Texas Market Reports

Rio Grande Valley Multifamily Market Playing Catch-Up on Class A Product

by Taylor Williams May 18, 2018

Commercial real estate sectors in secondary and tertiary markets often suffer from a lack of current, comprehensive data and metrics. Until a few years ago, the multifamily market of the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) was no exception. Much of the region’s multifamily product consists of “clusters” of fourplexes. In many cases, different investors own different units within these properties, which generally do not have management and leasing offices with hard data. Consequently, for years multifamily developers and brokers in Hidalgo and Cameron counties operated without reliable information on their market, generally ceding to the ideas that it was overbuilt. Turns out they were incorrect. Year-over-year rent growth in this market tends to be flat. Fluctuations are short-lived and back-and-forth in nature. But beginning in 2015 and carrying over into 2016, multifamily players in the RGV began to realize that their market was not overbuilt and that in fact, demand for better product was rising. Volatile Vacancy To better grasp the ebbs and flows of this market, we revert to 2008 and pre-recession data. To simplify our analysis, we use the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission MSA as a proxy for the region. In 2008, multifamily vacancy stood at approximately 6 percent. By 2011, when …

May 18, 2018

Market Reports Office Texas Texas Market Reports

Texas Office Markets: Who’s Hot, Who’s Not

by Taylor Williams May 11, 2018

From Dallas-Fort Worth’s (DFW) explosive rate of corporate relocations and expansions to Houston’s reliance on oil prices to Austin’s strong supply of tech talent, there’s very little common ground among the office sectors of Texas’ biggest cities. And whereas the pace of sales, development and absorption for certain property types — industrial, multifamily, self-storage — are strong across DFW, Houston, Austin and San Antonio, it’s the office sectors of these metros that truly capture their differences. The office markets of the Lone Star State’s four major metros each have a different story to tell — a narrative that speaks to their core demand drivers, as well as their projected performances for the rest of the year. In this piece, we take a closer look at the crucial factors underlying each of the Big Four’s office markets. DFW: Slowing But Stable The DFW office market isn’t as hot as its multifamily or industrial sectors, which are seeing record volumes of new construction and absorption, respectively. But the metro’s ability to create 100,000-plus jobs per year ensures that its strong office fundamentals can be maintained. The metro posted year-over-year rent growth of 2.2 percent, according to CoStar Group, right on par with …

May 11, 2018

Market Reports Multifamily Office Texas Texas Market Reports

Downtown Renaissance Drives El Paso Office Market, Multifamily Growth

by Taylor Williams May 4, 2018

For decades, El Paso was a big, sleepy town nestled on the banks of the Rio Grande that relied on a slow-paced, but consistent economy. In those days, housing was always affordable. Pricing levels for single- and multifamily properties were below national averages, but so too were wages. The city’s office market, which has traditionally served as a leading indicator for multifamily growth, hummed along without ever experiencing strong asset appreciation or interest from outside investors. Taken at face value, this activity would suggest that there was a firm ceiling for new development and rent growth for both of these markets. In recent years, however, El Paso natives have seen their city experience enormous growth fueled by exceptionally low crime rates and expanding population at Fort Bliss Army base. Development of both single- and multifamily product really took off between 2011 and 2014, causing rent growth to subside and vacancies to rise from 5 percent a few years ago to roughly 9 percent today. The market returned to a more sustainable pace of new development in subsequent years. Looking ahead, the metro’s job growth should remain a factor of its population of military personnel and federal employees. As El Paso …

May 4, 2018

Market Reports Retail Texas Texas Market Reports

El Paso Retail Market Embraces Entertainment Concepts

by Taylor Williams April 27, 2018

Compared to the four major MSAs in Texas, El Paso has often been overlooked by national and regional retailers. But times change, and interest in retail real estate in West Texas is at an all-time high. Major retailers that have taken space in El Paso are experiencing steady sales growth and expanding their footprints. Over the last couple years, we’ve seen new leases for major retailers, including At Home Furniture — which leased more than 100,000 square feet at its newest location — Ross Dress For Less, Tuesday Morning, Marshall’s and Sprouts Farmers Market, to name a few. Like the rest of Texas, El Paso’s economy is growing and strengthening. The city has posted a 3.7 percent unemployment rate to start the year, which is lower than the state (3.9 percent) and national (4.1 percent) averages. The city’s population continues to grow, driven by downtown office development, greater military spending (El Paso’s resident military base, Fort Bliss, houses tens of thousands of active duty and reservist military personnel, their families and civilian workers) and a reduction in crime in Ciudad Juarez, the sister city located just across the border. These forces have combined to imbue El Paso with a unique, …

April 27, 2018

Industrial Market Reports Texas Texas Market Reports

Industrial Vacancy Tightens in El Paso Despite Heavy Construction

by Taylor Williams April 20, 2018

Trade and politics are nothing new for El Paso, Texas and its sister city Ciudad (Cd.) Juarez, Mexico. The history of the region is rooted in the interrelationship between two countries, three states and a trading route that originally ran from Mexico City to Santa Fe along the Camino Real. Today, international trade and political fights from elsewhere still have a considerable influence on what locals are talking about. But the regional industrial market continues to thrive by staying well below the radar. Despite concerns of imminent steel tariffs, restructuring of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the construction of an expanded border wall, the regional industrial economy keeps humming along, bringing the real estate market along with it. For industrial real estate tenants, the lure of a globally competitive workforce in Cd. Juarez and a link to the U.S. transportation infrastructure in El Paso makes this region a beacon for industrial users across the world. Triangle of Trade Take a two-hour drive along the loop highway circling El Paso, Cd. Juarez and Santa Teresa, New Mexico, and you will find an eye-opening list of international companies with industrial footprints. Foxconn from Taiwan, Polygroup from China, Bosch from Germany …

