Market Reports

Sacramento’s Office Market is Eager for Stability

by Jeff Shaw November 22, 2021

By Cole Sweatt, Brokerage Manager, Sacramento Region, TRI Commercial Now that we’ve had the chance to analyze the data from the first two quarters of 2021, it seems that consumers and businesses are experiencing positive trends throughout Northern California. However, the initial recovery has come with challenges, including semiconductor shortages, supply chain disruptions and increased commodity prices due to a confluence of demand from consumers. We have seen relief in some of these sectors, which has led to increased production and the stabilization of commodity pricing. Although inflation should curb a bit this year, this would seem to be a temporary activity as average inflation over the next couple years is projected to be higher than the average of the prior decade. How is the office sector reacting, particularly in the capitol region near Sacramento? Office sales have been lukewarm in the first part of 2021. Investment strategies continue to change due to economic uncertainty and the long-term goals of companies occupying real estate. Employees have continued to trickle back into the office, but many employers have extended their stay-at-home and/or part-time policies through the fourth quarter of this year. As a result, the market is trending toward a flight to …

November 22, 2021

Market Reports Midwest Midwest Market Reports Nebraska Office

Lincoln Office Market Assesses Amount of ‘Shadow Space’

by Kristin Harlow November 18, 2021

Historically, Lincoln, Nebraska, has been a resilient Midwestern city. Home to state and county governments and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, it has weathered past economic ups and downs and provided steady growth close to 2 percent each year. As COVID-19 restrictions ease, people are gradually returning to shop and find entertainment downtown, and new construction continues to rise above Lincoln’s skyline. Interestingly, the last time this many cranes were visible downtown was during the last economic downturn. It has been remarked that during that time, Lincoln “built its way out of the recession.” Now, many building projects are helping to maintain the resiliency of our economy during these challenging times. Prominent projects, proposed or initiated prior to the pandemic, continue to move forward. Examples include a proposed 15-story, 300,000-square-foot mixed-use building by Chicago-based Argent Group housing 200 residential units. Omaha-based White Lotus Development plans a $54 million redevelopment of the Pershing Auditorium block, a vacant city-owned venue. White Lotus would bring 100 affordable housing units with a wellness center, childcare center, retail, community green space and potentially a new city library. Other notable projects include a $21 million renovation of a 100-year-old, seven-story Atrium Building by new local owners. Pushing …

November 18, 2021

District of Columbia Industrial Market Reports Southeast Southeast Market Reports

Mid-Atlantic is Where Labor, Ports and Transportation Infrastructure Intersect

by John Nelson November 15, 2021

Speaking at the Port of Baltimore on Nov. 10, President Joe Biden touted the now passed $1 trillion infrastructure bill as a “once-in-a-generation investment” designed to help us push past the COVID-19 pandemic. The $17 billion earmarked specifically for port improvements is welcome news as on Nov. 15, the day the bill was signed, 90 container ships carrying goods valued at $85 billion were still waiting to dock off the coast of California. Throughout the pandemic, the transportation infrastructure and labor supply for the East Coast and the Mid-Atlantic specifically have demonstrated efficiency and productivity. The two main ports — the Port of Virginia and Port of Baltimore — processed record container volumes of imports and exports through cargo ship, rail and barge at record “turn times” of under one hour, meeting and overcoming many of the challenges within the supply chain. Connecting the dots As we approach the 2021 gift-giving season and beyond, it is crucial to focus on the “why I should care” factor. The Port of Virginia for example, which by 2024 will be the only 55-foot-deep port on the East Coast, experiences cargo movements that occur 64 percent by truck, which is nearly double the next …

