a drop in the unemployment rate to 5.7 percent in the same timeframe from the current rate of 7.5. That is a 13.5 percent increase in job growth over six years. The technology, homebuilding and service sectors are returning to health, if not climbing to new heights. According to CBRE’s U.S. Tech-Twenty research report, tech employment in Atlanta rose nearly 11 percent between 2011 and 2013. CBRE Research also finds that Atlanta’s recovery is underpinned by an …

October 13, 2014

Market Reports Midwest Midwest Market Reports Missouri Multifamily

Shades of 2007? Kansas City Apartment Vital Signs are Remarkably Strong

by Danielle Everson October 8, 2014

Today’s Kansas City apartment fundamentals resemble the height of the 2007 market as jobs, deliveries, building permits, occupancy and rents are up. The availability of financing for developers and investors, along with the temperate economic recovery, portends further operational strength and investment activity in the near term. Job growth in the metro area this year has been positive. The end of the first quarter saw a full rebound of the job losses that occurred in late 2013. Through the first half of 2014, total payroll employment expanded by 5,200 jobs, an increase of 0.5 percent compared with the end of 2013. The local unemployment rate at the end of the second quarter of 2014 was 6.3 percent. Some 4,200 additional new jobs are projected for the second half of 2014, which would bring the area nonfarm job count to only 1,800 under its 2007 high of 1,018,300. Supply and Demand Apartment developers are expected to deliver new product in time to meet the demand created by the new jobs. By year’s end, construction is scheduled to be completed on 3,750 new apartments for multifamily properties of 100 or more units. New construction has been ramping up since the first quarter …

October 8, 2014

California Market Reports Multifamily Western Western Market Reports

Urban Living on the Upswing in the Greater Los Angeles Area

by Nellie Day October 6, 2014

We are seeing several trends emerge in the Los Angeles multifamily development sector as we move into the second half of 2014. These trends are influenced by several factors, including job growth, local economy and public infrastructure. The unemployment rate in Los Angeles County has continued to tick downward with true job growth across all sectors, which, in return, has had a direct influence on multifamily project starts. Job growth has been exponential in certain markets, including West Los Angeles, Downtown Los Angeles and Tri-Cities (Glendale, Burbank and Pasadena), creating natural household formations to accommodate the swell of rental demand. Job growth, along with the creation of a comprehensive public transportation system, will continue to drive multifamily development and construction in a way the City of Los Angeles has never seen before. The construction pipeline has swelled to 14,500 rental units, including 12,200 market-rate units. At the end of the first quarter, nearly 29,000 rentals were planned in the county, which is roughly 50 percent higher than the number of units on the drawing board one year ago. With the subway expansion, areas of town that were once deemed undesirable by developers and residents are now being sought after in …

October 6, 2014

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