Texas Market Reports

Smart Code Helps El Paso Develop for the Future

by Haisten Willis May 29, 2015

In March 2012 The El Paso City Council unanimously adopted Plan El Paso, a comprehensive development plan based on the principles of green and smart growth. Smart Code, which is based on these same princples, was largely chosen to combat sprawl, large land use and carbon pollution. After numerous citywide meetings with citizens, government entities, nonprofit groups and business leaders, the plan moved forward. Smart Code emphasizes new urbanism, density, walkability, mixed-use development and open space with access to public transit. Developers have the choice in most instances to pick the traditional zoning code or opt for Smart Code. The Smart Code offers potential Chapter 380 economic incentives with city council approval. Sales, use and property tax abatements are available for qualified projects. Higher densities and higher property values through Smart Code generate greater taxes, which justify the rebates. Some developers say project costs are about 30 percent higher under Smart Code when compared to the traditional code. Smart Code typically makes the most sense for infill development in higher-income areas. Prior to the economic downturn of 2008, a large mixed-use development in northeast El Paso was slated to become the first project in the city to implement elements of …

May 29, 2015

Market Reports Office Texas Texas Market Reports

Demand for Energy, and Houston Office Product, Will Remain

by Haisten Willis May 22, 2015

The real estate capital markets are a funny thing — one minute you’re up and the next you’re down. The debt market starts making investors bring more equity to the table, reserves tied to energy-related tenancy are mandated, the four-letter word “recourse” is thrown around and more scrutiny is placed on every detail. No one wants to be laughed out of a committee meeting for trying to push through a multi-million dollar loan on an office building in the Energy Capital of the World. The same holds true in the equity market. Return requirements that fluctuate along the risk/return spectrum haven’t changed, but underwriting scrutiny has. Market rent growth has been scaled back or even gone negative, energy-related tenancy is being given a lower retention ratio or being downsized, downstream tenancy is more favorable than upstream tenancy, mark-to-market value-add strategies have been replaced with income preservation strategies, etc. Individually, these various reactions in the debt and equity market don’t have a huge impact on values. Combined, they have a material impact. You would think that this environment would bring about great opportunities for investors with a long-term, bullish view on Houston’s office market. Instead, most owners will be patient, electing …

May 22, 2015

Industrial Market Reports Texas Texas Market Reports

World’s Third Busiest Airport Drives Growth, Economic Development in Texas

by Haisten Willis May 15, 2015

Texas has been a beacon of light during our country’s recent bout of recession. No doubt, this has to do with our business-friendly regulations and the physical space and capacity for business growth. Our economy is growing stronger every day. This past March, the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) released the latest employment numbers, and Regional Commissioner Stanley W. Suchman pointed out that the Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) area ranked first in the rate of job growth and third in the number of jobs added among the country’s largest metropolitan areas. DFW’s largest growth last year was in the professional and business services sector, as 33,000 jobs were added. Other growth sectors included trade, transportation and utilities (30,500 jobs), education and health services (19,200 jobs), and leisure and hospitality (17,300 jobs). It is hard to open the business section of the morning paper anymore without seeing news of a company relocating to the DFW Metroplex, bringing along the promise of thousands of jobs. As a result, commercial real estate is booming in north Texas. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is an important force behind Texas’ growth and a contributor to one of the nation’s most prosperous and vital economies. …

