Western Market Reports

Reno’s Office Market Continues to Outperform Out West

by Jeff Shaw December 14, 2021

By Evan Meyer, Senior Office Specialist, Kidder Mathews The business climate continues to thrive in Reno as the regional economy quickly rebounded from the pandemic-fueled recession of 2020. Reno performed far better than most markets on the West Coast with a low unemployment rate (4.2 percent in August) and expanding job growth (+7.2 percent year over year). The region’s rapid growth persists as new businesses continue to move into the area, a trend that accelerated over the past few years. Most relocations are coming from California, attracted by the strong economic environment and business-friendly policies in Northern Nevada. As one of the fastest-growing regions in the U.S., expansion is occurring across multiple industries, including technology, manufacturing, distribution, financial and healthcare. The diverse and dynamic nature of the regional economy has driven the overall performance of the office market. This has produced continuous years of declining vacancy and a decade of rising rents, even through the peak levels of the pandemic. At the end of the third quarter, the vacancy rate was 7.7 percent, a 130-basis point drop compared to the previous quarter. Vacancy rates continue to decline across all submarkets due to strong demand and tenant expansion. Net absorption also gained momentum …

December 14, 2021

Idaho Market Reports Office Western Western Market Reports

Employers Take Notice of Boise

by Jeff Shaw December 13, 2021

By Patrick Shalz, Partner, TOK Commercial Net absorption in Boise’s office market through August is nearly 806,000 square feet. This has already outpaced the amount seen in 2020 by more than 40 percent. Meridian and Downtown Boise have had the most net absorption, with 232,000 square feet and 191,000 square feet, respectively. Overall vacancy has declined a full percentage point in 2021, from 7.3 percent to 6.2 percent. Multi-tenant vacancy has also declined from 11.2 percent to 10.7 percent. Many of the largest transactions of 2021 involved companies that are new to the Boise MSA. Kiln, a co-working company with offices in Utah and Colorado, leased nearly 50,000 square feet of newly constructed space in the Eagle View Landing project near Eagle Road and I-84. U.S. Investment Corp. and AMS Sensors, both of which are new to the market, leased 13,100 and 10,900 square feet, respectively, at the 11th & Idaho Building in downtown Boise. Overall asking rates have increased in the past year, rising $0.50 per square foot to $18.50 per square foot (full-service lease/FLSV, annually). Class A space in newly constructed office buildings have asking rates ranging between $26 and $30 per square foot. Landlords have been offering $60 to $65 …

December 13, 2021

Idaho Industrial Market Reports Western Western Market Reports

Idaho Industrial Takes Center Stage

by Jeff Shaw December 10, 2021

By Devin Ogden, Partner, Colliers Idaho has been overlooked by investors and developers in the past due to its smaller size and geographic isolation. This is not the narrative anymore. Tenants and users are currently looking to expand their operations into Idaho to serve the surging population and take advantage of a business-friendly environment with minimal regulation. Expensive land costs and significant cap rate compression in primary markets are causing developers and investors to shift their focus to secondary and tertiary markets to chase yield and opportunity. With the positive trend of people and businesses moving or expanding to Idaho, Boise is now near the top of the list for many national and regional investors and developers. The Boise industrial market has been underdeveloped in the past with only a handful of local developers that never got out ahead of themselves. The population of the Boise MSA is more than 750,000. Total industrial inventory is more than 42 million square feet with an additional 5 million-plus square feet being flex product. The market has had nearly 3 million square feet of positive absorption over the past two years and, as such, the current vacancy rate is 1.9 percent. Most new warehouse being constructed …

December 10, 2021

California Market Reports Multifamily Western Western Market Reports

Multifamily Rents Skyrocket in San Diego Despite Pandemic

by Jeff Shaw December 7, 2021

By Allen Chitayat, First Vice President, CBRE Capital Markets The San Diego multifamily market has continued to exhibit very strong fundamentals in light of the pandemic. This is due to the region’s diversified economy, as well as the continued shortage of housing supply. Tourism, biotech, healthcare, education, the Navy, drone manufacturing, business services, software, and other high-tech industries have made San Diego a magnet for venture capital and other business investment, with several high-profile technology companies announcing expansions in San Diego. Local historic housing policies, which have been unfriendly to new development, have made it very expensive to build, and perpetuate the shortage of housing. This dynamic has continued to bode well for multifamily investment in the region. However, there have been numerous efforts by the various municipalities within San Diego County to increase housing density in their transit priority areas. This has been aided by more relaxed parking requirements and revisions of community plans in the City of San Diego (through the Complete Communities Initiative), Mission Valley, Kearny Mesa and Downtown’s Midway District. These community plan amendments and initiatives call for an additional supply of about 70,000 new housing units. In addition, the Navy recently announced a preliminary decision to redevelop …

December 7, 2021

California Market Reports Multifamily Western Western Market Reports

NorCal’s Apartment Market is All About Location

by Jeff Shaw December 6, 2021

By Ramon Kochavi, First Vice President and Regional Manager, Marcus & Millichap Winston Churchill wrote, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Precipitated by a once-in-a-lifetime health crisis, the 2020 market shift has had an oversized effect on Northern California’s multifamily marketplace. The ongoing pandemic has the hallmarks of an event that causes people — including real estate investors — to draw overarching conclusions. Overreaction is a characteristic of most recessions, but time and time again, investors have turned away from the Bay Area only to spend the next decade watching rent growth and massive appreciation from the sideline of some secondary market. While some Bay Area cities experienced double-digit, year-over-year rent decreases, these reductions are likely transitory in nature. Three factors have led to the Bay Area apartment rent growth over the past three decades: • A limited supply of units • A robust labor market (especially high paying jobs) • An onerous regulatory environment. These three trends are still present in the marketplace. While some jobs have transformed into either hybrid or fully remote positions, there is no doubt that the majority of work, especially entry level, will return to an office setting after the health crisis. Office …