November 15, 2021

Industrial Market Reports Midwest Midwest Market Reports Ohio

Columbus Industrial Market Is Going Strong for Eighth Straight Quarter

by Kristin Harlow November 11, 2021

Columbus has been the shining star of the industrial real estate market over the last five years, and for the eighth straight quarter, it has more than 5 million square feet under construction. This year is on track for more than 10 million square feet, with half of that already absorbed in the first part of the year. A question I always get is, “Why Columbus?” The answer (and the sell) is quite simple — location and population. Columbus is a 10-hour drive within 46 percent of the country’s population and manufacturing base. Incentives play a large role in the process as well, which enables developers to be competitive and drives tenants to the markets. Labor is always a factor in site selection, but now more than ever it tops the list as one of the most vital components of the decision-making process of choosing a site. With the Columbus region ranking No. 1 in the Midwest for population, jobs and GDP growth, it’s natural for developers to be highly attracted to the area. Columbus has three major industrial submarkets: West Jefferson, Rickenbacker and Etna Township. The West Jefferson submarket is home to Amazon, Target, Restoration Hardware and JoAnn Fabric. …

November 11, 2021

Market Reports Texas Texas Market Reports

San Antonio’s River Walk Hits New Heights

by Taylor Williams November 9, 2021

By Jeffrey Brown, FAIA, founding principal and CEO, Powers Brown Architecture San Antonio, with its 1.5 million residents, occupies an enigmatic identity, flying under the radar as the second-largest city in Texas and the seventh-largest city in the nation. Located between the south and central regions of the Lone Star State, San Antonio’s economy is fueled by tourism, military, financial services, energy and healthcare providers. Its lower-than-average cost of living and high quality of life make the “Alamo City” attractive for development. There is no mystery about San Antonio’s steady growth among locals, including developers, several of whom have created exciting new hyper-urban mega-developments in Central Business District (CBD)-adjacent locations. The recent announcement of Riverplace by Universal Services Group, part of the development team behind the recently completed Thompson Hotel and Arts Residences, reached an agreement last December with the City of San Antonio that paves the way for a $400 million development in the center city. Anchored by the Dream Hotel, Riverplace is the newest bookend to the various new projects and developments in the CBD, with the oldest bookend being the Pearl District, one of the original CBD-adjacent efforts. Riverplace and the Pearl District make up either end …

November 9, 2021

Market Reports Multifamily Southeast Southeast Market Reports Virginia

Richmond’s Multifamily Sector is the Best-Kept Secret in the Southeast

by John Nelson November 8, 2021

Mention “rising secondary multifamily markets in the Southeast” and what might come to mind are markets such as Charlotte, Raleigh, Nashville or Orlando. A less discussed candidate is Richmond, which has a case to be considered the multifamily sector’s best-kept secret. It’s a secondary market that’s moving forward full steam ahead for two primary reasons: supply and demand. More people = demand According to the 2020 Census, the population of the city of Richmond stood at 232,226, a 12.7 percent increase from the 204,375 reported in 2010. Richmond is the county seat of Henrico County, which had a population of 333,766 as of 2020. This is an 8.6 percent increase over the 2010 population count of 307,201. More residents are moving to Richmond, mainly for one reason: jobs. But the metro has other appealing factors as well, incuding its geographic location and low costs of living and doing business. In addition to being the site of growing employment centers, Richmond is proximate to major East Coast cities. New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., are easily accessible via train or airplane. But Richmond is relatively affordable, especially compared to other Mid-Atlantic markets and gateway cities on the East Coast. With …

November 8, 2021

Industrial Life Sciences Market Reports Texas Texas Market Reports

Austin, San Antonio Industrial Markets Both Experience Unprecedented Demand

by Taylor Williams November 5, 2021

By Joe Iannacone, senior vice president, Titan Development; and Omar Nasser, senior vice president, AQUILA Commercial The Central Texas industrial market stretches between Austin and San Antonio along the Interstate 35 “Innovation” Corridor, an approximately 80-mile expanse that encompasses some of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. Austin, now the 10th-largest city in the nation population-wise, continues to see unprecedented growth in the tech, e-commerce and household industry sectors. Most notably, Tesla decided to construct its Cybertruck Gigafactory in East Austin along State Highway 130, which has and will be a boon to the region. The electric car maker also recently announced plans to relocate its headquarters from Silicon Valley to Austin. San Antonio, the nation’s seventh-largest city, has seen continued growth in the automotive, financial, life sciences and food and beverage sectors. Large companies continue to flock to the region to establish a major presence, including USAA, H-E-B and Toyota. The markets in between Austin and San Antonio from south to north — Schertz, New Braunfels, San Marcos, Kyle and Buda — have benefitted from the synergies of both markets due to their location and strong economies. As a result of the continued economic activity and with the effects …

