By Charvi Gupta of Getzler Henrich & Associates LLC Vacancy rates in office buildings in major metropolitan areas like New York City have surged, driven by the widespread adoption of remote work policies as well as the relocation of major corporate headquarters. With housing shortages exacerbating the issue, there is a growing discourse surrounding the conversion of these vacant office spaces into residential units. According to The Wall Street Journal, 1 billion square feet of office space sits vacant across the United States. While the numbers cover only office mortgages packaged into commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS), they reflect a broader freeze in the lending market for office buildings. However, the journey from empty office buildings to habitable residences is far from a linear path and comes with considerable challenges. With numerous examples to examine, as well as insights from financial restructuring consultants to consider, it’s clear that office-to-residential conversions are complex to say the least. Conversion Challenges The conversion process is becoming increasingly difficult. Construction loans are far more expensive than they were 18 months ago, and banks continue to be cautious about development lending, with many conversion efforts on hold because of higher interest rates. Although more cities are …