May 15, 2015

Market Reports Multifamily Texas Texas Market Reports

Several Houston Submarkets Ripe for New Development

by Haisten Willis May 8, 2015

This year, Forbes listed Houston as the fastest growing city in America, which is no surprise considering its 4.5 percent year-over-year job growth rate. Having created 667,800 new jobs and counting since 2005, Forbes considers Houston an economic powerhouse. Professionals old and new are drawn to the city not only for its positive economy, but for its diverse demographic and cultural scene. Due to the growing population, there is a demand for multifamily and mixed-use properties, and although the city has current concerns about dynamics and pricing of the oil and gas industry, there are several Houston submarkets that have been more resilient than others and continue to be ripe for development: The Galleria/Uptown Park, Greenway Plaza/Upper Kirby, downtown Houston and the Museum District/Montrose. The Galleria/Uptown Park The Galleria/Uptown Park submarket is home to some of Houston’s most prominent mid- and high-rise multifamily developments, with the highest net effective rent for greater Houston nearing $2.90 per square foot. The area is characterized by its blend of distinguished businesses and residential addresses with some of the area’s finest shopping, hotels, dining and night life. It’s a charismatic, urban community with an average per capita income higher than areas such as Buckhead …

May 8, 2015

Market Reports Multifamily Retail Texas Texas Market Reports

Rapid Growth Makes Fort Worth Attractive for Business, Consumers

by Haisten Willis May 1, 2015

Fort Worth, which makes up the core of the western side of the Dallas/ Fort Worth Metroplex, has seen expansive growth both economically and in its resident base, making it an attractive destination for businesses and consumers alike. The population of the Fort Worth- Arlington Metropolitan Division has grown by more than 35 percent since 2000, according to estimates from Moody’s Analytics. Forecast data from Moody’s indicates a continuation of this trend, with projections through 2030 anticipating a total population of over 3.1 million, which is the current size of Iowa. Personal income is another demographic that has experienced a strong growth rate in recent years. Moody’s Analytics forecasts the fourth quarter to have been the strongest quarter of year-over-year growth in 2014, with 8.7 percent growth for personal disposable income and 7.9 percent growth for total personal income. This may be a telling sign that the impact of lower oil prices has accelerated consumer spending at the onset of the oil price decline in June 2014. Furthermore, retail sales growth steadily increased throughout 2014 in the Fort Worth metropolitan division, with the most recent figure for Fort Worth (4.9 percent) outpacing the national rate (4.1 percent) at the close …

May 1, 2015

Market Reports Retail Texas Texas Market Reports

Tourism, Medical Center Drive El Paso Economy

by Haisten Willis April 24, 2015

In 2014, El Paso, along with the rest of the country, enjoyed a vibrant, active and growing economy, and we anticipate El Paso will continue its solid growth in 2015 and beyond. Similar to the rest of the country, El Paso continued to add jobs across all sectors, resulting in reduced unemployment and increased household income. In addition, a number of factors unique to the region have made El Paso a wonderful place to do business. Fort Bliss, always vital to the El Paso economy, continues its growth. A new 1 million-square-foot medical center, which will employ approximately 4,000 people, will open in 2016. El Paso has experienced substantial additions to its medical sector. Tenet Healthcare Corp. has added a new wing to its Eastside Hospital and recently announced a new hospital to be constructed on the northwest side in conjunction with Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso. In addition, both Tenet and Hospital Corp. of America (HCA) continue their rapid placement of urgent care, emergency care and other satellite facilities around the city. As many people know, El Paso benefits from economic growth outside its city limits as well. Union Pacific is making huge investments in Santa …

April 24, 2015

Market Reports Multifamily Texas Texas Market Reports

San Antonio Growing Outward, Northward Thanks to Strong Demand

by Haisten Willis April 17, 2015

San Antonio remains a strong growth market. While not receiving as much national attention as its sister metro areas of Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin and Houston, the San Antonio area gained over 25,000 new jobs last year. The growth is concentrated in tourism, conferences, military and business support services. San Antonio’s growth is expected to remain strong over the next two years and should continue to drive demand for housing throughout the metro area. Local unemployment remains low at 3.8 percent, almost two points below the national average of 5.6 percent. Unemployment is forecasted to remain well below 5 percent over the next five years, according to Moody’s Analytics. However, with per-capita income at $42,000, about 10 percent below the national average, and with lower paying service jobs, San Antonio remains an affordable market for most real estate — particularly residential, which consumes the most land. At Stratford Land we invest in and lend on land for development across the faster growing metropolitan areas in the Sunbelt from the Carolinas to Southern California. Therefore, we either have the opportunity, or burden, of staying abreast of the fundamentals driving demand in all product types — residential and commercial. In looking to invest, …