November 5, 2021

Illinois Market Reports Midwest Midwest Market Reports Office

Chicago Office Market: Should I Stay or Should I Go?

by Kristin Harlow November 4, 2021

A common question Chicago office brokers are hearing from clients these days is, “When is the best time to start negotiating with my landlord?” In fact, it is also a question brokers are asking themselves, contemplating when they should advise their clients to get into the market. The truth is: 1) it’s very hard to say, and 2) it depends on the situation. Let’s explore what we do know. This is a historically tenant-favorable office market. Vacancy rates have increased from 13.8 percent to start 2021 up to 17.7 percent currently. Concessions are far over-weighted with construction allowances and free rent packages 20 to 30 percent higher than they were pre-pandemic, and landlords are being more flexible on term lengths allowing tenants three- or five-year leases despite offering full buildouts. On the other side of the coin, gross rental rates (base rent plus real estate taxes and building operating expenses) have not declined. In fact, in the last quarter they increased from $42.34 to $42.57 per square foot. The trends and market conditions surrounding concession packages and rental rates haven’t really changed in the last 12 months or so. The above touches on what the market is doing, but what …

November 4, 2021

Affordable Housing Market Reports Multifamily New York Northeast Northeast Market Reports

Affordable Housing Lenders, Investors in New York City Face Underwriting Challenges

by Taylor Williams November 2, 2021

By Taylor Williams For lenders and investors in New York City’s affordable housing market, accurately underwriting rent growth, operating costs and long-term asset appreciation can be a tricky proposition in today’s economic environment. To be fair, buyers and financiers of affordable housing properties in many U.S. markets are being forced to adjust and recalculate their metrics due to forces they can’t control. Yet macroeconomic factors like rising inflation, which puts heavy pressure on construction and operating costs, can often seem more acute in the Big Apple, where the cost of living and doing business is already higher than virtually anywhere else in the country. Economic Drivers The labor and materials costs for the renovations and rehabilitations that many affordable housing communities need are rising. According to Producer Price Index data supplied by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, for the month of August, the latest report available at the time of this writing, the aggregate cost of construction materials had risen by 19 percent from August 2019. Much of this rise in materials costs is due to disruption of the global supply chain via COVID-19, causing developers of much-needed housing stock to incur heftier budgets and longer construction timelines on …

November 2, 2021

Lee & Associates Breaks Down Third-Quarter Economic Outlook by Sector

by Sarah Daniels November 1, 2021

The calculus for which asset classes are likeliest to demonstrate strong growth continues to shift as the pandemic appears to be receding. Patterns in labor shortages, supply chain issues and material costs have managed to solidify through the third quarter of 2021. Lee & Associates’ newly released Q3 2021 North America Market Report dissects third-quarter 2021 industrial, office, retail and multifamily findings, with a focus on where demand is moving and the challenges facing each asset class. Lee & Associates has made the full market report available at this link (with further breakdowns of factors like vacancy rates, market rents, inventory square footage and cap rates by city). Below is a bird’s-eye overview of four commercial real estate asset classes as general categories, broken down to frame each through the trends and complications they faced up to the fourth quarter, according to Lee & Associates’ research. Industrial: Q3 Posts More Record Demand Pandemic-fueled consumer spending drove up third-quarter demand for warehouse and distribution facilities that eclipsed previous records. And despite a nationwide surge in new construction, some metros can barely accommodate the pace of tenant expansion. Additionally, year-over-year rent growth is at a record 6.7 percent for the industrial property sector …

November 1, 2021

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