April 20, 2018

Market Reports Multifamily Student Housing Texas Texas Market Reports

Student Housing Developers Infiltrate Secondary Markets

by Taylor Williams April 13, 2018

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports that about 20.4 million students attended American colleges and universities in 2017. That figure represents an increase of 5.1 million students from 2000 and is expected to exceed 22 million by 2023. As this enrollment growth carries forward, developers of student housing properties have been holding steady volumes of new product on their books. According to CoStar Group, developers have added about 22,000 new units each year since 2010. During that stretch, vacancy for all unit types has not risen above 10 percent and rents have maintained positive growth rates, save for the 12-month period from mid-2013 to mid-2014. Asking rents for studio and one-bedroom units have appreciated the most during this cycle. This suggests that more graduate students, who are more likely to live alone, are clamoring for student housing residences. Larger schools often have limited enrollment, forcing graduate students to consider smaller institutions. As such, secondary markets are gradually beginning to see heavier waves of student housing development. In Texas, this trend appears to still be in its infancy. As for the state’s biggest markets, the University of Texas at Austin is located within a very tight development grid. Lubbock …

April 13, 2018

Industrial Market Reports Texas Texas Market Reports

Texas Ports Invest in Infrastructure

by Taylor Williams April 6, 2018

Seaports are often considered the economic engines of the markets they occupy. So when a port is increasing its business and handling more product, that growth is usually accompanied by a spike in industrial development in the surrounding metro areas. Such is the case in Texas, a state where port activity encompasses more than 1.5 million jobs and $360 billion in economic impact, according to the Texas Ports Association. The organization also states that the value of product passing through Texas ports currently represents approximately 25 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) of Texas and 6.4 percent of GDP for the United States. Overall volumes of maritime commerce are also on the rise following the completion of the Panama Canal expansion, a $5.4 billion project that wrapped in 2016. Ships and their cargoes are getting larger while the logistics of distribution are calling for faster delivery. Times are changing, and Texas ports are changing with them. The passing of the Water Resources and Development Act in 2016 has cleared the way for major improvements and expansion projects to occur on America’s rivers and harbors. And while industrial development is on the rise at and around the Ports of Beaumont, …

April 6, 2018

Industrial Market Reports Texas Texas Market Reports

San Antonio Nonprofit’s Warehouse Search Captures Trends in Industrial Market

by Taylor Williams March 30, 2018

As the retail sector continues to adapt and evolve to meet consumer demand for e-commerce and next-day or same-day delivery, industrial real estate will hold its place in 2018 as the top-ranked property sector. The property type has held this title for the past four years, according to the annual Emerging Trends in Real Estate study, conducted by PwC and the Urban Land Institute. The growth of e-commerce has been so rapid that the demand for industrial warehouse space has far outpaced supply in most markets for years. However, Emerging Trends also indicates that supply and demand began to come into balance in 2017 and will continue to do so in 2018. That balance gives users the opportunity to pay for industrial spaces that better suits their needs, as new buildings with increased technology and other amenities are popping up in prime areas. The growth of e-commerce has also created new demand for properties that were previously considered Class B and C industrial buildings, particularly those located along the “last mile” to consumers in urban areas. Basic Stats & Trends Current demand for industrial real estate in San Antonio is highly diverse. According to the latest report from REOC San …

March 30, 2018

Market Reports Multifamily Texas Texas Market Reports

Multifamily Occupancy Holds Firm in San Antonio Despite Record Deliveries in 2017

by Taylor Williams March 23, 2018

There’s no question that the San Antonio multifamily market has had the reputation of being the steady tortoise in a race against the more nimble Texas hares of Houston, Dallas and Austin. We all know how the fable ends — the hare, confident of an easy win, takes a nap while the tortoise secures victory. Could 2018 be the year that our “slow and steady” hero finds its place at the top of the Texas market performance? As it stands, the Alamo City is enjoying an apartment occupancy rate of 92.1 percent, which is flat on a year-over-year basis. But given the amount of new supply that entered the market in 2017 — a cycle-high 7,230 units — that’s a remarkable number. We ended 2017 with an average rent of $1.14 per square foot, which is flat compared to third-quarter figures, but that number still represents 3.64 percent growth from the $1.10 average from the fourth quarter of 2016. So what does it mean for the market’s immediate future? The San Antonio construction pipeline continues to be a focal point and as things progressed, there have been some surprises. While 2017 marked the cyclical peak for deliveries, and there has …

March 23, 2018

Market Reports Retail Texas Texas Market Reports

Limited Construction Positions San Antonio Retail Market for Steady Growth

by Taylor Williams March 16, 2018

San Antonio is a testament to the old proverb that slow and steady wins the race. Instead of becoming overheated in response to the benefits of strong employment and population growth, the metro’s retail market continues to take a measured approach to growth. That approach has enabled an exceptional occupancy rate for its brick-and-mortar retail inventory. Development vs. Occupancy Measured, demand-based construction is one of the key reasons that San Antonio’s current retail market enjoys a near-record balance of supply and demand. Currently, the market’s overall occupancy is a healthy 94 percent. We expect this rate to be maintained as retail demand continues during a time of very limited construction of new retail product. The market’s limited retail construction of only 360,000 square feet this past year was dominated by H-E-B, which opened two new stores in 2017. The locations came on line either freestanding or with limited peripheral small-shop space, further tightening the market for available space. To illustrate exactly how low new construction is, we compared the current market to a decade ago, when the economy was in a similar cycle. The market’s occupancy at year-end 2007 was 91.2 percent, healthy but notably below the current 94 percent …

March 16, 2018

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