April 17, 2015

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Market Reports Retail Texas Texas Market Reports

Waco’s Retail Marches Down I-35, and Texas Takes Notice

by Haisten Willis April 3, 2015

In stark contrast to past years when motorists would fly through Waco on I-35 wondering if anything was happening in this town, the dramatic Twin Signature Bridges across the Brazos River now sit majestically with the backdrop of Baylor University’s brand-new, $325 million McLane Stadium. However, it has become abundantly clear that the stadium is not the only big thing happening in Waco. Anyone who has driven the stretch of I-35 that passes through Waco in the past 24 months has undoubtedly noticed quite a bit of new construction, demolition and site clearing for even more commercial construction. Leading the way is the dramatic increase of national restaurants and retailers that have made their presence known to everyone who used to drive right through, but who now stop, eat and shop in Waco. A primary catalyst of this rise in retail activity has been the release of property along I-35 formerly owned by the Waco Independent School District (ISD). “We witnessed a surge in demand for retail sites along the I-35 Corridor in 2013,” says Jim Peevey, CCIM, a local broker with Central Texas Commercial. “My partner, Andy Sheehy, and I represented Waco ISD in selling three surplus properties on …

April 3, 2015

Market Reports Retail Texas Texas Market Reports

Medical Sector, Eduation Push Economic Development in Tyler

by Haisten Willis March 30, 2015

The commercial real estate market in the Tyler metropolitan area experienced one of its best years in 2014. Led by the retail sector, a number of new leases and sales brought a bevy of businesses to the market. The city of Tyler has a population of around 100,000, while the metro area contains 222,000. Tyler is the retail and medical center of northeast Texas, with a trade area population of 415,000. The city experienced strong population growth of 15.8 percent from 2000 to 2010. The Tyler economy is fueled by the medical sector, which accounts for 20 percent of all employment. Trinity Mother Frances hospital employs 4,000; East Texas Medical Center accounts for over 3,200 jobs; and the University of Texas Health Center at Tyler has total employment of 865. Because of the outstanding medical facilities in the city, patients from a 14-county area come to Tyler for medical care. Another strong driver for the local economy is the existence of higher education opportunities. The University of Texas at Tyler continues its strong growth, boasting a total enrollment of more than 6,400, while Tyler Junior College serves 35,000 students. Both of these schools are expanding. UT Tyler’s engineering school has …

March 30, 2015

Market Reports Texas Texas Market Reports

Downtown Midland Exploding with New Projects, Renovations

by Haisten Willis March 20, 2015

Midland’s name was called four times at the Texas Downtown Association Presidents’ Awards luncheon during the organization’s 2014 Annual Conference in Granbury. Four finalists and two winners emerged from the six nominations submitted by the City of Midland Downtown Development Department. The two winners were the Midland Chamber of Commerce’s Star Spangled Salute, which tied with Bryan for Best Promotional Event for a population over 50,000, and Midland Tower for Best Restoration for a population over 50,000. The Downtown Midland Management District was a finalist in the category of Best Downtown Partner for outstanding contributions to preserve, revitalize and redevelop Texas downtowns. Basin Burger House was a finalist in the category of Best Renovation/Rehabilitation, recognized for excellence in the rehabilitation of the interior and/or exterior of an existing building. The developer for Basin Burger House recently broke ground on another retail development approximately 25 yards to the west. The number of future potential nominees for the Presidents’ Awards increases as the commitment to the revitalization of downtown Midland builds momentum. Fueling this resurgence is a combination of private and public interests. Several projects recently received favorable responses from the Downtown Midland Management District, the Midland Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone and …

March 20, 2015

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