December 6, 2021

California Market Reports Office Western Western Market Reports

San Diego County’s Office Market Positions for Pandemic Recovery

by Jeff Shaw November 30, 2021

By Christopher Reutz, Research Director, Colliers It’s no secret the San Diego County office market experienced unprecedented conditions in 2020. Yet, brighter days may be ahead for the local office market. The COVID-19 pandemic caused many “non-essential” businesses to adopt work-from-home policies. San Diego’s office market took an incredible hit from this in early 2020, amounting to 450,000 square feet of negative net absorption. This was the biggest drop in local demand in more than six years. Last year recorded 1.8 million square feet of negative net absorption, while the first quarter of 2021 posted nearly 400,000 square feet of additional negative demand. The forecast for San Diego’s office market, though, is cautiously poised for an upswing. Demand began to pick up this last quarter as the percentage of vaccinated employees increased. Demand for office space also increased with net absorption totaling 16,000 square feet, signifying the wave of move-outs had finally passed. Additionally, while vacancy during the recession increased from 9.9 percent to a current rate of 14.2 percent, it still remains lower than historical rates recorded during the Great Recession. From late 2008 through mid-year 2011, vacancy remained in the 15 percent to 16 percent range. While the national conversation has focused …

November 30, 2021

California Industrial Market Reports Western Western Market Reports

San Francisco East Bay Industrial Market Soars to New Highs

by Jeff Shaw November 29, 2021

By Steve Kapp, Executive Managing Director, Newmark Strong tenant demand, coupled with a limited supply of Class A industrial product, has pushed industrial rents in the San Francisco East Bay industrial market to new highs. Also known as the I-880 corridor, vacancy rates stood at 6 percent, down slightly from a year ago on a building base of 189 million square feet. Some submarkets like Fremont and Union City, as well as certain building types like new construction Class A warehouse, have performed even better than average. Warehouse rental rates now average above $1 per square foot, per month, in most East Bay markets. These show no signs of slowing down based on strong tenant demand. This demand goes beyond the typical ecommerce giants. Large lease deals were signed by Wine.com, Applied Materials, Home Depot and Chef’s Warehouse in the second quarter alone. Another trend is the rise of the life sciences sector. These firms have traditionally gravitated to research-oriented campuses in South San Francisco, Emeryville or Palo Alto. However, the I-880 corridor is chalking up a number of deals for pilot plants and good manufacturing practices (GMP) facilities. Sana Bio recently leased a 164,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing facility in Fremont, while Senti Bio …

November 29, 2021

California Market Reports Office Western Western 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

Arizona Market Reports Office Western Western Market Reports

Phoenix’s Office Market Remains Questionable

by Jeff Shaw October 26, 2021

By Laurel Lewis, Senior Vice President, NAI Horizon The office market is in uncharted territory, like going “Down the Great Unknown.” When John Wesley Powell navigated through the Grand Canyon, he did not know what lay ahead. Perhaps if he did, he might have chosen to leave it uncharted. Yet here we are in the midst of the proverbial river, wondering what lies ahead. The advent of a pandemic is changing minds about how and where we work. The work-from-home model may have started a decade ago, but the pandemic and new technology have exacerbated the trend. How will this affect the office market and, more specifically, the office market in Phoenix? The long-term effects remain to be seen, but we know Phoenix continues to attract new residents and new businesses. The Central Business District, for instance, is experiencing renewed interest. This is enhanced by the City of Phoenix’s efforts to offer a pedestrian-friendly environment, more entertainment and access to the light rail. The investment is paying off. Companies in bioscience, education, technology and financial services are taking an interest in the area’s vibrancy. To top it off, the second quarter came to a close with the Phoenix Suns making …

October 26, 2021

California Market Reports Retail Western Western Market Reports

Valley Area Retail Market Slowly Picking Back Up

by Jeff Shaw October 20, 2021

By Yair Haimoff, Executive Managing Director, Spectrum Commercial Real Estate The COVID-19 pandemic slowed or halted markets across the world. But how did Los Angeles fare? Well, the retail market slowed in 2020 as a result of the pandemic, but, fortunately, it is slowly picking up with reopenings and the adoption of the COVID-19 vaccine. Looking back, recent transactions in the retail space have predominantly included food-related deals. With established fast food businesses like In-n-Out, Starbucks, Popeye’s Chicken, Chick-Fil-A and more showing more transactions, there is definitely a pattern of increased demand for services that support activities necessitated by isolation. However, there have also been deals that included gyms/fitness users, family entertainment, tutoring centers and a few other ancillary retail uses. It looks as if the reopenings are starting to bring in a renewed demand for more social activities, which, blended with the rise of fast food establishments, is a good sign the market is picking up. Looking at current retail development activities, the local market has been mostly quiet in terms of retail-only centers. This makes sense, as retail stores suffered during the shutdown, with many existing retailers turning to curbside pick-up services to stay afloat. Many developers simply aren’t …

October 20, 2021

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